Hybrid construction of multijunction thermal converters

Multijunction thermal converters designed for frequencies ranging from audio up to tens of megahertz and for heater currents from a few milliamperes up to hundreds of milliamperes, using thin-film and thick-film technologies, are described. Prototypes with various test features are reported. Different thermocouple geometries and guard couples have been included to investigate the heater temperature distribution and to study ways to optimize other characteristics. Different metals are also being investigated for use as the heater and thermocouples. The construction involves unsupported, dielectric membranes. Packages have been designed and fabricated to provide long-term stability, small distributed capacitance and inductance, and minimum skill effect through the use of all nonmagnetic materials.<>