Thermoelectric device
Disclosed is a thermoelectric cell having thermoelectric tracks of alternating conductivity types connected in series by metallic connections, including a platform suspended over a substrate by arms, the platform and the arms being parts of the same thermally and electrically insulating layer, and each arm supporting a thermoelectric track.
1. A thermoelectric cell comprising:
thermoelectric tracks of alternating conductivity types connected in series by metallic connections;
a platform suspended over a substrate by arms, the platform and the arms being parts of the same thermally and electrically insulating layer, each arm supporting a thermoelectric track so that some of the arms support thermoelectric tracks of a first conductivity type N, and others of the arms support thermoelectric tracks of a second conductivity type P; and
two first metallic contacts located on the substrate covered with an insulating layer on either side of a cavity, one of the first metallic contacts being in contact with the tracks of the first conductivity type N and another one of the first metallic contacts being in contact with the tracks of the second conductivity type P.
2. The cell as defined in claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric tracks are made of doped bismuth telluride of appropriate conductivity type.
3. The cell as defined in claim 1 , wherein the insulating layer is made of silicon oxide, silicon nitride or aluminum oxide.
4. The cell as defined in claim 1 , wherein the ratio between a length and a width of each of the arms is greater than 5.
5. The cell as defined in claim 1 , wherein the platform is coated with an absorbent.
6. A thermoelectric device comprising:
a plurality of thermoelectric cells including platforms as defined by the thermoelectric cell of claim 1 , arranged in a matrix and having a common substrate, the thermoelectric cells of each column of the matrix being connected in series between second metallic contacts.
7. A thermopile comprising:
the thermoelectric device of claim 6 .
8. The thermopile as defined in claim 7 , wherein the platforms of the thermoelectric cells are coated with an absorbent material configured to absorb solar radiation, the common substrate being configured to be in thermal contact with a cold source.
9. The thermopile as defined in claim 8 , wherein the platforms of the thermoelectric cells of under vacuum.
10. The thermopile as defined in claim 7 , wherein the platforms of the thermoelectric cells are in contact with the surrounding air, the common substrate being configured to be in thermal contact with a heat source.
11. A bolometer comprising:
the thermoelectric device of claim 6 , the device being connected to a sensing circuit, the platforms of the thermoelectric cells of the thermoelectric device being coated with an absorber that absorbs a radiation of a selected wavelength, the common substrate being configured to be in thermal contact with a cold source.
12. A cooler comprising:
the thermoelectric cell as defined in claim 1 .
13. The cell as defined in claim 2 , wherein the insulating layer is made of silicon oxide, silicon nitride or aluminum oxide.
14. The cell as defined in claim 2 , wherein the ratio between a length and a width of each of the arms is greater than 5.
15. The cell as defined in claim 3 , wherein the ratio between a length and a width of each of the arms is greater than 5.
16. The cell as defined in claim 13 , wherein the ratio between a length and a width of each of the arms is greater than 5.
17. The cell as defined in claim 2 , wherein the platform is coated with an absorbent.
18. The cell as defined in claim 3 , wherein the platform is coated with an absorbent.
19. The cell as defined in claim 4 , wherein the platform is coated with an absorbent.
20. A thermoelectric device comprising:
a plurality of thermoelectric cells as defined in claim 2 , arranged in a matrix and having a common substrate, the thermoelectric cells of each column of the matrix being connected in series between second metallic contacts.