Multi header for thermoelectric device

US10741741B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Phononic, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jesse W. Edwards · Wake Forest, US
• Devon Newman · Morrisville, US
• Arthur Prejs · Cary, US
• Alex R. Guichard · Portland, US
• Jason D. Reed · Chapel Hill, US
• Kevin Shawne Schneider · Cary, US
• Brian Williams · York, US
• Robert Joseph Therrien · Cary, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 20, 2017
• Grant date: Aug 11, 2020
• Expiry date: Mar 15, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10N10/85

Abstract

A thermoelectric device with multiple headers and a method of manufacturing such a device are provided herein. In some embodiments, a thermoelectric device includes multiple thermoelectric legs, a cold header thermally attached to the thermoelectric legs, and a hot header thermally attached to the thermoelectric legs opposite the cold header. At least one of the cold header and the hot header includes at least one score line. According to some embodiments disclosed herein, this the thermal stress on the thermoelectric device can be greatly reduced or relieved by splitting the header into multiple pieces or by scoring the header by a depth X. This enables the use of larger thermoelectric devices and/or thermoelectric devices with an increased lifespan.