TUNNELING-EFFECT ENERGY CONVERTERS

Title:

TUNNELING-EFFECT ENERGY CONVERTERS

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO2004036724

Kind Code:

A3

Abstract:

Tunneling-effect converters of thermal energy to electricity with an emitter and a collector separated from each by a distance that is comparable to atomic dimensions and where tunneling effect plays an important role in the charge movement from the emitter to the collector across the gap separating such emitter and collector. At least one of the emitter and collector structures includes a flexible structure. Tunneling-effect converters include devices that convert thermal energy to electrical energy and devices that provide refrigeration when electric power is supplied to such devices.

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Inventors:

KUCHEROV YAN R
HAGELSTEIN PETER L

Application Number:

PCT/US2003/028850

Publication Date:

July 01, 2004

Filing Date:

September 12, 2003

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

ENECO INC (US)

International Classes:

H01J45/00; H01L29/66; H01L29/06; H01L31/00; H01L35/00; H01L37/00; H02N1/00; H02N2/00; H02N3/00; H02N10/00; H02M; (IPC1-7): H02N2/00; H02N10/00

Domestic Patent References:

WO1999013562A1	1999-03-18
WO1999010974A1	1999-03-04

Foreign References:

US3169200A	1965-02-09
US20030042819A1	2003-03-06
US20040029341A1	2004-02-12
US6396191B1	2002-05-28
US6489704B1	2002-12-03

Other References: