Patent ID: 7317159

Claim:
A thermoelectric conversion element comprising: an insulating layer, striped p-type thermoelectric conversion parts arranged on a first surface of the insulating layer, and striped n-type thermoelectric conversion parts arranged on a second surface of the insulating layer wherein said second surface is opposite said first surface; and the thermoelectric conversion element having overlapping portions at which the striped p-type thermoelectric conversion parts and the striped n-type thermoelectric conversion parts intersect when viewed along a thickness direction of the insulating layer; wherein, at one or more of the overlapping portions, a) a first p-type thermoelectric conversion part of the striped p-type thermoelectric conversion parts and a first n-type thermoelectric conversion part of the striped n-type thermoelectric conversion parts are electrically connected via a first conducting portion arranged within the insulating layer; b) a second p-type thermoelectric conversion part of the striped p-type thermoelectric conversion parts and a second n-type thermoelectric conversion part of the striped n-type thermoelectric conversion parts are electrically connected via a second conducting portion arranged within the insulating layer; c) the first p-type thermoelectric conversion part and the second p-type thermoelectric conversion part are adjacent to each other with the overlapping portion interposed therebetween and are cut apart from each other in the overlapping portion; d) the first n-type thermoelectric conversion part and the second n-type thermoelectric conversion part are adjacent to each other with the overlapping portion interposed therebetween and are cut apart from each other in the overlapping portion; and e) the first conducting portion and the second conducting portion are electrically isolated.