Commissariat a L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives

Stmicroelectronics (crolles 2) Sas

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St-ericsson Sa

St-ericsson (grenoble) Sas

Commissariat À L'énergie Atomique Et Aux Énergies Alternatives

Stmicroelectronics (rousset) Sas

Guillaume Savelli

Philippe Coronel

Marc Plissonnier

Thomas Skotnicki

Denis Cottin

Joël Dufourcq

Stephane Monfray

Frederic Gaillard

Guilhem Roux

Stéphane Monfray

Philippe Capron

Frédéric Gaillard

Jean-Philippe Colonna

René Escoffier

Vincent Remondière

Christelle Navone

Thomas Huguet

Chloé Guerin

Maxime Baudry

Joel Dufourcq

Charlotte Bryan

A method for manufacturing a thermoelectric device where a first part formed in a first doped material and a second part formed in a second doped material each shaped like a comb are manufactured, before being assembled together and electrically connected. Then, the first base of the first part is sectioned into at least one first area and the second base of the second part is sectioned into at least one second area. Each first branch of the first part and each second branch of the second part separated respectively constitute a first element and a second element of a thermoelectric junction, electrically connected via portion of the second base that links them. In addition, each first branch and each second branch separated by a second area constitute a first element and a second element of a thermoelectric junction, electrically connected via the portion of the first base.

Method for manufacturing a thermoelectric device by additive manufacturing of combs to be set in contact with one another

A device including a deformable shell delimiting an inner space, and a resilient band suspended in the inner space and including two ends secured to the deformable shell. The band includes a piezoelectric material to generate an electric voltage under the effect of the deformation of the shell and two electrodes for collecting the voltage. An electronic circuit for processing the voltage is arranged on the resilient band and connected to the electrodes of the resilient band.

Device with deformable shell including an internal piezoelectric circuit

A device is provided, including a deformable shell defining an inner space including at least one piezoelectric system. The piezoelectric system includes a flexible piezoelectric membrane capable of generating electric energy under the effect of a deformation to which it is submitted, a rechargeable electric power source, formed on a flexible substrate, and an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit includes a processing circuit for generating and storing data according to the electric energy generated by the piezoelectric membrane, and connected to the electric power source for its electric power supply, and a wireless transmitter connected to the processing circuit to transmit the data stored therein and connected to the electric power source for its electric power supply. Each piezoelectric system is totally arranged on and/or inside of the deformable shell.

Sensor including a substrate, an assembly of thermoelectric layers including at least one first and one second junction of a thermocouple, at least one first and one second connection pads arranged to transfer heat respectively to each first and each second junction, a support member () of the substrate () intended to be connected to the hot source (Sc) and to the cold source (Sf), first and second metal connectors arranged to electrically connect the support member () respectively to each first and each second connection pad, the support member () including a thermal conductor configured to transfer heat from the hot source (Sc) to the first metal connector, and to transfer heat from the second metal connector to the cold source (Sf).

Differential temperature sensor

A system includes a hot source, a cold source, and a device thermally coupled between the hot source and the cold source. The device includes a thermal-mechanical transducer and a mechanical-electrical transducer. The thermal-mechanical transducer includes a band of bimetallic strips linked mechanically together by their longitudinal ends. The band partially suspended over a portion of a substrate. Each bimetallic strip has a first stable state having a first curvature and a second stable state having a second curvature opposite the first curvature, and adjacent bimetallic strips have opposite curvature.

Thermal energy harvesting optimization with bistable elements and collaborative behavior

System for converting thermal energy into electrical energy (S) intended to be arranged between a hot source (SC) and a cold source (SF), comprising means for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy () and a piezoelectric material, with the means for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy () comprising groups (GG) of at least three bimetallic strips () linked mechanically together by their longitudinal ends and suspended above a substrate (), each bimetallic strip () comprising two stable states wherein it has in each of the states a curvature, with two directly adjacent bimetallic strips () having for a given temperature opposite curvatures, with the switching from one stable state of the bimetallic strips () to the other causing the deformation of a piezoelectric material.

Thermal energy harvesting optimisation with bistable elements and collaborative behavior

An assembly converting thermal energy into electrical energy including: at least one temperature sensitive bimetallic strip arranged in a space delimited by a hot source and a cold source facing each other, the bimetallic strip extending along a longitudinal axis; at least one suspended element fixed in movement to the sensitive element and extending laterally from the sensitive element and including a free end; and at least one piezoelectric element suspended from a part fixed relative to the sensitive element and vibrated by the suspended element such that it is vibrated when the bimetallic strip changes configuration and the suspended element comes into contact with the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element being located outside the space defined between the bimetallic strip and the hot source and outside the space between the bimetallic strip and the cold source.

System for conversing thermal energy into electrical energy

This sensor () includes an assembly of thermoelectric layers, a support member () including at least one first and one second metallic connector pins (), first and second metal connectors arranged to electrically connect the support member () respectively to a first connection pad and a second connection pad, an external package () including a first surface () and a second opposite surface () intended to be respectively connected to a hot source and to a cold source, a first via () connecting the first surface () to each first connector pin (), a second via () connecting the second surface () to each second connector pin (), and the support member () includes thermal conductors between the connector pins () and the metal connectors.

The device includes a thermoelectric module provided with a thermocouple. Said thermocouple includes a first and second leg which are made of different thermoelectric materials, electrically connected by a connecting element configured to deform according to the temperature thereof so as to assume: a first deformation position in which the first and second legs are electrically connected in series solely by means of the connecting element; and a second deformation position in which the connecting element is in electrical contact with a shunt contact pad of the device, said shunt contact pad being made of a material, the electrical conductivity of which is greater than the electric conductivity of the connecting element and of the first and second legs. The device also includes a load, the electrical resistance of which is lower than the electrical resistance of the thermoelectric module, said load being electrically connected to the shunt contact pad.

Secure thermoelectric device

A racket having a handle, a frame attached to the handle, and strings with two perpendicular strings stretched in the frame, running back and forth in the frame. The system also includes: for each string, a piezoelectric sheath coating said string along most of its length, said sheath being divided along its length into at least three piezoelectric areas capable of each generating an independent voltage according to mechanical stress exerted on the strings; and an electronic circuit connected to the piezoelectric areas of the strings to identify a portion of the strings submitted to the highest mechanical stress according to the voltages generated by the piezoelectric areas of the strings.

Racket with piezoelectric strings

A cooling device of a component includes at least one channel in which a first cooling fluid flows designed to cool a hot area of the component. It further includes a thermoelectric module configured to measure a temperature difference between the hot area of the component and the channel, and a control circuit configured to modulate the flowrate of the first cooling fluid in the channel according to the temperature difference.

Cooling device equipped with a thermoelectric sensor

The thermoelectric device includes a first leg made from a first material, anchored at the level of its first end to a support, and a second leg made from a second material, anchored at the level of its first end to said support. In addition, an electric connecting element provided with first and second contact areas is respectively in electric contact with the first leg and second leg so as to form a thermocouple. The device includes means for varying the position of the first and contact areas at the level of the first and second legs.

Thermoelectric device which provides for varying the effective height of the contacts of a thermocouple, and method for manufacturing the device

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.

Differential temperature sensor and its capacitors in CMOS/BICMOS technology

The thermoelectric module includes a first electric path including a first set of thermocouples electrically connected in series. It further includes a second electric path including a second set of thermocouples electrically connected in series, the number of thermocouples of the second set being smaller than the number of thermocouples of the first set.

Optimized thermoelectric module for operation in peltier mode or in seebeck mode

A thermoelectric device includes first and second legs extending continuously between first and second heat sources. The first and second legs respectively include first and second conducting elements and third and fourth conducting elements. The first and third conducting elements are adjacent and separated by an insulator. The second and fourth conducting elements are adjacent and separated by an insulator. The device also includes selection means enabling formation of a first thermocouple from the first and second conducting elements and formation of a second thermocouple from the third and fourth conducting elements.

Growing community of inventors

Grenoble, France

Guillaume Savelli