Patent ID: 7327026

Claim:
A vacuum diode-type electronic heat pump device, comprising: a first support member; a first semiconductor substrate having one surface connected to the first support member such that electricity and heat are able to be conducted; a first internal electrode provided on the other surface of the first semiconductor substrate; a second support member; a second semiconductor substrate having one surface connected to the second support member such that electricity and heat are able to be conducted; and a second internal electrode provided on the other surface of the second semiconductor substrate, wherein one of the first and second semiconductor substrates and the internal electrode corresponding to the one semiconductor substrate constitute an emitter, and the other of the first and second semiconductor substrates and the internal electrode corresponding to the other semiconductor substrate constitute a collector, the first internal electrode and the second internal electrode are disposed so as to face each other with a space therebetween, and one or more spacers which keep the space between the first internal electrode and the second internal electrode constant and which are electrically and thermally insulative are integrally formed on at least one of the first semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor substrate, and the electronic heat pump device further comprises: an electrically and thermally insulative spacing retention member disposed between the first support member and the second support member for keeping a spacing between the first support member and the second support member constant; and a sealing member for maintaining a vacuum between the first support member and the second support member.