Patent ID: 8527052

Claim:
A thermoelectric power source for generating power for use by at least one load device comprising: a thermoelectric (TE) device array configured to be electrically coupled to said at least one load device, said TE device array comprising: a plurality of perimeter TE devices each having at least one edge which is coincident with an edge of said TE device array; and at least one interior TE device the edges of which do not coincide with an edge of said TE device array; and at least one first impedance matching device: constructed and arranged to match an output impedance of one or more of said perimeter TE devices with an input impedance of said load device, and electrically coupled to the output of one or more of said perimeter TE devices; and at least one second impedance matching device: constructed and arranged to match an output impedance of one or more said interior TE devices with an input impedance of said load device, and electrically coupled to the output of one or more of said interior TE devices.