Thermoelectric transducer and thermoelectric transducer module

Abstract

A thermoelectric transducer includes a substrate, a thermoelectric film on the substrate, a first electrode on the substrate, and a second electrode on the substrate, the second electrode being different from the first electrode in work function. The first electrode and the second electrode are in contact with the same side of the thermoelectric film. The outer edge of the thermoelectric film is located inner than the outer edge of the substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermoelectric transducer comprising:
 a substrate;   a thermoelectric film on the substrate;   a first electrode on the substrate; and   a second electrode on the substrate, the second electrode being different from the first electrode in work function,   wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are in contact with a same side of the thermoelectric film, and   wherein an outer edge of the thermoelectric film is located inner than an outer edge of the substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The thermoelectric transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a flexible substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The thermoelectric transducer according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first electrode includes a first connection terminal part;   wherein the second electrode includes a second connection terminal part; and   wherein the first connection terminal part and the second connection terminal part are distant from the thermoelectric film when viewed planarly.   
     
     
         4 . The thermoelectric transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric film is located between the substrate and both of the first electrode and the second electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The thermoelectric transducer according to  claim 3 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are located between the thermoelectric film and the substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The thermoelectric transducer according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the substrate is a flexible substrate,   wherein the first electrode includes a first lead part being distant from the thermoelectric film when viewed planarly, between the first connection terminal part and the part in contact with the same side of the thermoelectric film, and   wherein the second electrode includes a second lead part being distant from the thermoelectric film when viewed planarly, between the second connection terminal part and the part in contact with the same side of the thermoelectric film.   
     
     
         7 . A thermoelectric transducer comprising:
 a substrate;   a thermoelectric film on the substrate;   a first electrode on the substrate; and   a second electrode on the substrate, the second electrode being different from the first electrode in work function,   wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are in contact with a same side of the thermoelectric film,   wherein the first electrode includes a first connection terminal part,   wherein the second electrode includes a second connection terminal part, and   wherein the first connection terminal part and the second connection terminal part are distant from the thermoelectric film when viewed planarly.   
     
     
         8 . The thermoelectric transducer according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the first connection terminal part and the second connection terminal part is located in an opening of the thermoelectric film. 
     
     
         9 . The thermoelectric transducer according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the thermoelectric film is a first thermoelectric film,   wherein the thermoelectric transducer further comprises:
 a first island-like thermoelectric film located on the same layer as the first thermoelectric film but distant from the first thermoelectric film; and 
 a second island-like thermoelectric film located on the same layer as the first thermoelectric film but distant from the first thermoelectric film, 
   wherein the first thermoelectric film is located between the substrate and both of the first electrode and the second electrode, and   wherein the first connection terminal part and the second connection terminal part are in contact with the first island-like thermoelectric film and the second island-like thermoelectric film, respectively.   
     
     
         10 . The thermoelectric transducer according to any one of  claim 7 , wherein an outer edge of the thermoelectric film is located inner than an outer edge of the substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The thermoelectric transducer according to any one of  claim 8 , wherein an outer edge of the thermoelectric film is located inner than an outer edge of the substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The thermoelectric transducer according to any one of  claim 9 , wherein an outer edge of the thermoelectric film is located inner than an outer edge of the substrate. 
     
     
         13 . A thermoelectric transducer module comprising:
 a substrate;   a thermoelectric film on the substrate;   a first electrode on the substrate;   a second electrode on the substrate, the second electrode being different from the first electrode in work function;   a first lead wire interconnected with a connection terminal part of the first electrode; and   a second lead wire interconnected with a connection terminal part of the second electrode;   wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are in contact with a same side of the thermoelectric film, and   wherein a joint between the connection terminal part of the first electrode and the first lead wire, the first lead wire, a joint between the connection terminal part of the second electrode and the second lead wire, and the second lead wire are distant from the thermoelectric film when viewed planarly.