Electronic device and wiring with a current induced cooling effect, and an electronic device capable of converting a temperature difference into voltage
US7556869B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 9, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jul 7, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 25, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/1193
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Localized temperature increases inside integrated circuits due to heating at operation are prevented or controlled by electronic devices or wirings with CPP (current-perpendicular-to-plane) structures which have a current cooling effect. A CPP structure refers to a structure comprising a columnar electrically conductive portion and an insulator portion surrounding the conductive portion. The columnar portion is formed from a multilayered structure in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the layers, so as to allow a current to flow from an upper layer to a lower layer (or vice versa). The cooling effect is induced by current at the interface (or a plural of interfaces) of appropriately selected different kinds of materials (which are conductive substances in general, such as metals, semiconductors, and alloys thereof) in the columnar portion due to the Peltier effect when a current flows through the column. Temperature in a minute range is detected by a thermocouple with the CPP structure. The thermocouple has two interfaces of different materials with a proper combination. When a temperature difference exists between the two interfaces, a voltage which corresponds to a product…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.