公开(公告)号：EP3118885B1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-09

申请号：EP16168800.7

申请日：2007-08-06

Applicant: MTPV Power Corporation

Inventor： Hagelstein, Peter ,  Wu, Dennis

IPC: H01J45/00 ,  H01L35/32 ,  H02S10/30

CPC classification number: H01L35/32 ,  H01J45/00 ,  H01L35/00 ,  H01L35/16 ,  H01L35/34 ,  H02S10/30

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for thermal-to-electric conversion involving relatively hot and cold juxtaposed surfaces separated by a small vacuum gap wherein the cold surface provides an array of single charge carrier converter elements along the surface and the hot surface transfers excitation energy to the opposing cold surface across the gap through Coulomb electrostatic coupling interaction.

公开(公告)号：EP3118885A1

公开(公告)日：2017-01-18

申请号：EP16168800.7

申请日：2007-08-06

Applicant: MTPV Power Corporation

Inventor： Hagelstein, Peter ,  Wu, Dennis

IPC: H01J45/00 ,  H01L35/32 ,  H02S10/30

CPC classification number: H01L35/32 ,  H01J45/00 ,  H01L35/00 ,  H01L35/16 ,  H01L35/34 ,  H02S10/30

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for thermal-to-electric conversion involving relatively hot and cold juxtaposed surfaces separated by a small vacuum gap wherein the cold surface provides an array of single charge carrier converter elements along the surface and the hot surface transfers excitation energy to the opposing cold surface across the gap through Coulomb electrostatic coupling interaction.

Abstract translation: 一种用于热 - 电转换的改进方法和装置，其涉及由小的真空间隙分开的相对热和冷的并置表面，其中冷表面沿表面提供单个电荷载流子转换器元件的阵列，并且热表面将激发能量传递到 通过库仑静电耦合相互作用反对跨越间隙的冷表面。

公开(公告)号：EP3007202A1

公开(公告)日：2016-04-13

申请号：EP14003488.5

申请日：2014-10-10

Applicant: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.

Inventor： Mannhart, Jochen ,  Stephanos, Cyril

IPC: H01J45/00

CPC classification number: H01J45/00

Abstract: A thermoelectronic energy conversion device (100) comprises an electron emitter (10), which is adapted for a temperature-dependent release of electrons (1), an electron collector (20), which is adapted for a collection of the electrons (1), wherein the electron collector (20) and the electron emitter (10) are spaced from each other by a gap (2), and a gate electrode (30), which is arranged between the electron emitter (10) and the electron collector (20), wherein the gate electrode (30) is adapted for subjecting the electrons (1) in the gap (2) to an electrical potential, wherein the gate electrode (30) comprises at least one membrane-shaped, electrically conductive or semiconductive electrode layer (31), which is at least partially transparent for the electrons (1). The electrode layer (31) is e. g. graphene or a similar two-dimensional material. Furthermore, a power source device including at least one energy conversion device and a method of converting energy using the thermoelectronic energy converter device (100) are described.

Abstract translation: 热电子能量转换装置（100）包括电子发射器（10），其适于温度依赖性地释放电子（1），电子收集器（20），其适于收集电子（1） ，其中所述电子收集器（20）和所述电子发射器（10）通过间隙（2）彼此间隔开，并且设置在所述电子发射器（10）和所述电子收集器（10）之间的栅电极（30） 20），其中所述栅电极（30）适于使间隙（2）中的电子（1）经受电位，其中所述栅电极（30）包括至少一个膜状导电或半导电电极 层（31），其对于电子（1）至少部分透明。 电极层（31）为e。 G。 石墨烯或类似的二维材料。 此外，描述了包括至少一个能量转换装置的电源装置和使用热电子能量转换装置（100）转换能量的方法。

公开(公告)号：EP2798673A4

公开(公告)日：2015-11-18

申请号：EP12863100

申请日：2012-12-27

Applicant: ELWHA LLC

Inventor： HYDE RODERICK A ,  KARE JORDIN T ,  MYHRVOLD NATHAN P ,  PAN TONY S ,  WOOD JR LOWELL L

IPC: H01L23/34 ,  H01J1/48 ,  H01J3/02 ,  H01J19/38 ,  H01J21/10 ,  H01J45/00

CPC classification number: H01J45/00 ,  B82Y30/00 ,  H01J1/48 ,  H01J3/022 ,  H01J19/38 ,  H01J21/105 ,  H01L2924/0002 ,  H01L2924/00

Abstract: A field emission device is configured as a heat engine, and the performance of the device is optimized.

公开(公告)号：EP2335268A2

公开(公告)日：2011-06-22

申请号：EP09764926.3

申请日：2009-10-19

Applicant: The Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University

Inventor： SCHWEDE, Jared ,  MELOSH, Nicholas ,  SHEN, Zhixun

IPC: H01J40/04 ,  H01J45/00 ,  H01J40/06

CPC classification number: H01J40/06 ,  H01J45/00 ,  H01J2201/30434 ,  H02S99/00

Abstract: Photon Enhanced Thermionic Emission (PETE) is exploited to provide improved efficiency for radiant energy conversion. A hot (greater than 200 0C) semiconductor cathode is illuminated such that it emits electrons. Because the cathode is hot, significantly more electrons are emitted than would be emitted from a room temperature (or colder) cathode under the same illumination conditions. As a result of this increased electron emission, the energy conversion efficiency can be significantly increased relative to a conventional photovoltaic device. In PETE, the cathode electrons can be (and typically are) thermalized with respect to the cathode. As a result, PETE does not rely on emission of non-thermalized electrons, and is significantly easier to implement than hot-carrier emission approaches.

公开(公告)号：EP1646830A4

公开(公告)日：2008-11-19

申请号：EP04755064

申请日：2004-06-09

Applicant: BOREALIS TECH LTD

Inventor： TAVKHELIDZE AVTO ,  COX ISAIAH W ,  COX RODNEY T

IPC: F25B1/00 ,  H01L31/028 ,  H01L35/00 ,  H01L37/00 ,  H01L49/00

CPC classification number: H01L29/88 ,  F25B21/02 ,  F25B2321/003 ,  H01J45/00 ,  H01L29/16 ,  H01L35/00

Abstract: The present invention is a tunnel diode, in which the space between the emitter electrode and the collector electrode is occupied by a porous material which has a thickness less then the free mean free path of an electron in the porous material. The present invention also includes heat pumping and power generation devices comprising the tunnel diode.

Abstract translation: 本发明是隧道二极管，其中发射极电极和集电极电极之间的空间被多孔材料占据，多孔材料的厚度小于多孔材料中电子的自由平均自由程。 本发明还包括包括隧道二极管的热泵和发电装置。

公开(公告)号：EP1547234A4

公开(公告)日：2008-10-22

申请号：EP03796331

申请日：2003-09-12

Applicant: ENECO INC

Inventor： KUCHEROV YAN R ,  HAGELSTEIN PETER L

IPC: H01L29/06 ,  H01J45/00 ,  H01L29/66 ,  H01L31/00 ,  H01L35/00 ,  H01L37/00 ,  H02M20060101 ,  H02N1/00 ,  H02N2/00 ,  H02N3/00 ,  H02N10/00

CPC classification number: H01L35/00 ,  H01J45/00

Abstract: Tunneling-effect converters of thermal energy to electricity with an emitter and a collector separated from each by a distance that is comparable to atomic dimensions and where tunneling effect plays an important role in the charge movement from the emitter to the collector across the gap separating such emitter and collector. At least one of the emitter and collector structures includes a flexible structure. Tunneling-effect converters include devices that convert thermal energy to electrical energy and devices that provide refrigeration when electric power is supplied to such devices.

公开(公告)号：EP1678737A1

公开(公告)日：2006-07-12

申请号：EP03781513.1

申请日：2003-10-30

Applicant: Thermocon, Inc.

Inventor： DAVIS, Edwin D.

IPC: H01J45/00

CPC classification number: H01J45/00

Abstract: A thermionic electric converter includes a cathode output enhancing laser (374) operable to direct a laser beam (376) to strike an emissive surface of a cathode emitter (321), to increase the electron output of the cathode emitter (321). The cathode output enhancing lase (374) is positioned to direct a laser beam (375) through an opening (370) in the anode (306) or target structure, in the direction of the cathode emitter (321). An electron repulsion ring (380) is provided at an edge of the opening (370) in the anode (306), to reduce the number of electrons missing the anode (306) and passing through the opening (370) in the anode (306).

公开(公告)号：EP1458007A3

公开(公告)日：2006-05-03

申请号：EP04014629.2

申请日：1997-11-14

Applicant: Thermocon Incorporated

Inventor： Davis, Edwin D.

IPC: H01J45/00 ,  H01S3/00

CPC classification number: H01J45/00

Abstract: A thermionic electric converter comprising: a casing member; a cathode within the casing member operable when heated to serve as a source of electrons; and an anode within the casing member operable to receive electrons emitted from the cathode; and a laser operable to hit electrons between the cathode and anode, thus providing quantum interference with the electrons such that electrons are more readily captured by the anode.

公开(公告)号：EP1647717A1

公开(公告)日：2006-04-19

申请号：EP03741497.6

申请日：2003-07-18

Applicant: Akamatsu, Norio ,  Nishikado, Hiroshi

Inventor： AKAMATSU, Norio ,  NISHIKADO, Hiroshi ,  YANO, Kensuke

IPC: F04D29/44 ,  F04D5/00 ,  H01L37/00

CPC classification number: H01J45/00 ,  B82Y10/00 ,  F02B43/10 ,  F02G5/02 ,  H01J2201/30469 ,  H01M10/06 ,  Y02E60/126 ,  Y02E60/366 ,  Y02T10/166 ,  Y02T10/32

Abstract: A thermal electric power generator 100 is installed at a location to which heat based on the heat generation by the engine 50 of a motor vehicle with thermal electric power generator 200, 300 is transmitted, the thermal electric power generator 100 comprising an electron emitter 2 for emitting electrons when heat is applied to the electron emitter 2 and an electron collector 3 for collecting the electrons emitted from the electron emitter, wherein by using the electron collector as a negative electrode and the electron emitter as a positive electrode, the electrons are caused to migrate from the electron collector to thereby generate electric power, and the electric power generated by the thermal electric power generator is supplied to the motor vehicle with thermal electric power generator.

Abstract translation: 热发电机100安装在热发电机200,300的机动车辆的发动机50基于发热的热量的位置，热发电机100包括电子发射器2，用于 当向电子发射体2施加热时发射电子，以及用于收集从电子发射体发射的电子的电子收集器3，其中通过使用电子收集器作为负极，并将电子发射体用作正极， 从电子收集器迁移，从而产生电力，并且由热发电机产生的电力被供给到具有热发电机的机动车辆。