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:
Sep. 09, 2003
Filed:
May. 09, 2001
Thermoelectric element, method of fabricating the same, and thermoelectric module employing the same
Takeshi Kajihara, Hiratsuka, JP;
Akio Konishi, Hiratsuka, JP;
Yong Hoon Lee, Hiratsuka, JP;
Kiyoharu Sasaki, Hiratsuka, JP;
Kenichi Tomita, Hiratsuka, JP;
Takeji Kajiura, Isehara, JP;
Komatsu Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A method of fabricating a thermoelectric element of enhanced thermoelectric performance is provided by improving the preparation of thermoelectric material and employing hot plastic working in combination. The method comprises the step (a) of mixing and heat-melting a raw material of a predetermined composition; the step (b) of turning the heat-melted material into microglobules by either of scattering and spraying, and then quenching the microglobules, thereby providing a globular powdery thermoelectric material; and the step (c) of plastically deforming the thermoelectric material in a hot condition, thereby to bring crystal grains of the thermoelectric material into a crystal orientation affording an excellent figure of merit.