Switchable thermoelectric element and array
US5261747A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 22, 1992 |
| Grant date | Nov 16, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 22, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D23/22
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A thermoelectric array, such as a thermocouple array, includes a pair of dissimilar conductors disposed adjacent to each other at a plurality of locations. A switch is provided which selectively electrically couples and decouples the conductors at each such location, and an effective thermoelectric element is formed at the location where a switch is closed. The switches may be easily controlled to ensure that only the switch at the desired location is closed to form an effective thermoelectric element. Switches may include MOSFET pairs in series or dual-gate MOSFETs, and arrays of such switched thermoelectric elements may be integrated and fabricated on a common semiconductor substrate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.