Abstract:
A thermoelectric device with improved efficiency is provided. In one embodiment, the thermoelectric device includes a first thermoelement and a second thermoelement electrically coupled to the first thermoelement. An array of first tips are in close physical proximity to, but not necessarily in physical contact with, the first thermoelement at a first set of discrete points. An array of second tips are in close physical proximity to, but not necessarily in physical contact with, the second thermoelement at a second set of discrete points. The arrays of first and second tips are constructed from metal, thus reducing parasitic resistances.
Abstract:
A thermoelectric device with improved efficiency is provided. In one embodiment, the thermoelectric device includes an electrical conductor thermally coupled to a cold plate and a thermoelement electrically coupled to the electrical conductor. The thermoelement is constructed from a thermoelectric material and has a plurality of tips through which the thermoelement is electrically coupled to the electrical conductor. The thermoelectric tips provide a low resistive connection while minimizing thermal conduction between the electrical conductor and the thermoelement.
Abstract:
A thermoelectric device with enhanced structured interfaces for improved cooling efficiency is provided. In one embodiment, the thermoelectric device includes a first thermoelement comprising a superlattice of p-type thermoelectric material and a second thermoelement comprising superlattice of n-type thermoelectric material. The first and second thermoelements are electrically coupled to each other. The planer surface of the first thermoelement is proximate to, without necessarily being in physical contact with, a first array of electrically conducting tips at a discrete set of points such that electrical conduction between the planer surface of the first thermoelement and the first array of electrically conducting tips is facilitated while thermal conductivity between the two is retarded. A planer surface of the second thermoelement is proximate to, without necessarily being in physical contact with, a second array of electrically conducting tips at a discrete set of points such that electrical conduction between the electrically conducting tips and the planer surface of the second thermoelement is facilitated while thermal conduction between the two is retarded. The electrically conducting tips are coated with a material that has the same Seebeck coefficient as the material of the nearest layer of the superlattice to the tip.
Abstract:
A system and integrated circuit (die) including a clock generator that includes an on-chip inductor and uses the inherent capacitance of the load to generate a sinusoidal clock signal. The inductor is connected between a current source and an inverting switch. The output of the switch is a substantially sinusoidal signal that connected directly to at least a portion of the clock driven circuits without intermediate buffering. In the preferred embodiment, the clock generator is a dual phase design that includes a pair of cross-coupled MOSFET's, a pair of solid state on-chip inductors, and a current source. Each of the on-chip inductors is connected between the current source and the drain of one of the MOSFET's. The outputs of the clock generator are provided directly to the clock inputs of at least a portion of the clock driven circuits on the die. In this embodiment, the frequency of the clock generator output signal is predominantly determined by the inductance of the inductive elements and the capacitance of the clock driven circuitry. This design eliminates the need for incorporating distinct capacitor elements in the clock generator itself and produces a clock generator in which a significant portion of the power oscillates between the generator's inductive elements and the capacitive elements of the load thereby reducing the power required to be supplied by the current source.
Abstract:
An apparatus for cooling selected elements within an integrated circuit, such as active transistors or passive circuit elements used in a radio frequency integrated circuit is provided. In one embodiment, the cooling apparatus includes a cold plate thermally coupled to the region proximate the integrated circuit element, a thermoelectric cooler thermally coupled to the cold plate; and a hot plate thermally coupled to the thermoelectric cooler. Heat is removed from the integrated circuit element through the cold plate and transmitted to the hot plate through the thermoelectric cooler. In one form, the hot plate is located or coupled to an exterior surface of an integrated circuit, such that heat transmitted to the ambient from the integrated circuit element is dissipated into the atmosphere surrounding the integrated circuit. In another form, the hot plate is embedded in the integrated circuit substrate to locally cool elements of the integrated circuit while dumping the heat into the substrate.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To overcome basic restrictions in conventional thermoelectric cooling by applying dynamic modulation of a plurality of switches respectively to power and forming a thermoelectric conductive path connecting thermoelectric elements to the power supply and a cold sink. SOLUTION: Thermoelectric element dynamic is used with pulse power and a plurality of selectively operated heat reacting switches. In a device and a method for cooling subatmosphere, Peltier elements are operated dynamically by the use of power pulses. The heat path between the cold side and the hot side of a thermoelectric element 1 responds to thermal dynamics, so that the conductivity state is selectively switched on and off. The switch-type heat connection tuned relatively with electrical and thermo-dynamics of Peltier elements improves efficiency substantially by Joule heating and conductive heat transfer loss that otherwise affect heat transfer of the net.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for mounting dense chips using a heat pipe and a thermoelectronic cooler. SOLUTION: The apparatus includes an evaporator region, a condenser region and a capillary region. The evaporator region includes at least one hot point element for conducting heat from a thermal source to a transport fluid. The transport fluid changes a state and becomes vapor when heated. The vapor moves to the condenser region through vapor channels and dissipates heat to the heat sink and returns to a fluid (condensed transport fluid) again. Then the condensed transport fluid returns to the evaporator region by a capillary force and the capillary formed into capillary structure. The capillary formed into the capillary structure makes a dendritic shape or a fractal shape. In addition, the apparatus can include a flexibility region. The apparatus can circumferentially be bent around corners and an edges.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a thermoelectric cooling system for thermoelectrically cooling an IC device by giving a limited current pulse to a thermoelectric element to effectively thermally conduct a variable current source between the element and a heat sink. SOLUTION: A Peltier unit 21 can be connected to a low temperature sink 25 through a lump-like substance and a thermal switch S1. The unit 21 is also connected as a heat route having a small thermal resistance to a high temperature sink 26. Further, a variable current source 27 supplies a current to the unit 21. Since the unit 21 has a very small resistance, even when a voltage across the unit 21 is several mV, the current of the order of 1 ampere is generated. When the current passes the unit 21, the unit 21 generates thermal conduction to a boundary between the sink 25 and the sink 26. The thermal conduction of the unit 21 is utilized to cool the sink 26 and further to cool an IC device.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and apparatus for forming an improved inductor capable of forming in an integrated circuit chip and capable of being adapted to be used with an electronic oscillator. SOLUTION: A composite inductor 400 is formed in a substrate, wherein the inductor comprises at least a first coil 42 having first coil inductance and first coil resistance, and a second coil 404 having second coil inductance and second coil resistance. The first coil 402 and the second coil 404 are formed in the substrate so as to generate new inductance that is related to the first coil and that is larger than the first inductance at the time when a current in the first coil 402 and a current in the second coil 404 match to each other. Thus apparatus is used to form an oscillator in an integrated circuit, wherein the apparatus achieves to form the electronic oscillator by electrically connecting to at least a capacitor in the substrate.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermoelectric device and a thermal element for cooling an object. SOLUTION: The thermal device is provided with a first part 250 of a thermal element in thermal contact with a heated plate and a second part 210, 212 of the thermal element in thermal contact with a cooled plate, with one of the two parts of the thermal element provided with a plurality of tips 216 and the other of the two parts of the thermal element provided with flat faces, in which the plurality of tips 216 and the flat faces are arranged in adjoining positions to provide an electric connection. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT