US 12,446,467 B2
Thermoelectric energy harvesting apparatus system and method
Uttam Ghoshal, Austin, TX (US)
Assigned to Sheetak, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Appl. No. 17/918,560
Filed by Sheetak, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 13, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/027095
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 12, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/211593, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 21, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/009,704, filed on Apr. 14, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0138483 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. H10N 10/17 (2023.01); H10N 10/80 (2023.01)
CPC H10N 10/17 (2023.02) [H10N 10/80 (2023.02)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A thermoelectric energy harvesting apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a thermoelectric converter with a temperature differential between a first side and a second side of the thermoelectric converter;
a heat sink in thermal communication with the first side and ambient air;
a plurality of heat fins in thermal communication with the heat sink and the ambient air;
a base plate in direct contact with the second side, wherein the base plate comprises a phase change material;
a power management component comprising an energy storage medium in electrical communication with the thermoelectric converter; and
a pulsed air source electrically coupled to the power management component to direct air flow at the plurality of heat fins.