A thermoelectric module includes: unit thermoelectric materials including N-type thermoelectric materials and P-type thermoelectric materials and arranged on one surface of a first substrate; first electrodes each electrically connected to one end of a respective one of the N-type thermoelectric materials or to one end of a respective one of the P-type thermoelectric materials; second electrodes each disposed to be spaced apart from the other end of the respective one of the N-type thermoelectric materials and the other end of the respective one of the P-type thermoelectric materials by a predetermined gap; and a second substrate supporting the second electrodes, in which each of the second electrodes is electrically connected to the second end of the respective one of the N-type thermoelectric materials and the second end of the respective one of the P-type thermoelectric materials when a pressing force is applied to the second substrate.

Disclosed herein are a flexible thermoelectric module cell for a touch sensor, a touch sensor including the same, and a method of manufacturing the flexible thermoelectric module cell for a touch sensor. The flexible thermoelectric module cell is applicable to cells for touch sensors of various designs, without the need for a person to go directly to an industrially dangerous place.

A new class of thermoelectric and energy conversion apparatus, that enhances the efficiency of converting one form of energy to another using a wide range of energy conversion materials. The new method of stimulating greater electrical conversion using polymers and thermoelectric composite materials that have unique properties similar to commercial superconductors. The invention entails processes that create and interconnect the superconducting polymer layers through an assembly lowering internal resistance, impeding phonon conduction and stimulating increase in electron flow through the device with increased electrical power. The invention includes the use of dopants that are mixed with a polymer solution to build superconducting polymer connections between the thermoelectric device layers.

A thermoelectric conversion device including a plurality of first electrodes; a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements, each having one end electrically connected to each of the first electrodes; a plurality of second electrodes, to which another end of each of the thermoelectric conversion elements is electrically connected; a hot-side heat exchanger connected to the first electrodes; and a cold-side heat exchanger connected to the second electrodes. Multiple springs are disposed in an interior of one of the hot-side heat exchanger and the cold-side heat exchanger at portions connected to either the first electrodes or the second electrodes, such that one spring is disposed so as to bias one thermoelectric conversion element. The one exchanger is provided with a transfer portion capable of transmitting to one thermoelectric conversion element a biasing force of one spring at a portion connected to the first electrode or the second electrode.

A laminate includes, on a substrate, a first buffer layer substantially made of zirconium oxide or stabilized zirconia, a second buffer layer substantially made of yttrium oxide, a metal layer substantially made of at least one among platinum, iridium, palladium, rhodium, vanadium, chromium, iron, molybdenum, tungsten, aluminum, silver, gold, copper, and nickel, and a magnesium oxide layer substantially made of magnesium oxide, in this order.

A thermoelectric conversion module may include a plurality of n-type thermoelectric conversion elements and a plurality of p-type thermoelectric conversion elements alternating with one another, a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes that alternately connect the plurality of alternating n-type and p-type thermoelectric conversion elements at hot sides and cool sides, and a plurality of case electrodes, each of which selectively connects the first electrodes adjacent to each other, among the plurality of first electrodes. The first electrodes and the case electrodes are configured to be movable relative to each other so that the plurality of first electrodes are electrically connected through the plurality of case electrodes or electrical connections between the plurality of first electrodes through the plurality of case electrodes are disabled according to a relative movement of the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of case electrodes.

Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for constructing thermoelectric devices (TEDs). N-type elements are paired with P-type elements in an array of pairs between substrates. The paired elements are electrically connected in series by various techniques including brazing for hot side and/or also cold side connections, and soldering for cold side connections while being thermally connected in parallel. In selected embodiments, electrical and mechanical connections of the elements may be made solely by mechanical pressure.

A thermoelectric conversion cell is provided with: an insulating member having a through hole, a female threaded portions (insulation-side threaded portion) at both end parts, respectively, of the through hole in the through-direction; a thermoelectric conversion member which has a thermoelectric conversion element (P-type thermoelectric conversion element), and is accommodated within the through hole; and electrode members coupled at the end parts, respectively, of the insulating member, and which have male threaded portions (electrode-side threaded portion) corresponding to the female threaded portions, and electrode parts electrically connected to the end part of the thermoelectric conversion member inside the through hole.

Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for constructing thermoelectric devices (TEDs). N-type elements are paired with P-type elements in an array of pairs between substrates. The paired elements are electrically connected in series by various techniques including brazing for hot side and/or also cold side connections, and soldering for cold side connections while being thermally connected in parallel. In selected embodiments, electrical and mechanical connections of the elements may be made solely by mechanical pressure.

A thermoelectric conversion module is formed by arranging, on one surface, a plurality of thermoelectric conversion element pairs in which an n-type thermoelectric conversion element and a p-type thermoelectric conversion element are connected by interposing an electrode plate, and connecting the plurality of the thermoelectric conversion element pairs in series; and the thermoelectric conversion module has a first output terminal provided on one thermoelectric conversion element pair arranged at one end side of the plurality of the thermoelectric conversion element pairs connected in series, a second output terminal provided on the other thermoelectric conversion element pair arranged at the other end side of the plurality of the thermoelectric conversion element pairs connected in series, and an intermediate output terminal provided at any position between the thermoelectric conversion element pair arranged at the one end side and the thermoelectric conversion element pair arranged at the other end side.