Patent ID: 8686277

Claim:
A method of fabricating a microelectronic assembly including a built-in thermoelectric cooler (TEC) and a microelectronic device coupled to the built-in TEC, the method comprising: providing the microelectronic device; fabricating the built-in TEC directly onto the microelectronic device such that there is no mounting material between the built-in TEC and the microelectronic device; wherein fabricating the built-in TEC comprises: initially forming a plurality of first conductive elements of the built-in TEC directly onto the microelectronic device; subsequently forming a first conductivity type layer of TE material on the plurality of first conductive elements; forming an electrode patterned in the first conductivity type layer to yield a plurality of first conductivity type electrodes; depositing an electrical insulator layer between the first conductivity type electrodes and between the first conductive elements; forming an electrode pattern in the electrical insulator layer to define vias therein; forming a plurality of second conductivity type legs of TE material in the vias defined in the electrical insulator layer; and etching back the second conductivity type legs to yield a plurality of second conductivity type electrodes.