Patent ID: 7871847

Claim:
A method for creating an array of thermoelectric elements, comprising: applying a first coating of dielectric material to P-type wafers and N-type wafers to form coated P-type wafers and coated N-type wafers; forming a P/N-type ingot from the coated P-type wafers and the coated N-type wafers, the coated P-type wafers and the coated N-type wafers alternatingly arranged in the P/N-type ingot; slicing from the P/N-type ingot, P/N-type wafers comprising P-type elements and N-type elements; applying a second coating of dielectric material to the P/N-type wafers to form coated P/N-type wafers; and forming a P/N-type array from the coated P/N-type wafers, wherein the second coating of dielectric material is operable to electrically insulate adjacent elements in the P/N-type array from one another.