JPH03225973A - Thermoelectric module - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a thermoelectric module for controlling heat using the Peltier effect, and in particular, to a thermoelectric module for precisely fixing each thermoelectric element in a predetermined position. 9 Regarding Thermoelectric Modules that Can Be Made [Prior Art] As is well known, a thermoelectric module has a structure as shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 1, 1a and 1b are
A plurality of electrodes 2a and 2b are provided respectively (and a ceramic substrate is provided between the ceramic substrates 1a and 1b.
Both ends of each are soldered to 2a and 2b, and a P-type thermoelectric element 3 and an N-type thermoelectric element 4 are fixed adjacent to each other.

Therefore, on the thermoelectric module, all the P-type thermoelectric elements 3 and N-type thermoelectric elements 4 are alternately connected in series by the electrodes 2a and 2b, and from both ends of the series connection,
Lead wires 5a and 5b are drawn out, respectively.

In the above structure, by supplying current from the lead wires 5a and 5b to the P-type thermoelectric element 3 and the N-type thermoelectric element 4 connected in series, the insulating substrate Heat is transferred from 1a to 1b or from 1b to 1a depending on the characteristics of the thermoelectric element corresponding to the current value.

Generally, the first step in forming the above-mentioned structure is carried out by means as shown in FIG.

That is, in FIG. 2 ('A), which does not show a part of the thermoelectric module, as described above with reference to FIG.
Next, the P-type thermoelectric element 3 and the N-type thermoelectric element 4 are positioned at predetermined positions according to the slam of the electrode 2a, that is, at both ends of each of the plurality of electrodes. Arrange in.

In order to electrically connect and fix these thermoelectric elements and electrodes, both ends 6 of each thermoelectric element 3.4 are soldered before the above arrangement, and each electrode 2a is also soldered as shown in 7. Each one is soldered and plated as shown.

After arranging each thermoelectric element as described above, press it with a holding plate (not shown) having approximately the same dimensions as the insulating substrate 1 from the top of each thermoelectric element. Heat and bond by hot play?-(not shown).

Next, although not shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of insulating substrates 1b are attached to each of the P-type thermoelectric elements 3 and N-type thermoelectric elements 4 arranged and fixed on the insulating substrate 1a with the electrodes 3b facing downward. The positions of the electrodes 2b are adjusted so that both ends of the electrodes 2b are located respectively.

Each electrode 3b on the insulating substrate 1b is provided with a button so as to connect in series the thermoelectric elements arranged and fixed on the insulating base &1a as described above. By heating and bonding the solder plating that has been applied in advance to the joint part using hot spray 1~, the first
The predetermined thermoelectric module shown in the figure is constructed.

In addition, although FIG. 2(B) shows a different means from FIG. 2(A), in FIG. 2(A), each electrode 2a
-2b is the same except that solder paste 8 is applied instead of solder plating 7 applied to 2b.

In addition, each of the electrodes 2a and 2b mentioned above is 12 in FIG.
As shown in the figure, it has a quadrilateral shape that includes the connection points between the P-type thermoelectric element 3 and the N-type thermoelectric element 4.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] According to the above-mentioned conventional method, first, in order to bond each thermoelectric element to each electrode on an insulating substrate, each thermoelectric element is arranged on each electrode of an insulated substrate and soldered. When molten solder is melted, the height of each thermoelectric element is not uniform, so when the pushing plate is pressed, the top of the short thermoelectric element is not in contact with the pushing plate, so the surface tension of the molten solder causes As shown, it is moved, for example, in the direction of the arrow.

As a result of the movement of the thermoelectric element as described above, problems such as those shown in FIG. 5 occur.

That is, FIG. 5 shows a part of the cross section shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 5, lla and llb are insulating substrates,
12a1.12a2.12b1.12b2.12b3 are electrodes fixed to the insulating substrates 11a and 11b and have the shape shown in FIG. Each of them is an N-type thermoelectric element, and each of the electrodes 12a1.12a2.12
I) Fixed connection to 1.12b2. However, as described above, when the P-type thermoelectric element 4a and the N-type thermoelectric element 3b are first connected to the lower insulating substrate, they may move in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 5, for example.

Therefore, in the state shown in the figure, next the upper insulating substrate 1
When 1b is connected, like the moved N-type thermoelectric element 4a, it deviates from the electric g 12 b2 and contacts the electrode 12b1, and like the P-type thermoelectric element 3b, it does not completely contact the electrode 12b2 but partially comes off. Problems like this occur.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and provide a thermoelectric module in which each thermoelectric element is fixed in a predetermined position with high precision.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, in the thermoelectric module based on the present invention, a plurality of adjacent P-type thermoelectric In the thermoelectric module, in which the elements and N-type thermoelectric elements are connected alternately in series, and the P-type thermoelectric element and the N-type thermoelectric element are sandwiched and fixed between the two opposing insulating substrates, each of the plurality of 9 [Function] ゛According to the above means, the P-type thermoelectric element of each electrode is narrowed. Since the shape of the intermediate part of the connection between the element and the N-type thermoelectric element is narrowed, when the solder of each thermoelectric element is melted during bonding, the surface tension due to the molten solder on each electrode is Since it works toward the center of the joint, each thermoelectric element can be correctly connected and fixed at the proper position of the electrode to be joined.

[Example] Hereinafter, details of the structure of the thermoelectric module according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the prior art will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3(A) is a surface view illustrating the electrode shape of the thermoelectric module based on the present invention, and FIG. 3(B) is the
FIG. 3 is a surface view illustrating the effect of the electrode shown in the figure.

In FIG. 3(A), 2 is the first
A plurality of electric currents 1ffi2a according to the present invention arranged and fixed on the insulating substrates 1a and 1b of the thermoelectric module shown in the figure,
This is a view of an arbitrary one of 2b from the surface, and the surface is solder-plated or coated with solder paste 1.

Mana 3 is a P-type thermoelectric element connected and fixed to the electrode, 4 is an N-type thermoelectric element also connected and fixed to the electrode, and each thermoelectric element is placed at an appropriate position above the electrode 2. The connection is fixed.

As shown in the figure, the electrode 2 according to the present invention has a narrow intermediate portion where a P-type thermoelectric element and an N-type thermoelectric element are to be connected and fixed.

In this figure, each edge constituting the electrode 2 is made up of parallel straight lines, but they do not necessarily have to be straight or parallel; for example, P-type thermoelectric element and N
As long as the points to be joined to the type thermoelectric element have a symmetrical and balanced shape, and a narrow 2S current conduction path is formed between them, even if the shape is connected by a single curve,
The P-type thermoelectric element and the N-type thermoelectric element may be connected by a straight line that is inclined with respect to the location where they are to be joined.

FIG. 3(B) explains the operation of the above-mentioned electrode shape during manufacturing.

In FIG. 3(B), reference numeral 2 represents an arbitrary one of the electrodes 2a, 2b according to the present invention described above, viewed from the surface, and the surface is solder plated or solder paste 1.
is coated.

Further, 3 is a P-type thermoelectric element connected and fixed to the electrode, 4 is an N-type thermoelectric element also connected and fixed to the electrode,
In this figure, each thermoelectric element is connected to the electrode 2 described above.
The figure shows the position shifted to the right above the correct position.

In the situation shown in the figure, when the solder described above is heated and melted by the hot plate etc., each thermoelectric element moves in the direction of the arrow due to the surface tension of the molten solder, and (A) moves to the normal position described above as shown in the figure. Move to and the connection will be fixed.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a P-type thermoelectric element and an N
By narrowing the shape of the middle part of each thermoelectric element and melting the solder at the time of bonding, the surface tension due to the molten solder that falls on each electrode will be applied to each thermoelectric element. Since the thermoelectric elements work toward the center of the thermoelectric element junction at C'j, each thermoelectric element can be correctly connected and fixed at the correct position on the electrode to be bonded, and therefore, the yield rate during thermoelectric module manufacturing is reduced. You will not be able to get the extraordinary effect of being able to improve your performance.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a thermoelectric module diagram. Figure 2 is a detailed structural diagram of the thermoelectric module. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the shape of the electrode based on the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the shape of a conventional electrode; FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional electrode. 1a, 1b...Insulated substrate, 2...
...Electrode, 2a, 2b-... Electrode, 3... P-type thermoelectric element, 4... N-type thermoelectric element, 5a, 5b... Lead wire 3...P-type thermoelectric element, 3a, 3b-...P-type thermoelectric element, 4...
...N-type thermoelectric element, 4a, 4b...N-type thermoelectric element, 6...
...Solder plating, 7...Solder plating, 8...Solder paste, 11a, 11b...Insulated substrate, 12...
...... Electrode, 12a, 12b... Electrode, 12a1.1
2a2.12b1.12L12.1... Electrode. 21) 3... 1 [A) Figure 3 (Bl

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of adjacent P-type thermoelectric elements and N-type thermoelectric elements are alternately connected in series by a plurality of electrodes fixed to two opposing insulating substrates, and between the two opposing insulating substrates. In the thermoelectric module formed by sandwiching and fixing the P-type thermoelectric element and the N-type thermoelectric element, the shape of the intermediate portion of each of the plurality of electrodes is narrowed at the portion where the P-type thermoelectric element and the N-type thermoelectric element are connected, respectively. A thermoelectric module characterized by: