Patent ID: 6948322

Claim:
A miniaturized solid-state thermionic heating and cooling module, comprising in combination: at least one thermionic diode member selected from the group consisting of vacuum diode heat pumps, thermal diodes, tunneling diodes, and tunneling vacuum diodes; said thermionic diode member having a first surface spaced apart from a second surface wherein the application of a voltage difference between said surfaces creates a cold surface and hot surface opposite each other and causes electrons to flow substantially in one direction between said spaced apart surfaces and transfer heat from said first surface to said second surface; coupling means connected with said thermionic diode member for coupling a source of polarized electrical energy thereto to energize said thermionic diode member; a porous carbon foam heat sink member secured on said thermionic diode member second surface in thermal exchange relation, said carbon foam heat sink member formed of a thermally conductive open cell foam medium through which air can pass, and having at least one channel formed therein configured to direct incoming air into and facilitate even distribution thereof through the cellular structure of the porous carbon foam medium; a shroud partially enclosing said porous carbon foam heat sink member; and a conduit having a first end connected in fluid communication with said shroud and a second end adapted for connection to an air pump for drawing ambient air through said thermally conductive open cell foam medium.