The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Aug. 08, 2000

Filed:

Nov. 18, 1997
Applicant:
Inventors:

Michael M Ladd, Renton, WA (US);

Kin Li, Bellevue, WA (US);

Frederick D McKenney, Seattle, WA (US);

Minas H Tanielian, Bellevue, WA (US);

Assignee:

The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
136201 ; 136205 ;
Abstract

Semiconductor materials optimized for their electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity promise much higher thermoelectric cooling power. The materials can achieve the same cooling or power generation capacity in thermopiles with less electron current compared with present bulk materials. Because less electron current is required to accomplish the same task, total thermopile semiconductor material cross-sectional area normal to thermal and electron flow is greatly reduced and the element length-to-cross-sectional area aspect ratio is increased. The net result is a significant improvement in the figure of merit, ZT, and in the device Coefficient of Performance (COP).


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