Provided is a feedback device providing thermal feedback. The feedback device, according to one embodiment, may comprise a casing, a heat output module, and a feedback controller. The casing comprises: a contact part, with which a user makes contact when the feedback device moves when a content is being played; and a noncontact part with which the user does not make contact even though the feedback device moves. The heat output module comprises: flexible first and second substrates; a thermoelectric element interposed between the first the second substrates and performing a thermoelectric operation for thermal feedback; and a contact surface disposed on the second substrate. The heat output module is disposed on the curve-shaped inside or outside of the contact part, and outputs thermal feedback to the user via the second substrate and the contact surface. The feedback controller is configured so as to control the thermal output module.

This invention relates to a metalized skutterudite thermoelectric material having improved long-term stability and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein the skutterudite thermoelectric material is metalized with a multilayer structure including a Ti layer for preventing the diffusion of the skutterudite thermoelectric material and a FeNi layer for preventing an increase in the thickness of an intermetallic compound layer, whereby the performance of the skutterudite thermoelectric material does not deteriorate due to diffusion and formation of the intermetallic compound even upon long-term use, thus exhibiting improved stability of use, and moreover, the lifetime and stability of a thermoelectric power generation module using the skutterudite thermoelectric material can be increased, whereby the power generation efficiency of the thermoelectric power generation module can be increased in the long term.

A unique, environmentally-friendly micron scale autonomous electrical power source is provided for generating renewable energy, or a renewable energy supplement, in electronic systems, electronic devices and electronic system components. The autonomous electrical power source includes a first conductor with a facing surface conditioned to have a low work function, a second conductor with a facing surface having a comparatively higher work function, and a dielectric layer of not more than 200 nm in thickness sandwiched between the respective facing surfaces of the first conductor and the second conductor. The autonomous electrical power source is configured to harvest minimal thermal energy from any source in an environment above absolute zero. An autonomous electrical power source component is also provided that includes a plurality of autonomous electrical power source constituent elements electrically connected to one another to increase a power output of the autonomous electrical power source.

Methods and apparatus for removing heat from an object for the purpose of cooling or for the purpose of generating electrical power are disclosed. In an embodiment, at least two field-effect transistors (FETs) are operated under inversion. While the FETs are being operated, heat is conducted from the object through body portions of said FETs to an element configured for dissipating the conducted heat.

A process for manufacturing a nanocomposite thermoelectric material having a plurality of nanoparticle inclusions. The process includes determining a material composition to be investigated for the nanocomposite thermoelectric material, the material composition including a conductive bulk material and a nanoparticle material. In addition, a range of surface roughness values for the insulating nanoparticle material that can be obtained using current state of the art manufacturing techniques is determined. Thereafter, a plurality of Seebeck coefficients, electrical resistivity values, thermal conductivity values and figure of merit values as a function of the range of nanoparticle material surface roughness values is calculated. Based on these calculated values, a nanocomposite thermoelectric material composition or ranges of compositions is/are selected and manufactured.

A resilient power-communications network system consisting of autonomously powered and mobile nodes in communication with each other either through radio, light or other electromagnetic signals or through a physical connection such as through wiring, cables or other physical connected methods capable of carrying information and communication signals and the sharing of the power load amongst the nodes. The nodes powered energy generators comprising multiple data, information and voice gathering, receiving and emitting devices as well as mechanical, optical and propulsion devices.

The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a temperature sensor, which is integrated into a semiconductor chip. This temperature sensor comprises an electro-thermal filter (ETF) integrated onto the semiconductor chip, wherein the ETF comprises: a heater; a thermopile, and a heat-transmission medium that couples the heater to the thermopile, wherein the heat-transmission medium comprises a polysilicon layer sandwiched between silicon dioxide layers. It also comprises a measurement circuit that measures a transfer function through the ETF to determine a temperature reading for the temperature sensor.

A thermoelectric material includes a composite having a first electrically conducting component and second low thermal conductivity component. The first component may include a semiconductor and the second component may include an inorganic oxide. The thermoelectric composite includes a network of the first component having nanoparticles of the second component dispersed in the network.

A thermoelectric conversion element includes a thermoelectric conversion sheet possessing flexibility. The thermoelectric conversion sheet includes a magnetic layer, an electricity-generating layer that is formed on the magnetic layer so as to contact with the magnetic layer and that is formed of a material exhibiting spin orbit coupling, and a first electrode and a second electrode formed on the electricity-generating layer so as to contact with the electricity-generating layer. The first electrode and the second electrode extend in a longitudinal direction of the thermoelectric conversion sheet, and are separated from each other in a first direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

A process for manufacturing a nanocomposite thermoelectric material having a plurality of nanoparticle inclusions. The process includes determining a material composition to be investigated for the nanocomposite thermoelectric material, the material composition including a conductive bulk material and a nanoparticle material. In addition, a range of surface roughness values for the insulating nanoparticle material that can be obtained using current state of the art manufacturing techniques is determined. Thereafter, a plurality of Seebeck coefficients, electrical resistivity values, thermal conductivity values and figure of merit values as a function of the range of nanoparticle material surface roughness values is calculated. Based on these calculated values, a nanocomposite thermoelectric material composition or ranges of compositions is/are selected and manufactured.