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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 18, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 28, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:
Donald B. King, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Laurence P. Sadwick, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Bernard R. Wernsman, Clairton, PA (US);
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 3/912 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 3/912 ;
Abstract
Modules of assembled microminiature thermionic converters (MTCs) having high energy-conversion efficiencies and variable operating temperatures manufactured using MEMS manufacturing techniques including chemical vapor deposition. The MTCs incorporate cathode to anode spacing of about 1 micron or less and use cathode and anode materials having work functions ranging from about 1 eV to about 3 eV. The MTCs also exhibit maximum efficiencies of just under 30%, and thousands of the devices and modules can be fabricated at modest costs.