Patent ID: 7763792

Claim:
A thermoelectric module, comprising: a first thermally conductive plate; a first array of thermoelectric elements coupled to the first plate; the first array of thermoelectric elements including a first plurality of thermoelectric elements; a second thermally conductive plate coupled to the first array of thermoelectric elements; a second array of thermoelectric elements coupled to the second plate; the second array of thermoelectric elements including a second plurality of thermoelectric elements; and a third thermally conductive plate coupled to the second array of thermoelectric elements; wherein: at least a portion of each thermoelectric element of the first and second pluralities of thermoelectric elements are coplanar with at least a portion of every other thermoelectric element of the first and second pluralities of thermoelectric elements along a plane perpendicular to a direction of thermal energy transfer through the thermoelectric elements once the thermoelectric elements receive power; and the thermoelectric elements are arranged between the thermally conductive plates such that thermal energy is transferred successively from one array to the next in a radial direction once the thermoelectric elements receive power.