A thermoelectric conversion apparatus includes a substrate, and a power generation part formed on the substrate for generating a thermoelectric power. The power generation part includes a magnetic layer with magnetization and an electrode layer including a material exhibiting a spin-orbit interaction and formed on the magnetic layer. The substrate and the power generation part have flexibility, respectively. The thermoelectric conversion apparatus further includes a cover layer having flexibility and formed on the substrate so as to cover at least the power generation part. The thermoelectric conversion apparatus further includes a cylindrical member having a cylindrical shape. The substrate, the power generation part, and the cover layer are arranged outside of the cylindrical member so that a magnetization direction of the magnetic layer of the power generation part is aligned with an axial direction of the cylindrical member.

Methods and systems for sending multicast messages are disclosed. A multicast message is received to be transmitted to a plurality of access terminals at a radio access network (RAN), the received multicast message having a first format. The first format may correspond to a conventional multicast message format. The RAN determines whether the received multicast message requires special handling. If the RAN determines the received multicast message requires special handling, the radio access network converts the received multicast message from the first format into a second format. The RAN transmits the converted multicast message with the second format (e.g., a data over signaling (DOS) message) on a control channel to at least one of the plurality of access terminals. The access terminals receiving the converted multicast message interpret the message as a multicast message.

Methods and systems for sending multicast messages are disclosed. A multicast message is received to be transmitted to a plurality of access terminals at a radio access network (RAN), the received multicast message having a first format. The first format may correspond to a conventional multicast message format. The RAN determines whether the received multicast message requires special handling. If the RAN determines the received multicast message requires special handling, the radio access network converts the received multicast message from the first format into a second format. The RAN transmits the converted multicast message with the second format (e.g., a data over signaling (DOS) message) on a control channel to at least one of the plurality of access terminals. The access terminals receiving the converted multicast message interpret the message as a multicast message.

A thermoelectric conversion device includes a Heusler alloy film having a structure of B.sub.2 or L.sub.21 in notation of A.sub.2BC and a pair of electrodes on the Heusler alloy film to output an electromotive force generated by a thermal gradient in the Heusler alloy film. The thermoelectric conversion device further includes an electrode for applying an electric field or a voltage to the Heusler alloy film to increase and control an electric conductivity and a Seebeck coefficient S of the Heusler metal film. The device can control to increase an electric conductivity and Seebeck coefficient S by applying an electric field or a voltage through an insulation film to the Heusler alloy film. The device may have a shared connection to select one of outputs of a plurality of thermoelectric conversion devices arranged in a matrix or increase an electromotive force as an output.

A cooling system includes a plurality of sensor sub-units arranged in a grid having first sides configured to be thermally connected to a heat source and opposing second sides. The heat source including a plurality of sub-regions that correspond with the first sides of each of the plurality of sensor sub-units. The plurality of sensor sub-units are configured to sample temperatures of the sub-regions of the heat source. The cooling system also includes a plurality of solid-state cooling sub-units configured to dissipate heat, a plurality of heat exchanger channels and a controller configured to determine the one or more sub-regions of the heat source to cool. Each heat exchanger channel is configured to dissipate heat. At least one surface of at least one of the heat exchanger channels includes a coating configured to boost conversion of heat energy being dissipated into infrared radiation.

An energy harvesting device configured to convert thermal energy into electrical energy includes a heat storage portion configured to store thermal energy, a thermoelectric element configured to eliminate a temperature difference between electrodes when converting thermal energy into electrical energy, and an insulating portion in contact with the heat storage portion and the thermoelectric element. The heat storage portion has insulating properties. The thermoelectric element includes a pair of electrodes having work functions different from each other, and an intermediate portion provided between the pair of electrodes. The thermoelectric element is provided in contact with the heat storage portion and is covered by the insulating portion.

An energy harvesting device configured to convert thermal energy into electrical energy includes a heat storage portion configured to store thermal energy, a thermoelectric element configured to eliminate a temperature difference between electrodes when converting thermal energy into electrical energy, and an insulating portion in contact with the heat storage portion and the thermoelectric element. The heat storage portion has insulating properties. The thermoelectric element includes a pair of electrodes having work functions different from each other, and an intermediate portion provided between the pair of electrodes. The thermoelectric element is provided in contact with the heat storage portion and is covered by the insulating portion.

In a cold/warm-compression body care device, a cold-and-warm semiconductor is configured as the source to generate coldness and warmness. Storage batteries are configured to provide power. The cold/warm-compression body care device provides body care at a constant temperature. A centrifugal fan blade set is arranged with the air concentration hood, and the air concentration hood is configured to converge and rearrange the inlet air. A size of an opening of the air concentration hood defines a size of the air inlet. A heat dissipator is located at the middle shell plane. The storage batteries are symmetrically arranged on two sides of the heat dissipator respectively to balance a gravitational center of the body care device.

A thermal diode includes: a dielectric enclosure having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side, and a second side; a first Weyl semimetal nanoparticle disposed on the first side; a second Weyl semimetal nanoparticle disposed on the second side; a nanograting disposed on the bottom surface; and a voltage source configured to provide a voltage bias to the nanograting to suppress surface waves from the first Weyl semimetal nanoparticle to the second Weyl semimetal nanoparticle and to modify surface waves from the second Weyl semimetal nanoparticle to the first Weyl semimetal nanoparticle.

A thermal diode includes: a dielectric enclosure having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side, and a second side; a first Weyl semimetal nanoparticle disposed on the first side; a second Weyl semimetal nanoparticle disposed on the second side; a nanograting disposed on the bottom surface; and a voltage source configured to provide a voltage bias to the nanograting to suppress surface waves from the first Weyl semimetal nanoparticle to the second Weyl semimetal nanoparticle and to modify surface waves from the second Weyl semimetal nanoparticle to the first Weyl semimetal nanoparticle.