Patent ID: 8013235

Claim:
A thermoelectric block body, comprising: at least one P piece comprising a P-type material; and at least one N piece comprising an N-type material, the at least one N piece being arranged alternately with the at least one P piece while interposing an insulation layer therebetween and extending in a direction of alternate arrangement, wherein a boundary portion is welded at an external surface of the thermoelectric block body, the boundary portion including an end portion of one of the at least one P piece, the interposed insulation layer, and an end portion of one of the at least one N piece, and the interposed insulation layer covering an entirety of the end portion of the one of the at least one P piece and an entirety of the end portion of the one of the at least one N piece, wherein other boundary portions are welded at an other external surface of the thermoelectric block body, the other boundary portions being respectively adjacent to the one of the at least one P piece and the one of the at least one N piece, wherein the external surface and the other external surface are opposite to each other and substantially parallel with the direction of alternate arrangement, such that P pieces and N pieces are alternately connected while welded portions lie zigzag at the external surface and the other external surface such that a serial connection is electrically established.