Patent ID: 8552283

Claim:
A power module of a power electronics system of a hybrid electric vehicle comprising: a substrate; a power device that switches electric power on the substrate; a thermoelectric device that produces a harvested electric power, the thermoelectric device including a top portion and a bottom portion; a metal base plate that dissipates heat produced by the power device; and a heat pipe that communicates with the top portion of the thermoelectric device and that communicates with the metal base plate, wherein the power module includes a first thermal path between the power device and the metal base plate via the thermoelectric device and the heat pipe such that a temperature differential across the thermoelectric device is formed between the top and bottom portions of the thermoelectric device, wherein the power module includes a second thermal path between the power device and the metal base plate via the substrate, wherein the harvested electric power is produced by the thermoelectric device based on the temperature differential, and wherein the power device is between the substrate and the thermoelectric device.