THERMOELECTRIC FABRIC

Abstract

A thermoelectric fabric may include a plurality of first threads and a plurality of electrically insulating second threads. The plurality of first threads may each be defined by a plurality of p-doped thread portions, a plurality of n-doped thread portions, and a plurality of electrically conductive thread portions. The plurality of p-doped thread portions and the plurality of n-doped thread portions may be arranged in an alternating manner. The plurality of electrically conductive thread portions may be arranged between the plurality of n-doped thread portions and the plurality of p-dope thread portions. The plurality of electrically conductive thread portions may be structured as a plurality of broad, flexible, stretchable conductive track portions

Claims

1. A thermoelectric fabric, comprising: a plurality of first threads each defined by a plurality of p-doped thread portions, a plurality of n-doped thread portions, and a plurality of electrically conductive thread portions, the plurality of p-doped thread portions and the plurality of n-doped thread portions arranged in an alternating manner, the plurality of electrically conductive thread portions arranged between the plurality of n-doped thread portions and the plurality of p-dope thread portions; a plurality of electrically insulating second threads; and wherein the plurality of electrically conductive thread portions are structured as a plurality of broad, flexible, stretchable conductive track portions.

2. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive track portions include a substrate material.

3. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive track portions are composed of a metal.

4. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive track portions are laminated.

5. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of p-doped thread portions and the plurality of n-doped thread portions are connected to the plurality of conductive track portions via a soft-soldered connection.

6. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrically insulating second threads are each structured as a substrate lamellae.

7. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive track portions substantially cover the thermoelectric fabric completely.

8. An air conditioning system for a motor vehicle, comprising the thermoelectric fabric according to claim 1.

9. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 1, wherein: the plurality of first threads and the plurality of electrically insulating second threads are woven together such that the plurality of first threads are arranged as warp threads and the plurality of electrically insulating second threads are arranged as weft threads; the warp threads extend parallel to each other; the weft threads extend parallel to each other and transversely to the warp threads; and the warp threads alternately extend over and under the weft threads.

10. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 9, further comprising a first termination lamellae and a second termination lamellae extending parallel to one other and to the plurality of electrically insulating second threads, wherein: a first end of each of the plurality of first threads is connected to the first termination lamellae; a second end of each of the plurality of first threads is connected to the second termination lamellae; and the plurality of electrically insulating second threads are disposed between the first termination lamellae and the second termination lamellae.

11. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 1, wherein: the plurality of electrically insulating second threads extend parallel to one another; and the plurality of electrically insulating second threads are each arranged between and directly adjacent to a respective p-doped thread portion of the plurality of p-doped thread portions and a respective n-doped thread portion of the plurality of n-doped thread portions.

12. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 1, further comprising at least two termination lamellae, wherein the plurality of first threads are connected to and extend between the at least two termination lamellae.

13. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive track portions is structured as a pure copper strip.

14. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive track portions is structured as a pure aluminium strip.

15. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrically insulating second threads are composed of a closed-pore silicone foam.

16. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 2, wherein the substrate material is polyurethane.

17. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 2, wherein the substrate material is polyamide.

18. A thermoelectric fabric, comprising: a plurality of first threads each defined by a plurality of p-doped thread portions, a plurality of n-doped thread portions, and a plurality of electrically conductive thread portions; a plurality of electrically insulating second threads; the plurality of p-doped thread portions and the plurality of n-doped thread portions arranged in an alternating manner and connected to one another via the plurality of electrically conductive thread portions; each of the plurality of p-doped thread portions and each of the plurality of n-doped thread portions arranged between two electrically conductive thread portions of the plurality of electrically conductive thread portions; wherein the plurality of electrically conductive thread portions are structured as a plurality of broad, flexible, stretchable conductive track portions; and wherein the plurality of first threads and the plurality of second threads are woven together such that the plurality of first threads are arranged as warp threads and the plurality of second threads are arranged as weft threads.

19. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 18, wherein: the plurality of first threads extend parallel to each other; the plurality of second threads extend parallel to each other and transversely to the plurality of first threads; the plurality of second threads are each arranged between and directly adjacent to a respective p-doped thread portion of the plurality of p-doped thread portions and a respective n-doped thread portion of the plurality of n-doped thread portions; and the plurality of electrically conductive thread portions alternately extend over and under the plurality of second threads.

20. The thermoelectric fabric according to claim 19, wherein: the plurality of second threads extend parallel to one another in a first direction; the plurality of second threads each have an elongated cross-sectional profile lying perpendicular to the first direction; and the plurality of second threads are arranged such that an elongated extent of the cross-sectional profile of each of the plurality of second threads extends between the respective p-doped thread portion and the respective n-doped thread portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] There it shows, in each case schematically

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a thermoelectric fabric in a perspective representation,

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a thermoelectric fabric in plan view,

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a thermoelectric fabric in the cross section along the line A-A from FIG. 1 and

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a thermoelectric fabric in the cross section along the line B-B from FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] According to FIG. 1, a thermoelectric fabric 1 according to the invention comprises weft threads 2, which preferentially consist of a closed-cell silicone foam and are formed so as to be electrically insulating, and warp threads 11, which in turn are composed of multiple components.

[0028] The warp threads 11 consist among other things of conductive track portions 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B which are formed for example through copper wires 10 or aluminium wires which are arranged meander-like. Between the conductive track portions 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B a semiconductor element or a doped conductive track portion 4n, which is n-doped and a semiconductor element or a doped conductive track portion 4p, which is p-doped is arranged in each case. The conductive track portions 4n and 4p are n- or p-doped and contain the relevant semiconductor material, for example bismuth-telluride and antimony-telluride. However all other materials known to the person skilled in the art are conceivable.

[0029] The semiconductor portions 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B and conductive track portions 4n, 4p are each connected with soft solder points 7 which make possible an adequate flexibility of the thermoelectric fabric 1. In principle, connecting the different conductive track portions 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B as well as 4n, 4p is also possible by means of wires, elastic conductors or the like. Each of the conductive track portions 5A, 5B and 6A, 6B are alternatively intertwined with the weft threads 2 or the closed-cell silicone foam in order to form the thermoelectric fabric 1.

[0030] Because of the meander-like arrangement of the copper wire 10 or of the aluminium wire, the conductive track portions 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B are flexible and can change for example their longitudinal extension so as not to be damaged among other things in a seat cushion of a motor vehicle seat. Thus a stretch region is formed. The conductive track portions 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B and the doped conductive track portions 4n, 4p are preferentially applied to a substrate. The warp threads 11 or the conductive track portions 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B are provided with termination lamellae 3 on both ends, in order to make possible an electrical contacting to an external current supply for example from an electrical system of a motor vehicle. As part of the warp threads 11, conductive track portions 5C, 6C, which interact with an electrical contact surface 8, are arranged on the termination lamella 3.

[0031] From the plan view in FIG. 2 the large effective surface of the conductive track portions 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B is evident, wherein these are embodied in particular broader than the doped conductive track portions 4n, 4p. The conductive track portions 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B comprise edge-side connecting regions 9 which via soft soldered points 7 are connected to the doped conductive track portions 4n, 4p.

[0032] From FIG. 2 it is evident, furthermore, that the undoped conductive track portions 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B are broader for example than the conductive track portions 5C on the termination lamellae 3, in order to obtain as full an area coverage of the thermoelectric fabric 1 as possible.

[0033] The sweeping arrows serve to indicate that on the underside of the termination lamellae 3 a conductive track portions 6C for the electrical contacting and on the underside of the weft thread 2 a conductive track portion 6B are arranged.

[0034] From the cross-sectional representations in FIGS. 3 and 4 it is evident that for example the conductive track portions 5A, 6A are arranged on the top side of the thermoelectric fabric 1 and the conductive track portions 5B, 6B on the underside. With suitable current flow through the doped conductive track portions 4n, 4p, the top side of the thermoelectric fabric 1 can thus serve for example as cold side for dissipating excess heat of a heated surface and the underside as hot side which dissipates the heat to a material located there under.