Patent ID: 8076569

Claim:
A near-field energy conversion device, comprising: a thermal emitter substrate having a relatively hot inner surface and a radiation receiver substrate having a relatively cool inner surface; the hot inner surface and the cool inner surface being adjacent juxtaposed surfaces defining there between a relatively cool side and a relatively hot side of the device separated by a gap of less than one micron; an emitter membrane structure of pressure-compliant thermally conductive material covering an outer surface of the thermal emitter substrate opposite the hot inner surface and a receiver membrane structure of pressure-compliant thermally conductive material covering an outer surface of the radiation receiver substrate opposite the cool inner surface; the emitter membrane structure for setting and maintaining uniformity of the gap, and providing thermal conductivity between impinging radiation and the outer surface of the thermal emitter substrate; and the receiver membrane structure for setting and maintaining uniformity of the gap, and providing cooling to the radiation receiver substrate.