Thermally Responsive Patents (Class 438/54)
-
Patent number: 8748208Abstract: For the present invention, a P-type thermo-electric thin-film layer and a N-type thermo-electric thin-film layer are respectively deposited on two sides of an insulating substrate. During the deposition, the P-type thermo-electric thin-film layer and the N-type thermo-electric thin-film layer are deposited and connected on the same exposed side of the insulating substrate, and then a PN junction is formed. This method makes the fabrication simplified without special process for connecting the P-type thermo-electric thin-film layer and the N-type thermo-electric thin-film layer. Due to the features of thin-film thermo-electric material, the performance of thermo-electric generator is improved. During the deposition, the P-type thermo-electric thin-film layer and the N-type thermo-electric thin-film layer are deposited and connected on the exposed side of the insulating substrate, so welding is not required in this heating surface side.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2009Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Shenzhen UniversityInventors: Ping Fan, Dong-Ping Zhang, Zhuang-Hao Zheng, Guang-Xing Liang
-
Publication number: 20140151559Abstract: A radiation sensor includes an integrated circuit radiation sensor chip (1A) including first (7) and second (8) thermopile junctions connected in series to form a thermopile (7,8) within a dielectric stack (3). The first thermopile junction (7) is insulated from a substrate (2) of the chip. A resistive heater (6) in the dielectric stack for heating the first thermopile junction is coupled to a calibration circuit (67) for calibrating responsivity of the thermopile (7,8). The calibration circuit causes a current flow in the heater and multiplies the current by a resulting voltage across the heater to determine power dissipation. A resulting thermoelectric voltage (Vout) of the thermopile (7,8) is divided by the power to provide the responsivity of the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2014Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Walter B. Meinel, Kalin Lazarov
-
Patent number: 8735200Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide robust electrothermal MEMS with fast thermal response. In one embodiment, an electrothermal bimorph actuator is fabricated using aluminum as one bimorph layer and tungsten as the second bimorph layer. The heating element can be the aluminum or the tungsten, or a combination of aluminum and tungsten, thereby providing a resistive heater and reducing deposition steps. Polyimide can be used for thermal isolation of the bimorph actuator and the substrate. For MEMS micromirror designs, the polyimide can also be used for thermal isolation between the bimorph actuator and the micromirror.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Inventors: Sagnik Pal, Huikai Xie
-
Patent number: 8728846Abstract: A thermoelectric device is disclosed which includes metal thermal terminals protruding from a top surface of an IC, connected to vertical thermally conductive conduits made of interconnect elements of the IC. Lateral thermoelectric elements are connected to the vertical conduits at one end and heatsinked to the IC substrate at the other end. The lateral thermoelectric elements are thermally isolated by interconnect dielectric materials on the top side and field oxide on the bottom side. When operated in a generator mode, the metal thermal terminals are connected to a heat source and the IC substrate is connected to a heat sink. Thermal power flows through the vertical conduits to the lateral thermoelectric elements, which generate an electrical potential. The electrical potential may be applied to a component or circuit in the IC. The thermoelectric device may be integrated into an IC without adding fabrication cost or complexity.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2009Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Barry Jon Male, Philip L. Hower
-
Publication number: 20140130839Abstract: The present invention concerns a structure useful for producing a thermoelectric generator, a thermoelectric generator comprising same and a method for producing same. A method for producing a structure useful for producing a thermoelectric generator, wherein the structure comprises at least one stripe of a n-type and at least one stripe of a p-type material, either separated by a stripe of an insulating material, or provided spatially separated on an insulating material, and comprising stripes of conductive material each connecting one n-type stripe with one p-type stripe, and not in electrical contact with each other, wherein the structure is free from polymeric substrates, wherein the method comprises the steps of co-forming the at least one stripe of a n-type and at least one stripe of a p-type material in a single manufacturing step; and forming connections between the at least one stripe of a n-type and at least one stripe of a p-type material by means of stripes of conductive material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2012Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF DENMARKInventors: Ngo Van Nong, Nini Pryds, Christian Robert Haffenden Bahl, Anders Smith, Soren Linderoth
-
Publication number: 20140130838Abstract: A p-type semiconductor block is made of a p-type thermoelectric conversion material, and has a pillar portion and a connection portion laterally protruding from the pillar portion. In addition, an n-type semiconductor block is made of an n-type thermoelectric conversion material, and has a pillar portion and a connection portion laterally protruding from the pillar portion. The p-type semiconductor block and the n-type semiconductor block are alternately arranged in such a way that the connection portion of the p-type semiconductor block is connected with the pillar portion of the n-type semiconductor block and the connection portion of the n-type semiconductor block is connected with the pillar portion of the p-type semiconductor block. The connection portions and tip-end portions of the pillar portions are made of a thermoelectric conversion material containing metal powder.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2013Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventor: FUJITSU LIMITED
-
Publication number: 20140124010Abstract: A method of fabricating a thermoelectric device includes providing a substrate having a plurality of inclined growth surfaces protruding from a surface thereof. Respective thermoelectric material layers are grown on the inclined growth surfaces, and the respective thermoelectric material layers coalesce to collectively define a continuous thermoelectric film. A surface of the thermoelectric film opposite the surface of the substrate may be substantially planar, and a crystallographic orientation of the thermoelectric film may be tilted at an angle of about 45 degrees or less relative to a direction along a thickness thereof. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: May 8, 2014Inventors: Robert P. Vaudo, Philip A. Deane, Thomas Peter Schneider, Christopher D. Holzworth, Joseph Robert Williamson
-
Patent number: 8716689Abstract: A thermal diode comprising a superlyophobic surface, and a lyophilic surface separated from the superlyophobic surface defining a chamber. A liquid is disposed in the chamber, the liquid capable of phase changing during operation of the thermal diode. Methods of cooling and insulating bodies and rectifying heat transfer using the thermal diode.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2010Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Duke UniversityInventors: Chuan-Hua Chen, Jonathan B. Boreyko, Yuejun Zhao
-
Publication number: 20140117237Abstract: There is provided a novel and useful a high responsivity device for thermal sensing in a Terahertz (THz) radiation detector. A load impedance connected to an antenna heats up due to the incident THz radiation received by the antenna. The heat generated by the load impedance is sensed by a thermal sensor such as a transistor. To increase the responsivity of the sense device without increasing the thermal mass, the device is located underneath a straight portion of an antenna arm. The transistor runs substantially the entire length of the antenna arm alleviating the problem caused by placing large devices on the side of the antenna and the resulting large additional thermal mass that must be heated. This boosts the responsivity of the pixel while retaining an acceptable level of noise and demanding a dramatically smaller increase in the thermal time constant.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2012Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Dan Corcos, Danny Elad, Noam Kaminski, Bernhard Klein, Lukas Kull, Thomas Morf
-
Patent number: 8709850Abstract: The invention relates to a method for production of at least one thermoelectric apparatus with the steps of: preparation of a first wafer (1) which is formed from a thermoelectric material of a first conductivity type; preparation of a second wafer which is formed from a thermoelectric material of a second conductivity type; structuring of the first wafer (1) so that a group of first thermoelectric structures (7) is produced; structuring of the second wafer so that a group of second thermoelectric structures is produced; and linking of the first to the second wafer in such a manner that the first and the second thermoelectric structures are electrically connected together and thus form the thermoelectric apparatus. According to the invention, before the structuring of the first wafer (1), a first contact material (3) is deposited on the first wafer (1) and/or before the structuring of the second wafer, a second contact material is deposited onto the second wafer.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2009Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Micropelt GmbHInventors: Joachim Nurnus, Fritz Volkert, Axel Schubert
-
Patent number: 8710615Abstract: According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and an amorphous semi-insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2011Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventor: Gerhard Schmidt
-
Publication number: 20140109948Abstract: A thermoelectric module including: an n-type thermoelectric element; a p-type thermoelectric element; a diffusion blocking layer bonded integrally on each of a top and a bottom surface of the n-type thermoelectric element and on each of a top and a bottom surface of the p-type thermoelectric element; an electrode on the n-type thermoelectric element and on the p-type thermoelectric element; and a bonding layer disposed between the electrode and at least one of the n-type thermoelectric element and the p-type thermoelectric element, wherein the bonding layer includes an amorphous metal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2013Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kyu-hyoung LEE, Sang-il KIM, Se-yun KIM, Eun-sung LEE
-
Patent number: 8704327Abstract: An integrated circuit, comprising a capacitive device having a thermally variable capacitive value and comprising a thermally deformable assembly disposed within an enclosure, and comprising an electrically-conducting fixed body and a beam held at least two different locations by at least two arms rigidly attached to edges of the enclosure, the beam and the arms being metal and disposed within the first metallization level. A part of the said thermally deformable assembly may form a first electrode of the capacitive device and a part of the said fixed body may form a second electrode of the capacitive device. The thermally deformable assembly has a plurality of configurations corresponding respectively to various temperatures of the said assembly and resulting in a plurality of distances separating the two electrodes and various capacitive values in the capacitive device corresponding to the plurality of distances.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2012Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SASInventors: Christian Rivero, Pascal Fornara, Antonio di-Giacomo
-
Publication number: 20140102500Abstract: In a structure for joining thermoelectric devices and electrodes in a thermoelectric module, the thermoelectric module is configured such that multiple P-type thermoelectric devices and multiple N-type thermoelectric devices are alternately disposed so as to be electrically connected in series via electrode members. A connected portion of the electrode member to the P-type thermoelectric device and a connected portion of the electrode member to the N-type thermoelectric device are made of different materials. This can suppress a considerable reduction in connection reliability between the thermoelectric devices and the electrodes even at a high temperature and efficiently transmit a peripheral temperature to the thermoelectric devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.Inventors: Shinichi FUJIWARA, Tomotake TOHEI, Zenzo ISHIJIMA, Takahiro JINUSHI, Shohei HATA
-
Publication number: 20140102498Abstract: Methods of fabricating a thermoelectric element with reduced yield loss include forming a solid body of thermoelectric material having first dimension of 150 mm or more and thickness dimension of 5 mm or less, and dicing the body into a plurality of thermoelectric legs, without cutting along the thickness dimension of the body. Further methods include providing a metal material over a surface of a thermoelectric material, and hot pressing the metal material and the thermoelectric material to form a solid body having a contact metal layer and a thermoelectric material layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: GMZ Energy, Inc.Inventors: Bed Poudel, Giri Joshi, Jian Yang, Tej Panta, James Christopher Caylor, Jonathan D'Angelo, Zhifeng Ren
-
Publication number: 20140103210Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, suspension structures extending from the upper surface of the substrate, and an absorber stack attached to the substrate by the suspension structures. The suspension structures suspend the absorber stack over the substrate such that a gap is defined between the absorber stack and the substrate. The absorber stack includes a plurality of metallization layers interleaved with a plurality of insulating layers. At least one of the metallization layers has a thickness of approximately 10 nm or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Ando Lars Feyh, Po-Jui Chen, Fabian Purkl, Gary Yama, Gary O'Brien
-
Patent number: 8697549Abstract: An improved method of creating thermoelectric materials which have high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity is disclosed. In one embodiment, the thermoelectric material is made by depositing a porous film onto a substrate, introducing a dopant into the porous film and annealing the porous film to activate the dopant. In other embodiments, additional amounts of dopant may be introduced via subsequent ion implantations of dopant into the deposited porous film.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2012Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.Inventors: Xianfeng Lu, Ludovic Godet, Christopher Hatem, John Hautala
-
Patent number: 8698255Abstract: A simple and cost-effective form of implementing a semiconductor component having a micromechanical microphone structure, including an acoustically active diaphragm as a deflectable electrode of a microphone capacitor, a stationary, acoustically permeable counterelement as a counter electrode of the microphone capacitor, and means for applying a charging voltage between the deflectable electrode and the counter electrode of the microphone capacitor. In order to not impair the functionality of this semiconductor component, even during overload situations in which contact occurs between the diaphragm and the counter electrode, the deflectable electrode and the counter electrode of the microphone capacitor are counter-doped, at least in places, so that they form a diode in the event of contact. In addition, the polarity of the charging voltage between the deflectable electrode and the counter electrode is such that the diode is switched in the blocking direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2010Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Frank Reichenbach, Arnim Hoechst, Thomas Buck
-
Publication number: 20140096809Abstract: A thermoelectric device including: a thermoelectric material layer comprising a thermoelectric material; a transition layer on the thermoelectric material; and a diffusion prevention layer on the transition layer, wherein the thermoelectric material comprises a compound of Formula 1: (A1-aA?a)4-x(B1-bB?b)3-y-zCz??Formula 1 wherein A and A? are different from each other, A is a Group 13 element, and A? is at least one element of a Group 13 element, a Group 14 element, a rare-earth element, or a transition metal, B and B? are different from each other, B is a Group 16 element, and B? is at least one element of a Group 14 element, a Group 15 element, or a Group 16 element, C is at least one halogen atom, a complies with the inequality 0?a<1, b complies with the inequality 0?b<1, x complies with the inequality ?1<x<1, y complies with the inequality ?1<y<1, and z complies with 0?z<0.5.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sang-il KIM, Sung-woo HWANG, Sang-mock LEE, Kyu-hyoung LEE, Vilius MYKHAILOVSKY, Roman MOCHERNYUK
-
Patent number: 8691612Abstract: Provided is a method of enhancing thermoelectric performance by surrounding crystalline semiconductors with nanoparticles by contacting a bismuth telluride material with a silver salt under a substantially inert atmosphere and a temperature approximately near the silver salt decomposition temperature; and recovering a metallic bismuth decorated material comprising silver telluride crystal grains.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Hyun-Jung Kim, Sang Hyouk Choi, Glen C. King, Yeonjoon Park, Kunik Lee
-
Patent number: 8692225Abstract: A resistive memory device capable of suppressing disturbance between cells and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The resistive memory device includes a word line formed, in a first direction, on a semiconductor substrate, lower access structures, each having a pillar shape, formed on the word line, a first insulating layer formed around an outer circumference of each of the lower access structures, a heat-absorption layer formed on a surface of each of the to heat-absorption layers, a variable resistive material formed on the lower access structures, and an upper electrode formed on each variable resistive material.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.Inventor: Nam Kyun Park
-
Patent number: 8692349Abstract: An example embodiment relates to a semiconductor device including a semiconductor package in which a semiconductor chip is mounted on the package substrate. The semiconductor package may include a temperature measurement device and a temperature control circuit. The temperature measurement device may measure a temperature of the semiconductor package. The temperature control circuit may change an operation speed of the semiconductor package on the basis of the temperature of the semiconductor package measured by the temperature measurement device.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae Choon Kim, Eunseok Cho, Mi-Na Choi, Kyoungsei Choi, Heejung Hwang, Seran Bae
-
Publication number: 20140091422Abstract: A device and a method of forming the same are disclosed. The device comprises a substrate and a thin film. The substrate is characterized by a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The thin film is attached to a surface of the substrate, and is characterized by a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The thin film includes first and second layers in states of compression, and a third layer in a state of tension, the third layer being positioned between the first and second layers. The thin film is in a net state of tension within a temperature range.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Phillip W. Barth
-
Publication number: 20140076373Abstract: Methods for fabricating a nanowire array epoxy composite with high structural integrity and low effective thermal conductivity to achieve a power conversion efficiency goal of approximately 20% and power density of about 104 W/m2 with a maximum temperature below about 380° C. Further, a method includes fabricating a self-supporting thick 3-D interconnected nanowire array with high structural integrity and low effective thermal conductivity to achieve a power conversion efficiency goal of 20% and power density of about 104 W/m2 with a maximum temperature of about 700° C., the nanowire array having substantially only air between nanowires.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2012Publication date: March 20, 2014Inventors: Timothy D. Sands, Kalapi G. Biswas
-
Publication number: 20140069185Abstract: A vacuum-cavity-insulated flow sensor and related fabrication method are described. The sensor comprises a porous silicon wall with numerous vacuum-pores which is created in a silicon substrate, a porous silicon membrane with numerous vacuum-pores which is surrounded and supported by the porous silicon wall, and a cavity with a vacuum-space which is disposed beneath the porous silicon membrane and surrounded by the porous silicon wall. The fabrication method includes porous silicon formation and silicon polishing in HF solution.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2012Publication date: March 13, 2014Inventor: Xiang Zheng Tu
-
Publication number: 20140073078Abstract: The present invention provides an energy converting device, which includes: a base substrate; and a plurality of thermoelectric element structures which are sequentially stacked on the base substrate and electrically interconnected in parallel to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.Inventor: Seung Seoup LEE
-
Publication number: 20140070355Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific PTE LTD (Singapore)Inventor: PraveenKumar Radhakrishnan
-
Publication number: 20140060605Abstract: The invention relates to a thermoelectric module comprising a metal housing element and a ceramic layer that is applied to the metal housing element. The thermoelectric module further comprises an additional housing element arranged on the side of the metal housing element which is provided with the ceramic layer, the additional housing element and the metal housing element being joined to form a fluid-tight housing. The thermoelectric module finally comprises at least one thermoelectrically active material which is arranged inside the fluid-tight housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: BEHR GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Hans-Heinrich Angermann, Holger Brehm, Thomas Himmer
-
Publication number: 20140060603Abstract: A current source and method of producing the current source are provided. The current source includes a metal source, a buffer layer, a filter and a collector. An electrical connection is provided to the metal layer and semiconductor layer and a magnetic field applier may be also provided. The source metal has localized states at a bottom of the conduction band and probability amplification. The interaction of the various layers produces a spontaneous current. The movement of charge across the current source produces a voltage, which rises until a balancing reverse current appears. If a load is connected to the current source, current flows through the load and power is dissipated. The energy for this comes from the thermal energy in the current source, and the device gets cooler.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: Kriisa Research, Inc.Inventor: Toomas KRIISA
-
Publication number: 20140061845Abstract: In one embodiment, a MEMS sensor includes a mirror and an absorber spaced apart from the mirror, the absorber including a plurality of spaced apart conductive legs defining a tortuous path across an area directly above the mirror.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Fabian Purkl, Gary Yama, Ando Feyh
-
Publication number: 20140036953Abstract: Disclosed are a temperature sensor device using a thermopile, the total number n of thermocouples thereon can be increased without greatly increasing the internal resistance of the thermopile r, providing high output level and high S/N ratio, a highly sensitive radiation thermometer using the device, and production method of the device using organic material for thin films to form the thermopile. These provide a standardized inexpensive multi-layered thin film thermopile, a radiation thermometer with high sensitivity, and production method of these devices. The temperature sensor device is a device wherein a thermopile which is formed on a thin film thermally isolated from a substrate is place in a temperature sensing part, and the thin film is formed as a multi-layered thin film, a layered thermopile is formed on each layered thin film, the substrate functioning as a heat sink which is one junction of the reference temperature of the thermopile.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2011Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicants: HME CO., LTD.Inventors: Mitsuteru Kimura, Nobuo Tanaka, Hironori Shimobayashi
-
Publication number: 20140038336Abstract: A thermal detector manufacturing method includes: forming a sacrificial layer on a structure including an insulating layer; forming a support member on the sacrificial layer; forming on the support member a heat-detecting element; forming a first light-absorbing layer so as to cover the heat-detecting element, and planarizing the first light-absorbing layer; forming a contact hole in a portion of the first light-absorbing layer, subsequently forming a thermal transfer member having a connecting portion that connects to the heat-detecting element and a thermal collecting portion having a surface area greater than that of the connecting portion as seen in plan view; forming a second light-absorbing layer on the first light-absorbing layer; and removing the sacrificial layer to form a cavity between the support member and the structure including the insulating layer formed on the surface of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Yasushi TSUCHIYA
-
Patent number: 8642398Abstract: A resistive random access memory including, an insulating layer, a hard mask layer, a bottom electrode, a memory cell and a top electrode is provided. The insulating layer is disposed on the bottom electrode. The insulating layer has a contact hole having a first width. The hard mask layer has an opening. A portion of the memory cell is exposed from the opening and has a second width smaller than the first width. The top electrode is disposed on the insulating layer and is coupled with the memory cell.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ming-Daou Lee, Chia-Hua Ho, Erh-Kun Lai, Kuang-Yeu Hsieh
-
Publication number: 20140026934Abstract: A three-dimensional thermoelectric energy harvester and a fabrication method thereof. Low-resistivity silicon is etched to form a plurality of grooves and silicon columns between the grooves, and an insulating layer is formed on a surface of the groove, and thermoelectric columns are fabricated by using a thin-film deposition technique, so that the thermoelectric column and a neighboring silicon column form a thermocouple pair; and then, a metal wiring is fabricated by processes such as etching and deposition, followed by thinning of the substrate and bonding of the supporting substrates, thereby completing fabrication of the three-dimensional thermoelectric energy harvester. Fabrication of the thermocouple pair structure by one thin-film deposition process simplifies the fabrication process. The thermocouple pair using silicon ensures a high Seebeck coefficient. The use of vertical thermocouple pairs having a column structure improves the mechanical stability of the thermoelectric energy harvester.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2012Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: SHANGHAI INSTITUTE OF MICROSYSTEM AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, CHINESE ACADEMYInventors: Dehui Xu, Bin Xiong, Yuelin Wang
-
Publication number: 20140027714Abstract: A quantum well thermoelectric component for use in a thermoelectric device based on the thermoelectric effect, comprising a stack of layers of two materials respectively made on the basis of silicon and silicon-germanium, the first of the two materials, made on the basis of silicon, defining a barrier semiconductor material and the second of the two materials, made on the basis of silicon-germanium, defining a conducting semiconductor material, the barrier semiconductor material having a band gap higher than the band gap of the conducting semiconductor material, wherein the conducting semiconductor material is an alloy comprising silicon, germanium and at least a lattice-matching element, the lattice-matching element(s) being present in order to control a lattice parameter mismatch between the barrier layer made of the barrier semiconductor material and the conducting layer made of the conducting semiconductor material.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2012Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: SOITECInventors: Daniel Delprat, Christophe Figuet, Oleg Kononchuk
-
Patent number: 8637339Abstract: An improved diode energy converter for chemical kinetic electron energy transfer is formed using nanostructures and includes identifiable regions associated with chemical reactions isolated chemically from other regions in the converter, a region associated with an area that forms energy barriers of the desired height, a region associated with tailoring the boundary between semiconductor material and metal materials so that the junction does not tear apart, and a region associated with removing heat from the semiconductor.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2011Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Neokismet L.L.C.Inventors: Anthony C. Zuppero, Jawahar M. Gidwani
-
Publication number: 20140021576Abstract: A miniature thermoelectric energy harvester and a fabrication method thereof Annular grooves are fabricated on a low-resistivity silicon substrate to define silicon thermoelectric columns, an insulating layer is fabricated on the annular grooves, a thermoelectric material is filled in the annular grooves to form annular thermoelectric columns, and then metal wirings, passivation layers and supporting substrates are fabricated, thereby completing the fabrication process. The silicon thermoelectric column using a silicon base material simplifies the fabrication process. The fabrication of the thermocouple structure is one thin-film deposition process, which simplifies the process. The use of silicon as a component of the thermocouple has a high Seebeck coefficient. The use of vertical thermocouples improves the stability. Since the thermocouple structure is bonded to the upper supporting substrate and lower supporting substrate by wafer-level bonding, the fabrication efficiency is improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2012Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: SHANGHAI INSTITUTE OF MICROSYSTEM AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, CHINESE ACADAMYInventors: Dehui Xu, Bin Xiong, Yuelin Wang
-
Publication number: 20140015089Abstract: The sensor is made on a semiconductor substrate covered with an electrically insulating layer. The electrically insulating layer separates a thermocouple from the substrate. It includes a first portion presenting a first value of capacitance per unit area and a second portion presenting a second value of capacitance per unit area, which is lower than the first value. The sensor includes first and second output terminals connected to the thermocouple. The first output terminal includes a first capacitor having a first electrode formed by a first leg made of an electrically conducting material. The second electrode of the capacitor is formed by a part of the substrate facing said first leg and separated from the first electrode by the first portion of the electrically insulating layer. The first leg connects the thermocouple while overlapping the second portion of the electrically insulating layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2012Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicants: ST-ERICSSON SA, COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESInventors: Guillaume Savelli, Denis Cottin
-
Patent number: 8629423Abstract: In the present invention, one or more inventive designs and techniques allow formation of high speed complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process compatible tunneling devices that are formed on low dielectric loss sheet-substrates (such as silicon or germanium for infrared or quartz and sapphire for visible or near infrared) having the first and the second smooth planar surfaces and an intermediate surface in the form of a hole, or slit, or a side edge, which extends between and connects the first and second surfaces, so that deposited from opposite sides of the sheet-substrate the first metal layer followed by its oxidation or nanometer thickness tunneling dielectric coating and the second metal layer have an overlapped coupled area within the intermediate surface, thus forming a non-planar metal-insulator-metal (MIM) tunneling junction of low capacitance and high cut-off frequency, which is capable to operate at room temperature at terahertz, infrared, and even optical frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2009Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Inventor: Nikolai Kislov
-
Patent number: 8623687Abstract: A method of forming a thermoelectric device may include forming a first electrically conductive trace, and bonding a thermoelectric element to the first electrically conductive trace. After bonding the thermoelectric element to the first electrically conductive trace, a metal post may be formed on the thermoelectric element so that the thermoelectric element is between the first electrically conductive trace and the metal post. After forming the metal post, the metal post may be bonded to a second electrically conductive trace so that the metal post is between the second electrically conductive trace and the thermoelectric element. Other related methods and structures are also discussed.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2006Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Nextreme Thermal Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Brooks O'Quinn, Rama Venkatasubramanian, Edward Siivola
-
Publication number: 20140004643Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method of fabricating a thermoelectric material and a thermoelectric material fabricated thereby. According to the present invention, since carbon nanotubes with no surface treatment are dispersed in the alloy, electrical resistivity decreases and electrical conductivity increases in comparison to surface-treated carbon nanotubes and an amount of thermal conductivity decreased is the same as that in the case of using surface-treated carbon nanotubes, and thus, a ZT value, a thermoelectric figure of merit, is improved. A separate reducing agent is not used and an organic solvent having reducing powder is used to improve economic factors related to material costs and process steps, and carbon nanotubes may be dispersed in the thermoelectric material without mechanical milling.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Inventor: Kyung Tae KIM
-
Patent number: 8618603Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor member; a memory film provided on a surface of the semiconductor member and being capable of storing charge; and a plurality of control gate electrodes provided on the memory film, spaced from each other, and arranged along a direction parallel to the surface. Average dielectric constant of a material interposed between one of the control gate electrodes and a portion of the semiconductor member located immediately below the control gate electrode adjacent to the one control gate electrode is lower than average dielectric constant of a material interposed between the one control gate electrode and a portion of the semiconductor member located immediately below the one control gate electrode.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2012Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yoshio Ozawa, Fumiki Aiso
-
Publication number: 20130344612Abstract: Disclosed is a differential scanning nanocalorimeter device, methods of fabricating such a device, and methods of use thereof. The nanocalorimeter contains thermal equilibrium areas for sample and reference liquids, with thermometers, compensation heater, and electric trace elements fabricated on a free-standing polymer diaphragm membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Inventor: Lei ZUO
-
Publication number: 20130333738Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a thermoelectric conversion material that can have a balance between flexibility and high thermoelectric conversion capacity, a thermoelectric conversion element using the material, and a device that uses waste heat of, for example, an electronic apparatus and a vehicle by using the element. Provided is a thermoelectric conversion element that includes a layer constituted by an organic material in which a fine particle of a carbon nanotube is dispersed and which has flexibility, preferably, a high glass transition temperature and low thermal conductivity, and in which a mass ratio of the carbon nanotube to the organic material is 50% by mass to 90% by mass, and a device in which the thermoelectric conversion element is installed to a heat release portion of an apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2012Publication date: December 19, 2013Inventors: Kouji Suemori, Toshihide Kamata
-
Patent number: 8609452Abstract: An analytical system-on-a-chip can be used as an analytical imaging device, for example, for detecting the presence of a chemical compound. A layer of analytical material is formed on a transparent layer overlying a solid state image sensor. The analytical material can react in known ways with at least one reactant to block light or to allow light to pass through to the array. The underlying sensor array, in turn, can process the presence, absence or amount of light into a digitized signal output. The system-on-a-chip may also include software that can detect and analyze the output signals of the device.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2012Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Terry Gilton
-
Publication number: 20130328154Abstract: A thermistor includes a metal substrate, a semiconductor ceramic layer on the metal substrate, and a pair of split electrodes on the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor ceramic layer is formed by a solid-phase method. The metal substrate includes ceramic particles and is not interrupted in the direction of thickness by the ceramic particles or a pillar defined by a chain of the ceramic particles. Preferably, the metal substrate and the ceramic layer of the thermistor have a thickness of about 10 ?m to about 80 ?m and about 1 ?m to about 10 ?m, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2013Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: Murata Manufacturing Co., LtdInventor: Tadamasa MIURA
-
Patent number: 8604867Abstract: An energy harvesting integrated circuit (IC) includes electrical connectors, each having a portion of a first material and a portion of a second material. The first and the second materials have a thermoelectric potential. The IC includes a trace of the first material coupled to the first material of each electrical connector, and a trace of the second material coupled to the second material of each electrical connector and the first trace. A portion of the second trace extends away from a portion of the first trace. The IC has charge storing elements coupled to the first and/or second traces. The first material and the second material are heated to create an electron flow from a thermal gradient between a first zone of the heated first and second materials and a second zone of the first and the second materials away from the first zone.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventor: Henry L. Sanchez
-
Publication number: 20130319495Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoelectric device using a bulk material of a nano type, a thermoelectric module having the thermoelectric device and a method of manufacturing thereof. According to the present invention, thin film of a nano thickness is formed on a bulk material formed as several nano types to be re-connected for prohibiting the phonon course.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.Inventors: Se Joon Kim, Jong Bae Shin
-
Publication number: 20130312801Abstract: In one aspect, photovoltaic apparatus comprising electrical and thermal production capabilities are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus described herein comprises a conduit core comprising at least one radiation transmissive surface, a fluid disposed in the conduit core and a photoactive assembly at least partially surrounding the conduit core, the photoactive assembly comprising a radiation transmissive first electrode, at least one photosensitive layer electrically connected to the first electrode, and a second electrode electrically connected to the photosensitive layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2011Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITYInventor: David L. Carroll
-
Publication number: 20130313674Abstract: To provide a thermal electromagnetic wave detection element, a method for producing a thermal electromagnetic wave detection element, a thermal electromagnetic wave detection device, and an electrical apparatus, which are highly reliable and make it possible to prevent damage or deformation in the vicinity of the corner parts of a void, a thermal electromagnetic wave detection element includes: a semiconductor substrate; a support member provided on the semiconductor substrate; a detection unit that is provided on the support member and is able to extract from a pair of electrodes an electrical signal corresponding to a received amount of electromagnetic waves; and a pair of electrically conductive vias that perforate through the semiconductor substrate and are electrically connected to the pair of electrodes, a void that opens on the support member side being provided between the pair of vias of the semiconductor substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Inventor: Takafumi NODA