Thermoelectric generator with minimal thermal shunting

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a thermoelectric generator is provided. The thermoelectric generator includes a substrate, a cap, a thermoelectric detector, and an insulation layer. The cap is attached to the substrate and includes an extending portion. The cap is configured to receive thermal energy from a heat generating device. The thermoelectric detector is in thermal communication with the cap to generate an electrical output in response to the thermal energy. The insulation layer is positioned between the cap and the substrate and the insulation layer is substantially co-planar with the extending portion of the cap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An infrared (IR) detector for generating an image of an object, the IR detector comprising:
 a substrate;   an absorber positioned over the substrate and being configured to absorb at least a portion of thermal energy that is provided from a scene and to provide an electrical output based on the absorbed thermal energy; and   a reflector including a getter material being positioned between the absorber and the substrate to reflect an unused portion of the thermal energy that passes through the absorber back to the absorber and to absorb a containment with the getter material that is present within the IR detector.   
     
     
         2 . The IR detector of  claim 1 , wherein the IR detector is encapsulated in a vacuum thereby defining an encapsulated vacuum environment. 
     
     
         3 . The IR detector of  claim 2 , wherein the getter material absorbs the containments within the encapsulated vacuum environment. 
     
     
         4 . The IR detector of  claim 1 , wherein the absorber is positioned directly above the reflector. 
     
     
         5 . The IR detector of  claim 1 , wherein the getter material is Palladium to provide an increased reflectivity for the reflector in reflecting the unused portion of the thermal energy back to the absorber. 
     
     
         6 . The IR detector of  claim 5 , wherein the Palladium provides a reflectivity of between 5 and 15 microns to increase the reflectivity of the reflector. 
     
     
         7 . The IR detector of  claim 5 , wherein the Palladium includes a melting point temperature of 1555 C. 
     
     
         8 . The IR detector of  claim 5 , wherein the Palladium causes an effective emissivity of the reflector to be 0.02 to enable the absorber to maintain an increased temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The IR detector of  claim 1 , wherein the Palladium is a specular finished Palladium. 
     
     
         10 . An infrared (IR) detector for generating an image of an object, the IR detector comprising:
 a substrate;   an absorber positioned over the substrate and being configured to absorb at least a portion of thermal energy that is provided from a scene and to provide an electrical output based on the absorbed thermal energy; and   a reflector including a getter material being positioned between the absorber and the substrate to reflect an unused portion of the thermal energy that passes through the absorber back to the absorber and to absorb hydrogen with the getter material that is present within the IR detector.   
     
     
         11 . The IR detector of  claim 10 , wherein the IR detector is encapsulated in a vacuum thereby defining an encapsulated vacuum environment. 
     
     
         12 . The IR detector of  claim 11 , wherein the getter material absorbs the hydrogen within the encapsulated vacuum environment. 
     
     
         13 . The IR detector of  claim 10 , wherein the absorber is positioned directly above the reflector. 
     
     
         14 . The IR detector of  claim 10 , wherein the getter material is Palladium to provide an increased reflectivity for the reflector in reflecting the unused portion of the thermal energy back to the absorber. 
     
     
         15 . The IR detector of  claim 14 , wherein the Palladium provides a reflectivity of between 5 and 15 microns to increase the reflectivity of the reflector. 
     
     
         16 . The IR detector of  claim 14 , wherein the Palladium includes a melting point temperature of 1555 C. 
     
     
         17 . The IR detector of  claim 14 , wherein the Palladium causes an effective emissivity of the reflector to be 0.02 to enable the absorber to maintain an increased temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The IR detector of  claim 14 , wherein the Palladium is a specular finished Palladium. 
     
     
         19 . An infrared (IR) detector for generating an image of an object, the IR detector comprising:
 an absorber being configured to absorb at least a portion of thermal energy that is provided from a scene and to provide an electrical output based on the absorbed thermal energy; and   a reflector positioned below a vacuum and the absorber, the reflector including a getter material and being configured to reflect an unused portion of the thermal energy that passes through the absorber back to the absorber and to absorb a containment present within the vacuum with the getter material.   
     
     
         20 . The IR detector of  claim 19 , wherein the getter material is Palladium to provide an increased reflectivity for the reflector in reflecting the unused portion of the thermal energy back to the absorber.