Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a substrate that includes a substrate body and a thermoelectric cooler embedded in the substrate body. The thermoelectric cooler includes a top-side plate with an element-contact pad and a bottom-side plate. The element-contact pad is on a top surface of the top-side plate, which faces a same direction as a top surface of the substrate body and is exposed to the external space of the substrate body. The bottom-side plate is below the top-side plate and close to a bottom surface of the top-side plate. Herein, the element-contact pad is configured to accommodate attachment of a heat-generating electrical element. The top-side plate is configured to change temperature of the heat-generating electrical element, and the bottom-side plate is configured to transfer heat to or absorb heat from the bottom surface of the substrate body.

Abstract: A cooling device for a heterogeneous microchip is fabricated such that different cooling profiles can be provided for different chips. A housing is made of thermal conductive material, the housing having a plurality of channels formed therein. Electric contacts are provided inside each of the channels. Each channel can fit either a thermoelectric cooling device or a metallic block to provide different cooling profiles and design requirements. The cooling device is inserted between a liquid cooling plate and the chip to adjust and enhance heat transfer from the chip to the cooling plate. Alternatively, the cooling plate itself can serve as the housing with the channels, in which case the housing is provided with coupling for liquid pipes or hoses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoelectric generator module including a set of module unit bodies disposed between a hot source and a cold source to serve as fundamental structures for performing thermoelectric power generation and a method of manufacturing the thermoelectric generator module. Each of the module unit bodies comprises: a first electrodes disposed at one of the hot source and the cold source; a second electrode disposed at the other of the hot source and the cold source so as to be spaced apart from the first electrodes; a first nanowire configured to interconnect the first electrode and the second electrode and composed of an n-type or p-type semiconductor; and a second nanowire.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a temperature sensing semiconductor substrate, that may include a thermal sensor at an upper surface thereof, and a cooling semiconductor substrate having an upper surface coupled to a lower surface of the temperature sensing semiconductor substrate. The cooling semiconductor substrate may include a Peltier cooler. At least one of the temperature sensing semiconductor substrate and the cooling semiconductor substrate may have a cavity therein beneath the thermopile and aligned therewith.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion material is provided, in which only a desired crystal is selectively precipitated. An MxV2O5 crystal is selectively precipitated in vanadium-based glass, wherein M is one metal element selected from the group consisting of iron, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, tungsten, molybdenum, manganese, nickel, copper, silver, an alkali metal and an alkaline earth metal, and 0<x<1.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and an amorphous semi-insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a microelectronic assembly including a built-in TEC, a microelectronic assembly including a built-in TEC, and a system including the microelectronic assembly. The method includes providing a microelectronic device, and fabricating the TEC directly onto the microelectronic device such that there is no mounting material between the TEC and the microelectronic device.

Abstract: An electrically conductive composite material that includes an electrically conductive polymer, and at least one metal nanoparticle coated with a protective agent, wherein said protective agent includes a compound having a first part that has at least part of the molecular backbone of said electrically conductive polymer and a second part that interacts with said at least one metal nanoparticle.

Abstract: Embodiments of a thin-film heterostructure thermoelectric material and methods of fabrication thereof are disclosed. In general, the thermoelectric material is formed in a Group IIa and IV-VI materials system. The thermoelectric material includes an epitaxial heterostructure and exhibits high heat pumping and figure-of-merit performance in terms of Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity over broad temperature ranges through appropriate engineering and judicious optimization of the epitaxial heterostructure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to structures of LED components that integrate thermoelectric devices with LEDs on LED emitter substrates for cooling the LEDs. The present disclosure also related to methods for integrating LED dies with thermoelectric elements. The LED component includes an LED emitter substrate with a cavity in a downward facing surface of the LED emitter substrate and thermal vias that extend from a bottom of the cavity to an area close to an upward facing surface of the LED emitter substrate. The device also includes thermoelectric elements disposed in the cavity where the thermoelectric elements connect with their corresponding thermal vias. The device further includes a thermoelectric substrate in the cavity to electrically connect to the thermoelectric elements. The device further includes an LED die on the upward facing surface of the LED emitter substrate such that the LED die is opposite the cavity.

Abstract: An electrically conductive composite material that includes an electrically conductive polymer, and at least one metal nanoparticle coated with a protective agent, wherein said protective agent includes a compound having a first part that has at least part of the molecular backbone of said electrically conductive polymer and a second part that interacts with said at least one metal nanoparticle.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that can be used for cooling, heating, and power generation. A first region of the semiconductor structure has a first length and comprises a first semiconductor material doped at a first concentration with a first dopant. A second region is disposed adjacent to the first region so as to define a first interface, has a second length which is longer than the first length, and comprises a second semiconductor material doped at a second concentration with a second dopant. At least one of the first material, second material, first concentration, second concentration, first length, second length, first dopant, and second dopant is selected to create, at the first interface, a forward electrical potential step having a barrier height dependent at least in part on an average temperature (T) of the semiconductor structure, e.g., a range of approximately 3-10 ?BT, where ?B is the Boltzmann constant.

Abstract: A thermo-electric semiconductor device is provided. The thermo-electric semiconductor device includes: a first electrode layer; a spacer layer formed on the first electrode layer and having a plurality of pillars with a uniform height, the plurality of pillars thermally grown and protruded on a surface of the spacer layer; and a second electrode layer formed over the spacer layer in such a manner as to contact tops of the protruded pillars.

Abstract: The invention comprises a 3D chip stack with an intervening thermoelectric coupling (TEC) plate. Through silicon vias in the 3D chip stack transfer electronic signals among the chips in the 3D stack, power the TEC plate, as well as distribute heat in the stack from hotter chips to cooler chips.

Abstract: A thermoelectric structure for cooling an integrated circuit (IC) chip comprises a first type superlattice layer formed on top of the IC chip connected to a first voltage, and a second type superlattice layer formed on the bottom of the IC chip connected to a second voltage, the second voltage being different from the first voltage, wherein an power supply current flows through the first and second type superlattice layer for cooling the IC chip.

Abstract: A thermoelectric module has a first substrate, a second substrate spaced from the first substrate, a plurality of P type thermoelectric elements and N type thermoelectric elements arranged in the space between the first and second substrates, and a plurality of electrodes which connect the P type and N type thermoelectric elements in series. Each electrode is connected to a respective one of the plurality of P type thermoelectric elements at a first connection and a respective one of the plurality of N type thermoelectric elements in the space, and a sealant is located at an edge portion of the space. Each one of a series of first or outer electrodes closest to the edge portion of the space has a concave portion that is concaved in a direction departing from the edge portion of the space and is at a position between the first connection and the second connection.

Abstract: Methods of forming a microelectronic structure are described. Embodiments of those methods include forming a first plurality of openings through a first surface of a substrate, forming a p-type TFTEC material within the first plurality of openings, forming a second plurality of openings substantially adjacent to the first plurality of openings through the first surface of the substrate, and then forming an n-type TFTEC material within the second plurality of openings.

Abstract: The invention comprises a 3D chip stack with an intervening thermoelectric coupling (TEC) plate. Through silicon vias in the 3D chip stack transfer electronic signals among the chips in the 3D stack, power the TEC plate, as well as distribute heat in the stack from hotter chips to cooler chips.

Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) package structure including a first substrate, one or more LED chips, a second substrate, and a thermoelectric cooling device is provided. The first substrate has a first surface and a corresponding second surface. The LED chip suitable for emitting a light is arranged on the first surface of the first substrate, and is electrically connected to the first substrate. The second substrate is below the first substrate, and has a third surface and a corresponding fourth surface. The third surface faces the second surface. The thermoelectric cooling device is arranged between the second surface of the first substrate and the third surface of the second substrate for conducting heat generated by the LED chip during operation.

Abstract: A microelectronic package comprises a substrate (110, 310), a die (320) supported by the substrate, an interconnect feature (130, 230, 330) connecting the die and the substrate to each other, and a thermoelectric cooler (140, 170, 240, 340) adjacent to the interconnect feature.

Abstract: A cooling system that promotes cooling of a device including a heat source therein is provided, the cooling system includes: a cooling unit that absorbs, upstream from the heat source, heat from intake air that the device takes in from an outside to cool the heat source and dissipates the heat to an outside of a flow path of the intake air; and a fluid control unit that lets fluid flow toward the cooling unit so as to discharge the heat absorbed by the cooling unit from the intake air to an outside of the cooling unit.

Abstract: A thin-film semiconductor device comprises a temperature sensor formed of a thin-film semiconductor and sensing a temperature as current, and a current-voltage converter formed of a thin-film semiconductor and having temperature dependence in which its current-voltage characteristic is different from that of the temperature sensor. A temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is converted to a voltage by the current-voltage converter.

Abstract: A method of forming a thermoelectric device may include forming a plurality of islands of thermoelectric material on a deposition substrate. The plurality of islands of thermoelectric material may be bonded to a header substrate so that the plurality of islands are between the deposition substrate and the header substrate. More particularly, the islands of thermoelectric material may be epitaxial islands of thermoelectric material having crystal structures aligned with a crystal structure of the deposition substrate. Related structures are also discussed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-volatile switching element having a novel structure that operates at a high speed and enables high integration, and an integrated circuit that includes such non-volatile switching elements. The switching element includes: a switching film formed on a substrate, made of a material causing a 10 times or greater change in electric resistance with a temperature change within a range of ±80 K from a predetermined temperature; a Peltier element causing the switching film to have the temperature change; a heat conducting/electric insulating film provided between the switching film and the Peltier element, to conduct heat from the Peltier element; and a pair of electrodes connected to the switching film.

Abstract: An LED assembly includes a packaged LED module (30) and a heat dissipation device (50). The LED module includes at least an LED die therein and a plurality of conductive pins (32, 34) extending downwardly from a bottom portion thereof. The heat dissipation device is thermally and electrically connected with the at least an LED die. The heat dissipation device defines at least a mounting hole (542) therein. At least one of the conductive pins is fittingly received in the at least a mounting hole and thermally and electrically connects with the heat dissipation device.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric module is provided. The method includes mounting a thermoelectric material to a substrate such that a portion of the thermoelectric material covers a removable pattern. The thermoelectric material is then segmented and the removable pattern is removed. The portions of the thermoelectric material which were covering the removable pattern are also removed, leaving the portions of the thermoelectric material not covering the removable pattern attached to the substrate.

Abstract: Lighting devices are provided. A lighting device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a light source and a thermoelectric cooling chip set disposed between the first and second substrates. The first substrate includes a core, a first circuit layer, and a second circuit layer, wherein the first and second circuit layers are disposed on opposite sides of the core. The second substrate comprises a third circuit layer. The light source is disposed on the first substrate and electrically connected to the first circuit layer. The thermoelectric cooling chip set is electrically connected to the second and third circuit layers, to dissipate heat from the light source.

Abstract: Liquid cooling systems and apparatus are presented. A number of embodiments are presented. In each embodiment, a heat transfer system capable of thermally coupling to heat generating components and adapted to transfer heat from the heat generating components is implemented. A variety of embodiments of the heat transfer system are presented. For example, several embodiments of a heat transfer system including electron-conducting material is presented. In one embodiment of the present invention, the electron conducting material operates under the peltier principal.

Abstract: A compact multi-stage switching network (100), and a router (510) incorporating such multi-stage switching network, adapted for simultaneously routing a plurality of data packets from a first plurality of input ports (110) to selected ones of a second plurality of output ports (190) comprising: a first stack (140) of IC switching layers (113) that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer containing at least one switching element circuit (142); a second stack (160) of IC switching layers (113) that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer (113) containing at least one switching element circuit (162); and interconnecting circuitry (150) that connects the first stack (140) of IC layers to the second stack (160) of IC layers to form the compact multi-stage switching network. The stacks (140, 160) are preferably mated to one another in a transverse fashion in order to achieve a natural full-mesh connection.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a tunneling device in which the collector electrode is modified so that tunneling of higher energy electrons from the emitter electrode to the collector electrode is enhanced. In one embodiment, the collector electrode is contacted with an insulator layer, preferably aluminum or silicon nitride, disposed between the collector and emitter electrodes. The present invention additionally comprises a method for enhancing tunneling of higher energy electrons from an emitter electrode to a collector electrode, the method comprising the step of contacting the collector electrode with an insulator, preferably aluminum or silicon nitride, and placing the insulator between the collector electrode and the emitter electrode.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing a metal telluride is provided that includes the dissolution of a metal precursor in a solvent containing a ligand to form a metal-ligand complex soluble in the solvent. The metal-ligand complex is then reacted with a telluride-containing reagent to form metal telluride domains having a mean linear dimension of from 2 to 40 nanometers. NaHTe represents a well-suited telluride reagent. A composition is provided that includes a plurality of metal telluride crystalline domains (PbTe)1-x-y(SnTe)x(Bi2Te3)y ??(I) having a mean linear dimension of from 2 to 40 nanometers inclusive where x is between 0 and 1 inclusive and y is between 0 and 1 inclusive with the proviso that x+y is less than or equal to 1. Each of the metal telluride crystalline domains has a surface passivated with a saccharide moiety or a polydentate carboxylate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a CoSb3-based thermoelectric device is disclosed. The method includes providing a high-temperature electrode, providing a buffer layer on the high-temperature electrode, forming composite n-type and p-type layers, attaching the buffer layer to the composite n-type and p-type layers, providing a low-temperature electrode on the composite n-type and p-type layers and separating the composite n-type and p-type layers from each other to define n-type and p-type legs between the high-temperature electrode and the low-temperature electrode.

Abstract: A method and structure for heat transport, cooling, sensing and power generation is described. A photonic bandgap structure (3) is employed to enhance emissive heat transport from heat sources such as integrated circuits (2) to heat spreaders (4). The photonic bandgap structure (3) is also employed to convert heat to electric power by enhanced emission absorption and to cool and sense radiation, such as infra-red radiation. These concepts may be applied to both heat loss and heat absorption, and may be applied to heat transport and absorption enhancement in a single device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus and system for absorbing heat from an active side of a die by a plurality of cold conductive elements embedded in said die, and releasing said absorbed heat by a plurality of hot conductive elements embedded in a substrate connected to said die.

Abstract: Liquid cooling systems and apparatus are presented. A number of embodiments are presented. In each embodiment, a heat transfer system capable of engaging a processor and adapted to transfer heat from the processor is implemented. A variety of embodiments of the heat transfer system are presented. For example, several embodiments of a heat transfer system including electron-conducting material is presented. In one embodiment of the present invention, the electron conducting material operates under the peltier principal.

Abstract: There is provided a small-size electronic heat pump device which is low in power consumption and which secures a vacuum gap without use of an additional circuit. The electronic heat pump device includes an emitter 1 and a collector 2. An electrically and thermally insulative spacer section 5 for keeping a space, i.e. vacuum gap G between an emitter electrode 11 and a collector electrode 21 constant is integrally formed in a semiconductor substrate 20 of the collector 2, which makes it possible to maintain the vacuum gap to be a specified space while a back flow of heat is prevented in a simple structure with a reduced number of component parts.

Abstract: A micro-fabricated device, includes a support structure having an aperture formed therein, and a device substrate disposed within the aperture. The micro-fabricated device further includes a thermally isolating structure thermally coupling the device substrate to the support structure. The thermally isolating structure includes at least one n-doped region and at least one p-doped region formed on or in the thermally isolating structure and separated from each other. In addition, the thermally isolating structure includes an electrical interconnect connecting at least one n-doped region and at least one p-doped region, forming an integrated thermoelectric device.

Abstract: An internally disposed cooling device is provided. The cooling device includes a cooling member and a docket member. The cooling member includes a first cooling unit, a second unit and a cryogenic element. The cryogenic element has a cold surface that contacts the first cooling unit, and a hot surface that contacts the second cooling unit. Since the cold surface of the cryogenic element has a temperature much lower than that of the room temperature, the first cooling unit can thus produce cold and dry air to cool down the electronic apparatus. Meanwhile, the second cooling unit is employed to dissipate heat generated from the cryogenic element.

Abstract: A device for thermal sensing is disclosed based on one thermopile. The cold junctions of the thermopile are coupled thermally to a first channel comprising a first substance while the hot junctions of the thermopile are coupled thermally to a second channel comprising a second substance, the first and the second channel are separated and thermally isolated one from another. The device can further comprise a membrane to thermally and electrically isolate the thermopile and to mechanically support the thermopile. Particularly a liquid rubber, i.e., ELASTOSIL LR3003/10A, B can be used as a membrane material. Further disclosed is a method for fabricating such a device using micromachining techniques.

Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device including a p-type electrode structure and having a low contact resistance and high reflectance is provided. The semiconductor light emitting device includes a transparent substrate, an electron injection layer having first and second regions on the transparent substrate, an active region formed on the first region, a hole injection layer on the active layer, a first electrode structure on the second region, and a second electrode structure on the hole injection layer, and includes a first layer including nitrogen and a second layer including Pd. The low contact resistance and high reflectance can be obtained by forming a trivalent compound layer composed of Pd—Ga—N at an interface between the hole injection layer, which is composed of p-GaN, and the metal layer of the p-type electrode.

Abstract: A thermoelectric module is constituted by a pair of substrates having electrodes, which are arranged opposite to each other with a prescribed space therebetween, in which a prescribed number of thermoelectric elements are arranged in such a way that a p-type and an n-type are alternately arranged, so that the thermoelectric elements are connected in series or in parallel together with the electrodes. Herein, one substrate is a heat absorption side, and other substrate is a heat radiation side. In addition, a current density in a current transmission area of the heat-absorption-side electrode is set to 50 A/mm2 or less, and a height of the thermoelectric element is set to 0.7 mm or less. Furthermore, a temperature-controlled semiconductor module can be realized by combining a thermoelectric module with a semiconductor component such as a semiconductor laser.

Abstract: A cooling device for an element such as a microprocessor in a computer, and a process for manufacturing the cooling device. The cooling device provides an effective structure of cooling a microprocessor by providing a metallic filler layer and a metal plate layer spreading out heat generated from the microprocessor, and thereby effectively thermally conducting heat away from the microprocessor. Further, a semiconductor thermoelectric module can be utilized to further cool the microprocessor.

Abstract: A super-lattice thermoelectric device. The device includes p-legs and n-legs, each leg having a large number of alternating layers of two materials with differing electron band gaps. The n-legs in the device are comprised of alternating layers of silicon and silicon germanium. The p-legs includes alternating layers of B4C and B9C. In preferred embodiments the layers are about 100 angstroms thick. Applicants have fabricated and tested a first Si/SiGe (n-leg) and B4C/B9C (p-leg) quantum well thermocouple. Each leg was only 11 microns thick on a 5 micron Si substrate. Nevertheless, in actual tests the thermocouple operated with an amazing efficiency of 14 percent with a Th of 250 degrees C. Thermoelectric modules made according to the present invention are useful for both cooling applications as well as electric power generation. This preferred embodiment is a thermoelectric 10×10 egg crate type module about 6 cm×6 cm×0.

Abstract: An improved integrated circuit package for providing built-in heating or cooling to a semiconductor chip is provided. The improved integrated circuit package provides increased operational bandwidth between different circuit devices, e.g. logic and memory chips. The improved integrated circuit package does not require changes in current CMOS processing techniques. The structure includes the use of a silicon interposer. The silicon interposer can consist of recycled rejected wafers from the front-end semiconductor processing. Micro-machined vias are formed through the silicon interposer. The micro-machined vias include electrical contacts which couple various integrated circuit devices located on the opposing surfaces of the silicon interposer. The packaging includes a Peltier element.

Abstract: A first electronic device, a second electronic device which generates less heat than the first electric device, and an electrode are connected by a heat leveling plate formed of an electrically conductive material having high thermal conductivity. A heat radiation plate is provided below an insulated substrate to which the first and second electronic devices are mounted. The second electronic device is cooled by a heat radiation path which extends through the insulated substrate and the heat radiation plate and a heat radiation path which extends through the second electronic device and the electrode to the heat radiation plate. The first and the second electronic device have substantially the same temperature due to heat radiation through the heat leveling plate. As a result, cooling effect of the electronic devices can be enhanced.

Abstract: A semiconductor package with an embedded heat spreader (EHS) is proposed, which can be used for the fabrication of a semiconductor package, such as a FCBGA (Flip-Chip Ball Grid Array) package with a heat spreader, and which is characterized by the provision of a plurality of recessed portions, either in the heat spreader attach area of the substrate, or in the support portion of the heat spreader, or in both, so as to allow the fill-in portions of the adhesive layer that are filled in these recessed portions to form anchor structures to benefit the heat spreader against crosswise shear stress. Moreover, since the provision of these recessed portions allows an increase in the contact area of the adhesive layer with the substrate and the heat spreader, it can help increase the adhesive strength to provide the heat spreader more securely adhered in position on the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor component has at least one Peltier element and at least one thermogenerator element that are thermally coupled to one another via a coupling device. By virtue of the thermal coupling of the Peltier element and the thermogenerator element through the coupling device, it is possible to use the Peltier element to cool a microstructure, in particular an optoelectronic component (e.g. a laser diode). Efficient temperature regulation and efficient operation of an optoelectronic component are thus possible.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material having large thermoelectric figure of merit is provided. A thin film comprising nanometer-sized particles having their diameters distributing within the range of 0.5 nm though 100 nm both inclusive is formed by depositing the nanometer-sized particles on a substrate, or dispersing the particles in a solid matrix material or solution thereby to form a thin film. In the thin film, a band gap due to quantum confinement effect is generated in each of the particles and electrical conduction occurs by that at least a part of the particles supply carriers. Accordingly, thermal conductivity ? as well as electrical resistivity ? and Seebeck coefficient S all of which are factors of thermoelectric figure of merit can be independently controlled, and it is possible to get a thermoelectric material having large dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit ZT such as beyond 1.5.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for thermal management of an integrated circuit. A semiconductor device includes an integrated circuit and an integrated thermoelectric cooler formed on a common substrate. A semiconductor device is fabricated by forming an integrated circuit on a front side of the substrate and forming an integrated thermoelectric cooler on a back side of the substrate. A first thermal sink of semiconductor material capable of absorbing heat from the integrated circuit is formed on the back side of the substrate. N-type thermoelectric elements are formed on contacts formed on the first thermal sink. P-type thermoelectric elements are formed on contacts formed on a second thermal sink of semiconductor material capable of dissipating heat. The p-type and n-type thermoelectric elements are bonded to the contacts on the first and second thermal sinks, respectively, by a flip-chip soldering process.

Abstract: A termoelectric thermoelectric device and method for manufacturing the thermoelectric device.