Thermoelectric power generation device, thermoelectric power generation device component, and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

To provide a thermoelectric power generation device, a thermoelectric power generation device component, and a manufacturing method thereof capable of improving power generation efficiency.SOLUTION: A thermoelectric power generation device 10 includes a beam portion 20, a first leg portion 21, and a second leg portion 22 integrally formed with a wiring substrate 11. The beam portion 20, the first leg portion 21, and the second leg portion 22 are bent and deformed to attach a first contact portion 21b and a second contact portion 22b integrally formed at the tips of the first leg portion 21 and the second leg portion 22, respectively, in close contact to a heat source Hs. The first leg portion 21 and the second leg portion 22 rise obliquely upward from the heat source Hs, and the beam portion 20 connected to the base ends of the first leg portion 21 and the second leg portion 22 is arranged above the heat source Hs. Thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 are attached to the first leg portion 21 and the second leg portion 22, respectively.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a thermoelectric power generation device, a thermoelectric power generation device component, and a method for manufacturing the same.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a thermoelectric power generation device that uses a solid thermoelectric element and converts thermal energy into electrical energy by the Seebeck effect. As such a thermoelectric power generation device, there are known a π-shaped structure in which a set of thermoelectric elements is arranged between two substrates, and a flat-shaped structure in which thermoelectric elements are formed in a thin film shape on the substrate surface (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Documents 1 to 3).

[0003] A thermoelectric power generation device is composed of a set of thermoelectric elements, that is, p-type and n-type thermoelectric elements (semiconductors). Since the output of a set of thermoelectric elements is small, generally, multiple sets of thermoelectric elements are used. In the thermoelectric power generation device described in Patent Document 1, while forming multiple sets of thin-film thermoelectric elements on a substrate, the substrate is made into a bellows shape having a repeating structure of mountain folds and valley folds, giving a difference in the distance from the heat source to each part of the mountain and the valley, and increasing the temperature difference between both ends (mountain side and valley side) of the thermoelectric elements formed between the mountain and the valley. In addition, there is also known a thermoelectric power generation device in which multiple sets of thermoelectric elements having a π-shaped structure are provided on a flexible substrate, and a large number of electrodes connecting the ends of the thermoelectric elements on the side opposite to the flexible substrate are arranged in a specific arrangement so that it can be bent in a specific one direction (see Non-Patent Document 4).

[0004] On the other hand, there has been proposed a printed circuit board that can be bent 180 degrees by making a cut in a rectangular printed circuit board to make it substantially N-shaped, with less burden on the base material of the printed circuit board and preventing cutting of the wiring on the base material due to bending (see Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent document 2

Non-licensed literature

[0006]

Non-licensed literature 1

Non-licensed Document 4

[0007] However, thermoelectric power generation devices with a bellows-shaped substrate, such as those in Patent Document 1, and thermoelectric power generation devices that can be bent in only one direction, such as those in Non-Patent Document 4, have problems such as partial lifting depending on the shape of the heat source surface, and poor power generation efficiency because they use thin-film thermoelectric elements.

[0008] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a thermoelectric power generation device, a thermoelectric power generation device component, and a method for manufacturing the same that can improve power generation efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The thermoelectric power generation device of the present invention comprises a flexible wiring board having an insulating substrate and a metal layer formed on one surface of the substrate, and a p-type thermoelectric element and an n-type thermoelectric element provided on the wiring board, wherein the wiring board has a strip-shaped beam portion having a first connecting portion projecting outward in the width direction at one end and a second connecting portion projecting in the opposite direction to the first connecting portion at the other end, a first leg portion extending in a strip shape from the end of the first connecting portion on the other end of the beam portion toward the other end of the beam portion and away from the beam portion on one side of the beam portion and having a first contact portion at its tip that contacts a heat source, and a second connecting portion extending in a strip shape from the end of the second connecting portion on the one end of the beam portion toward the one end of the beam portion and away from the beam portion on one side of the beam portion The device has a second leg portion, the tip of which is provided with a second contact portion that contacts the heat source on one end side of the beam portion than the first contact portion. The metal layer is electrically divided into a first wiring region on the tip side of the first leg portion, a second wiring region on the tip side of the second leg portion, and a connecting wiring region from the first insulating region through the beam portion to the second insulating region, by a first insulating region formed between the base end and tip of the first leg portion and a second insulating region formed between the base end and tip of the second leg portion. The p-type thermoelectric element is mounted on the first leg portion so as to connect the connecting wiring region and the first wiring region, and the n-type thermoelectric element is mounted on the second leg portion so as to connect the connecting wiring region and the second wiring region.

[0010] The thermoelectric power generation device of the present invention comprises a flexible wiring board having an insulating substrate and a metal layer formed on one surface of the substrate, and a p-type or n-type thermoelectric element provided on the wiring board, wherein the wiring board has a strip-shaped beam portion having a first connecting portion projecting outward in the width direction at one end and a second connecting portion projecting in the opposite direction to the first connecting portion at the other end, a first leg portion on one side of the beam portion extending in a strip shape from the other end of the first connecting portion toward the other end of the beam portion and away from the beam portion, and having a first contact portion at its tip that contacts a heat source, and the second connecting portion on one side of the beam portion The thermoelectric element has a second leg portion which extends in a strip shape from one end of the beam portion toward the other end of the beam portion and away from the beam portion, the metal layer of which is formed to be narrower than that of the first leg portion, and a second contact portion which is provided at the tip and contacts the heat source toward one end of the beam portion toward the first contact portion than that of the first contact portion, and the metal layer is electrically divided into a first wiring region toward the tip of the first leg portion and a second wiring region which extends from the first insulating region through the beam portion to the second contact portion by a first insulating region formed between the base end and the tip of the first leg portion, and the thermoelectric element is mounted on the first leg portion so as to connect the first wiring region and the second wiring region.

[0011] The thermoelectric power generation device component of the present invention comprises a flexible, flat wiring board having an insulating base material and a metal layer formed on one surface of the base material, and a p-type thermoelectric element and an n-type thermoelectric element provided on the wiring board, wherein the wiring board has a strip-shaped beam region with a first connecting portion region protruding outward in the width direction at one end and a second connecting portion region protruding in the opposite direction to the first connecting portion region at the other end, a first leg region extending in a strip shape from the other end of the beam region of the first connecting portion region toward the other end of the beam region and having a first contact portion region at its tip that contacts a heat source, and a second connecting portion region extending in a strip shape from the one end of the beam region of the second connecting portion region toward the one end of the beam region and having a second contact portion at its tip that contacts a heat source A second leg region having two contact areas is formed, and the metal layer is electrically isolated to a first wiring region on the tip side of the first leg region, a second wiring region on the tip side of the second leg region, and a connecting wiring region from the first insulating region through the beam region to the second insulating region by a first insulating region formed between the base end and tip of the first leg region and a second insulating region formed between the base end and tip of the second leg region, the p-type thermoelectric element is mounted on the first leg region so as to connect the connecting wiring region and the first wiring region, and the n-type thermoelectric element is mounted on the second leg region so as to connect the connecting wiring region and the second wiring region.

[0012] The thermoelectric power generation device component of the present invention comprises a flexible, flat wiring board having an insulating base material and a metal layer formed on one surface of the base material, and a p-type or n-type thermoelectric element provided on the wiring board, wherein the wiring board has a strip-shaped beam region with a first connecting portion region protruding outward in the width direction at one end and a second connecting portion region protruding in the opposite direction to the first connecting portion region at the other end, a first leg region extending in a strip shape from the other end of the beam region of the first connecting portion region to the other end of the beam region and having a first contact portion region at its tip that contacts a heat source, and the second connecting portion region A band-shaped extension is formed from one end of the beam region to the other end of the beam region, the metal layer being formed to be narrower than the first leg region, and the second leg region having a second contact region at its tip that contacts a heat source. The metal layer is electrically separated into a first wiring region at the tip of the first leg region and a second wiring region from the first insulating region through the beam region to the second contact region by a first insulating region formed between the base and tip of the first leg region, and the thermoelectric element is mounted on the first leg region so as to connect the first wiring region and the second wiring region.

[0013] The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a thermoelectric power generation device component, comprising a division step of forming a cut line on a flexible wiring board having an insulating base material and a metal layer formed on one surface of the base material, and dividing the board into a strip-shaped beam region having a first connecting portion region protruding outward in the width direction at one end and a second connecting portion region protruding in the opposite direction to the first connecting portion region at the other end, a first leg region extending in a strip shape from the other end of the beam region toward the other end of the beam region and having a first contact portion region at its tip that contacts a heat source, and a second leg region extending in a strip shape from one end of the beam region toward the one end of the beam region and having a second contact portion region at its tip that contacts a heat source The invention comprises a metal layer processing step in which the metal layer is electrically separated into a first wiring region on the tip side of the first leg region, a second wiring region on the tip side of the second leg region, and a connecting wiring region from the first insulating region through the beam region to the second insulating region; and a thermoelectric element mounting step in which a p-type thermoelectric element is mounted on the first leg region to connect the connecting wiring region and the first wiring region, and an n-type thermoelectric element is mounted on the second leg region to connect the connecting wiring region and the second wiring region.

[0014] The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a thermoelectric power generation device component, comprising: forming a cut line on a flexible wiring board having an insulating substrate and a metal layer formed on one surface of the substrate; a strip-shaped beam region having a first connecting portion region protruding outward in the width direction at one end and a second connecting portion region protruding in the opposite direction to the first connecting portion region at the other end; a first leg region extending in a strip shape from the other end of the beam region of the first connecting portion region toward the other end of the beam region and having a first contact portion region at its tip that contacts a heat source; and a second connecting portion extending in a strip shape from the one end of the beam region of the second connecting portion region toward the one end of the beam region and having a second contact portion at its tip that contacts a heat source. The invention comprises a division step of dividing the metal layer into a second leg region having a contact region and a metal layer processing step of forming a first insulating region between the base end and tip of the first leg region, electrically separating the first wiring region on the tip side of the first leg region from the first insulating region through the beam region to the second contact region, and making the metal layer in the second leg region narrower than that of the first leg region, and a thermoelectric element mounting step of mounting either a p-type or n-type thermoelectric element on the first leg region so as to connect the first wiring region and the second wiring region. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, since the first and second legs rise inclined from the heat source, each thermoelectric element can be separated from the heat source to generate a large temperature difference between the thermoelectric elements. Furthermore, there is a degree of freedom in the spacing and position of the first and second contact portions, and the first and second contact portions can be brought into good contact with the heat source, thereby improving power generation efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a thermoelectric power generation device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram illustrating a thermoelectric power generation device mounted on a spherical surface. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing components of a thermoelectric power generation device. [Figure 4]It is a perspective view showing a thermoelectric power generation device with a heat sink attached to the beam part. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view showing a thermoelectric power generation device composed of a plurality of column modules. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view showing a thermoelectric power generation device component having a plurality of column module regions. [Figure 7] It is an image showing the numerical simulation result of the temperature distribution around the thermoelectric power generation device. [Figure 8] It is an image showing the numerical simulation result of the temperature distribution around a thermoelectric power generation device imitating a π-type structure and a flat-type structure. [Figure 9] It is a graph showing the temperature distribution of the thermoelectric elements in the numerical simulations of FIGS. 7 and 8. [Figure 10] It is a photograph showing each thermoelectric power generation device when the power generation performance was verified. [Figure 11] It is a graph showing the relationship between the temperature and the measured output of each thermoelectric power generation device in FIG. 10. [Figure 12] It is a photograph showing a thermoelectric power generation device composed of a plurality of column modules attached to the surfaces of a flat plate and a cylinder. [Figure 13] It is a graph showing the relationship between the temperature and the output of the thermoelectric power generation device attached to the surfaces of a flat plate and a cylinder.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] In Figure 1, the thermoelectric power generation device 10 is used by being attached to a heat source Hs such as an engine, pipes, or electronic equipment. This thermoelectric power generation device 10 is a wiring board 11 to which thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 are fixed, which has been deformed into a predetermined shape, and is attached to the heat source Hs in this deformed state. Hereafter, the thermoelectric power generation device 10 will be described assuming that it is attached to the upper surface of the heat source Hs, but this does not limit the orientation of the thermoelectric power generation device 10 relative to the heat source Hs. Also, as an example, the surface of the heat source Hs to which the thermoelectric power generation device 10 is attached (hereinafter referred to as the heat source surface) will be described as a plane, but as will be described later, the heat source surface to which the thermoelectric power generation device 10 is attached is not limited to a plane.

[0018] The wiring board 11 has a structure in which a metal layer 14 is formed on the upper surface of a base film 12, which serves as a substrate, and is flexible. The base film 12 is made of an insulating resin, in this example, polyimide. In this example, the base film 12 is flexible, and the flexibility of the wiring board 11 is mainly due to the flexibility of the base film 12. The metal layer 14 is made of a metal with high thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity, in this example, copper (Cu). The base film 12 only needs to be insulating on at least the side facing the metal layer 14. The substrate may be something other than resin, and may also consist of multiple layers made of different materials. Furthermore, since heat is transferred from the heat source Hs to the metal layer 14 via the base film 12, it is preferable that the base film 12 has high thermal conductivity. Furthermore, the metal layer 14 may be any material with high thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity, such as aluminum (Al) or gold (Au).

[0019] The wiring board 11 is broadly divided into three parts: the beam section 20, the first leg section 21, and the second leg section 22. The beam section 20, the first leg section 21, and the second leg section 22 are formed by curving a single wiring board 11 that has been cut to divide it into multiple regions, as will be described in detail later. The surfaces of the beam section 20, the first leg section 21, and the second leg section 22 are continuous.

[0020] The beam section 20 is formed in a strip shape. This beam section 20 bends and twists depending on how the first leg section 21 and the second leg section 22 are attached to the heat source Hs, and the degree of these changes also varies. Hereinafter, the width direction of the beam section 20, the first leg section 21 and the second leg section 22 will be described as the Y direction, the vertical direction in Figure 1 as the Z direction, and the directions perpendicular to the Y direction and the Z direction (left and right directions in the figure) as the X direction.

[0021] The beam section 20 has a first connecting section 20a and a second connecting section 20b that project in the Y direction from the side edges of each end in the X direction. The first connecting section 20a projects from one side edge of one end of the beam section 20 (the side edge on the near side in the figure), and the second connecting section 20b projects from the other side edge of the other end of the beam section 20 (the side edge on the far side in the figure). In other words, the second connecting section 20b projects in the opposite direction to the first connecting section 20a. The width (length in the Y direction) of the first connecting section 20a and the second connecting section 20b is the same as that of the first leg section 21 and the second leg section 22.

[0022] The first leg portion 21 has a leg body 21a extending in a strip shape from the first connecting portion 20a, and a first contact portion 21b provided at the tip of the leg body 21a. The base end of the leg body 21a is connected to the other end of the beam portion 20 of the first connecting portion 20a, and extends diagonally downward to the right in the figure. That is, the leg body 21a is positioned on the lower surface side of the beam portion 20 opposite to the metal layer 14, extending from the first connecting portion 20a toward the other end of the beam portion 20 (to the right in the figure) and away from the beam portion 20 (downward in the figure), and is inclined with respect to the beam portion 20.

[0023] The first leg portion 21 has a tip that is wider than the main body 21a, and this wider portion is the first contact portion 21b. The first contact portion 21b is attached, for example, by being glued, with its lower surface in close contact with the heat source surface.

[0024] The second leg portion 22 has a leg body 22a extending in a strip shape from the second connecting portion 20b, and a second contact portion 22b provided at the tip of the leg body 22a. The base end of the leg body 22a is connected to one end of the beam portion 20 of the second connecting portion 20b, and extends diagonally downward to the left in the figure. That is, the leg body 22a is positioned on the lower surface side of the beam portion 20, extending from the second connecting portion 20b toward one end of the beam portion 20 (to the left in the figure) and away from the beam portion 20 (down in the figure), and is inclined with respect to the beam portion 20.

[0025] The first leg portion 21 has a tip that is wider than the main body 21a, and this wider portion forms the first contact portion 21b. Similarly, the second leg portion 22 has a tip that is wider than the main body 22a, and this wider portion forms the second contact portion 22b. The thermoelectric power generation device 10 is attached to the heat source Hs by, for example, attaching the lower surfaces of the first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b to the heat source surface. The first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b are in close contact with the heat source surface with a gap between them in the X direction. The first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b also function as a pair of electrodes for extracting power from the thermoelectric power generation device 10. In this example, the first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b are wider than the script bodies 21a and 22a, but this is not limited to this, and they may be the same width as the script bodies 21a and 22a.

[0026] A first insulating region 27 is provided between the base and tip of the first leg portion 21 (leg body 21a) to electrically isolate the metal layer 14, and a second insulating region 28 is provided between the base and tip of the second leg portion 22 (leg body 22a) to electrically isolate the metal layer 14. In this example, the first insulating region 27 and the second insulating region 28 are formed as gaps in the metal layer 14 where there is no metal. As a result, the metal layer 14 is electrically isolated into a first wiring region 14a on the tip side of the first leg portion 21, a second wiring region 14b on the tip side of the second leg portion 22, and a connecting wiring region 14c from the first insulating region 27 to the second insulating region 28 via the beam portion 20. The first wiring region 14a is the region of the metal layer 14 from the first contact portion 21b to the first insulating region 27, and the second wiring region 14b is the region of the metal layer 14 from the second contact portion 22b to the second insulating region 28.

[0027] Thermoelectric element E1 is of type p and is mounted on the base body 21a at the location of the first insulating region 27, i.e., on the base body 21a, so as to connect the first wiring region 14a and the connecting wiring region 14c of the metal layer 14. Thermoelectric element E2 is of type n and is mounted on the base body 22a at the location of the second insulating region 28, i.e., on the base body 22a, so as to connect the second wiring region 14b and the connecting wiring region 14c of the metal layer 14. Thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 are electrically connected to the first wiring region 14a, the second wiring region 14b, and the connecting wiring region 14c, respectively, for example by soldering.

[0028] The mounting position for the thermoelectric element E1, i.e., the position where the first insulating region 27 is formed, is set to a flat portion of the base body 21a, rather than the curved base end portion. This prevents the thermoelectric element E1 from falling off. Similarly, the mounting position for the thermoelectric element E2, i.e., the position where the second insulating region 28 is formed, is set to a flat portion of the base body 22a, rather than the curved base end portion, to prevent the thermoelectric element E2 from falling off. From the viewpoint of increasing the temperature difference between the thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 by moving them away from the heat source Hs, it is preferable to position them away from the tips of the base bodies 21a and 22a and closer to the base end.

[0029] As described above, the thermoelectric power generation device 10 is attached to the heat source surface of the heat source Hs with the first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b in close contact. When the thermoelectric power generation device 10 is viewed from the Y direction, the second contact portion 22b is fixed at a position that is on one end side (left side in the figure) of the beam portion 20, rather than the first contact portion 21b, so that the main body 21a and the main body 22a intersect to form an X shape. As a result, the beam portion 20 is positioned above the heat source Hs at a distance. In addition, since the main bodies 21a and 22a are positioned diagonally above the heat source surface, the thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 are positioned at a large distance above the heat source surface. The structure of this three-dimensional wiring board 11 is similar to what is called a cut-paper structure, which is made by cutting notches into a sheet.

[0030] In the thermoelectric power generation device 10, the metal layer 14 primarily handles heat conduction, transferring heat from the heat source Hs to one end of the thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 via the first wiring region 14a and second wiring region 14b of the metal layer 14, thereby raising the temperature at that end. In addition, the connecting wiring region 14c, mainly the beam region 20, dissipates heat, effectively lowering the temperature at the other end of the thermoelectric elements E1 and E2. By creating a temperature difference between the thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 in this way, the electromotive force generated in the thermoelectric power generation device 10 is extracted from the first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b. Because the distance between the heat source surface of the heat source Hs, which is a high-temperature source, and the beam region 20, which is a low-temperature source, is large, high power generation efficiency can be obtained. Furthermore, because the thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 are positioned far above the heat source surface, even higher power generation efficiency can be obtained.

[0031] Incidentally, the thermoelectric power generation device 10, having the structure described above, has the freedom to deform the wiring board 11 without applying a force that would cause the thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 to fall off, and thus has a great degree of freedom in the shape of the heat source surface to which it can be attached. For this reason, the thermoelectric power generation device 10 can be attached to curved surfaces, such as cylindrical or spherical surfaces, and high power generation efficiency can be obtained.

[0032] Figure 2 schematically shows the state in which the thermoelectric power generation device 10 is attached to a spherical heat source surface Hsa. When the thermoelectric power generation device 10 is attached to the spherical heat source surface Hsa, the angle between the stalk body 21a and the first contact portion 21b, and the angle between the stalk body 22a and the second contact portion 22b change in the circumferential direction of the heat source surface Hsa as viewed in the Y direction. The first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b are curved along the circumferential direction, allowing them to be brought into close contact with the heat source surface Hsa.

[0033] On the other hand, in the circumferential direction of the heat source surface Hsa as viewed in the X direction, the first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b can be made to be in close contact with the heat source surface Hsa by curving them. In this case, the positions of the tips of the first leg portion 21 and the second leg portion 22 on the heat source surface Hsa are shifted in the circumferential direction, and the leg bodies 21a and 22a open radially, but this radial opening is permitted by the twisting deformation of the beam portion 20. Therefore, there is almost no deformation in the leg bodies 21a and 22a that would generate a force that would peel off the soldered thermoelectric elements E1 and E2. As a result, the first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b can be made to be in close contact with the heat source surface Hsa, and high power generation efficiency can be maintained.

[0034] Even when the distance between the first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b in the X direction is changed, the thermoelectric power generation device 10 can maintain close contact between the first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b on the heat source surface without applying any force that would cause the thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 to fall off, simply by changing the degree of curvature between the base and tip portions of the leg bodies 21a and 22a, and the degree of inclination of the leg bodies 21a and 22a. Furthermore, even when the relative positions of the first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b in the Y direction are changed by the twisting deformation of the beam portion 20, similar to the case where the leg bodies 21a and 22a are opened radially, the first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b can maintain close contact between the first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b on the heat source surface. In this way, the thermoelectric power generation device 10 offers flexibility in mounting to the heat source surface, and thereby achieves high power generation efficiency.

[0035] Furthermore, as described above, the thermoelectric power generation device 10 has flexibility in the mounting of the first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b, which also means that it can accommodate bending of the mounting surface of the heat source after the first contact portion 21b and the second contact portion 22b have been fixed to the heat source.

[0036] Figure 3 shows a thermoelectric power generation device component 30, which will become the thermoelectric power generation device 10. The thermoelectric power generation device component 30 is a flat wiring board (hereinafter referred to as the device component board) 31 with cut lines C1 and C2, on which thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 are mounted, as will be described later. The device component board 31 can be transformed into the aforementioned wiring board 11 in three dimensions, and has a structure in which a metal layer 14 is layered on the surface of the base film 12.

[0037] The device component substrate 31 is rectangular in shape and is divided by cut lines C1 and C2 into a beam region 40 which becomes the beam 20, a first leg region 41 which becomes the first leg 21, and a second leg region 42 which becomes the second leg 22. The beam region 40, the first leg region 41, and the second leg region 42 are shaped like the three-dimensionally deformed beam 20, the first leg 21, and the second leg 22 in planar form. Furthermore, a first insulating region 27 is formed in the first leg region 41 and a second insulating region 28 is formed in the second leg region 42, and the metal layer 14 is electrically isolated into a first wiring region 14a, a second wiring region 14b, and a connection wiring region 14c.

[0038] The device component substrate 31 is manufactured by forming cut lines C1 and C2 on a substrate in which a metal layer 14 is formed on the surface of a base film 12, and by forming a first insulating region 27 and a second insulating region 28.

[0039] The method for forming the cut lines C1 and C2 is not particularly limited, and any method appropriate to the material of the device component substrate 31 may be used. For example, the cut lines C1 and C2 can be formed by laser processing. The cut lines C1 and C2 in the thermoelectric power generation device component 30 do not need to completely separate the adjacent areas on either side of the cut lines C1 and C2. For example, when mounting to a heat source Hs, the cut lines C1 and C2 may be made as groove-like cuts that allow for easy separation at that point. The division of each area described above involves dividing the device component substrate 31 into predetermined areas by the cut lines C1 and C2, along with virtual boundaries between the areas on the device component substrate 31.

[0040] The first insulating region 27 and the second insulating region 28 are formed, for example, by etching the metal layer 14. The method for forming the first insulating region 27 and the second insulating region 28 is not limited to this. For example, when forming the metal layer 14 on the surface of the base film 12 by vapor deposition or plating, the areas that will become the first insulating region 27 and the second insulating region 28 may be masked so that the metal layer 14 is not formed.

[0041] The beam region 40 is provided approximately in the center of the device component substrate 31, extending in the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the device component substrate 31, and a first connecting region 40a and a second connecting region 40b are formed at both ends of the beam region 40a and 40b, respectively, protruding from the side edges. The first connecting region 40a and the second connecting region 40b are the regions that become the first connecting portion 20a and the second connecting portion 20b, and they protrude in opposite directions from each other. Therefore, the beam region 40 is formed in a shape that is approximately point-symmetric with respect to the approximate center of the device component substrate 31.

[0042] The first leg region 41 extends in a band-like shape from the other end of the beam region 40 of the first connecting region 40a toward the other end of the beam region 40, and is widened so that its tip spreads toward the beam region 40, thus being provided in an L-shape. Of the first leg region 41, the leg body region 41a which becomes the leg body 21a extends along the beam region 40 (in the X direction), and the widened first contact region 41b which becomes the first contact portion 21b is adjacent to the other end of the beam region 40, which includes the second connecting region 40b.

[0043] The second leg region 42 extends in a band-like shape from one end of the beam region 40 of the second connecting region 40b toward the other end of the beam region 40, and is widened so that its tip spreads toward the beam region 40, thus forming an L-shape. Of the second leg region 42, the leg body region 42a, which becomes the leg body 22a, extends along the beam region 40 (in the X direction), and the widened second contact region 42b, which becomes the second contact portion 22b, is adjacent to one end of the beam region 40, including the first connecting region 40a. The first leg region 41 and the second leg region 42 are approximately point-symmetrical with respect to the approximate center of the device component substrate 31.

[0044] The cut line C1 is formed at the boundary between the beam region 40 and the first leg region 41, excluding the boundary between the first connecting region 40a and the base end of the first leg region 41. Therefore, the cut line C1 is L-shaped and consists of a line portion C1a that extends in the X direction and is formed at the boundary separating the beam region 40 and the leg region 41a in the Y direction, and a line portion C1b that extends in the Y direction and is formed at the boundary separating the beam region 40 and the first contact region 41b in the X direction.

[0045] Similarly, the cut line C2 is formed at the boundary between the beam region 40 and the second leg region 42, excluding the boundary between the second connecting region 40b and the base end of the second leg region 42. Therefore, the cut line C2 is L-shaped and consists of a line portion C2a extending in the X direction and formed at the boundary separating the beam region 40 and the leg body region 42a in the Y direction, and a line portion C2b extending in the Y direction and formed at the boundary separating the beam region 40 and the second contact region 42b in the X direction. The cut lines C1 and C2 are also point-symmetric with respect to approximately the center of the device component substrate 31.

[0046] The above-mentioned line portions C1a and C2a are shorter than the length of the device component substrate 31 (length in the X direction) and are formed offset from each other in the X direction. Line portion C1b extends from one end of line portion C1a that protrudes more in the X direction than line portion C2a to the side edge of the device component substrate 31 on the side of line portion C2a. Similarly, line portion C2b extends from one end of line portion C2a that protrudes more in the X direction than line portion C1a to the side edge of the device component substrate 31 on the side of line portion C1a.

[0047] Thermoelectric element E1 is mounted on the substrate region 41a by soldering both ends to connect the first wiring region 14a and the connecting wiring region 14c of the metal layer 14. Similarly, thermoelectric element E2 is mounted on the substrate region 42a by soldering both ends to connect the second wiring region 14b and the connecting wiring region 14c of the metal layer 14. Since thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 are mounted on a flat device component substrate 31 in this way, mounting is easy.

[0048] The thermoelectric power generation device component 30 described above becomes a thermoelectric power generation device 10 by deforming the device component substrate 31 so as to pull up the beam portion 40 while raising the base ends of the first leg portion 41 and the second leg portion 42, respectively.

[0049] Figure 4 shows an example of a thermoelectric power generation device 10 in which a heat sink 47 with multiple fins 47a formed on the upper surface of a beam portion 20 is provided. The heat sink 47 is made of a metal with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or copper, and is fixed to the upper surface of the beam portion 20. The heat sink 47 is attached to the thermoelectric power generation device 10 by, for example, providing fins 47a on a sheet-like base material 47b that can be easily deformed together with the beam portion 20, and then attaching the base material 47b to the upper surface of the beam portion 20. This improves heat dissipation from the beam portion 20 and increases power generation efficiency.

[0050] The thermoelectric power generation device described below is one in which thermoelectric elements are arranged in a two-dimensional array. Except as described below, it is the same as the example above, and components with substantially the same function are given the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0051] In Figure 5, the thermoelectric power generation device 50 has multiple row modules 51 arranged in the direction of alignment. The direction of alignment is perpendicular to the width direction (Y direction) and the vertical direction (Z direction) of the beam. Each row module 51 is connected by an intermediate contact portion 52 provided between two adjacent row modules 51, and is integrally formed as a single wiring board 11B. The intermediate contact portion 52, together with the first contact portion 53 and the second contact portion 54 provided at both ends in the X direction of the thermoelectric power generation device 50, is attached in close contact with the heat source surface. Power from the thermoelectric power generation device 50 is extracted from the first contact portion 53 and the second contact portion 54 at both ends.

[0052] Each row module 51 has a repeating configuration of beam section 20, first leg section 21, and second leg section 22 in the Y direction. More specifically, multiple beam sections 20, first leg sections 21, and second leg sections 22 are integrally formed so that the first leg sections 21 and second leg sections 22 are alternately arranged with the beam section 20 in between. That is, a beam section 20 is provided between each of the first leg sections 21 and second leg sections 22, and the base end of each is connected to the first connecting section 20a and second connecting section 20b of the adjacent beam section 20.

[0053] At the tip of each first leg 21 of the first row module 51 located at one end (right end in the figure) of the thermoelectric power generation device 50, a common first contact portion 53 is integrally provided, and at the tip of each second leg 22 of the fourth row module 51 located at the other end (left end in the figure) of the fourth row module 51, a common second contact portion 54 is integrally provided. The intermediate contact portion 52 is formed by integrating one of the first or second contact portions located on the side of one row module 51 to the other row module 51 of two adjacent row modules 51, and the other of the first or second contact portion located on the side of the other row module 51 to the first row module 51. In other words, the intermediate contact portion 52 is integrally formed as a common contact portion at the tip of the leg extending from one row module 51 to the other row module 51 of two adjacent row modules 51, and at the tip of the leg extending from the other row module 51 to the first row module 51.

[0054] In the illustrated example, for example, an intermediate contact portion 52 common to both the second leg portion 22 extending from the second row module 51 to the third row module 51 and the first leg portion 21 extending from the third row module 51 to the second row module 51 is formed at their tips. The same applies to the intermediate contact portions 52 for the first and second row modules 51 and the third and fourth row modules 51.

[0055] In this example, the arrangement of the beam section 20, first leg section 21, and second leg section 22 in the Y direction is the same for each row module 51. However, the positions of the first leg sections 21 and the second leg sections 22 in the Y direction may be shifted between adjacent row modules 51. Furthermore, the number of beam sections 20, first leg sections 21, and second leg sections 22 in each row module 51 is not limited, and more beam sections 20, first leg sections 21, and second leg sections 22 may be provided, or they may be a single set.

[0056] By providing a first insulating region 27 and a second insulating region 28 on each first leg portion 21 and each second leg portion 22, the metal layer 14 is formed with electrically isolated first wiring region 64a, second wiring region 64b, three intermediate wiring regions 64c, and four connection wiring regions 64d. The first wiring region 64a is a region of the metal layer 14 where the tip-side region of each first leg portion 21 of the first row module 51 and the region of the first contact portion 53 are integrated. The second wiring region 64b is a region of the metal layer 14 where the tip-side region of each second leg portion 22 of the fourth row module 51 and the region of the second contact portion 54 are integrated. The intermediate wiring region 64c is a region of the metal layer 14 where the region of the intermediate contact portion 52 and the tip-side regions of each first leg portion 21 and each second leg portion 22 integrated with the intermediate contact portion 52 as described above are integrated, and is formed for each intermediate contact portion 52. The connection wiring area 64d is provided for each row module 51 and is a region of metal layer 14 that integrates the area of ​​the first leg portion 21 closer to the base end than the first insulating area 27, the area of ​​the second leg portion 22 closer to the base end than the second insulating area 28, and the area of ​​each beam portion 20.

[0057] The thermoelectric power generation device 50, configured as described above, similar to the thermoelectric power generation device 10 described above, has a large degree of freedom in the surface shape of the heat source surface, without causing deformation in the first leg portion 21 and the second leg portion 22 that would cause the thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 to fall off, and can be mounted on cylindrical or spherical surfaces to obtain high power generation efficiency. It can also accommodate bending of the mounting surface of the heat source after it has been fixed in place.

[0058] Figure 6 shows a thermoelectric power generation device component 70 which will become the thermoelectric power generation device 50. The thermoelectric power generation device component 70 has a device component substrate 71 which will become the wiring board 11B, and multiple column module regions 72 corresponding to each column module 51 are provided on it. The device component substrate 71 becomes the wiring board 11B by deforming it three-dimensionally, and has a structure in which a metal layer 14 is layered on the surface of the base film 12.

[0059] Each row module region 72 is divided into a beam region 40, a first leg region 41, and a second leg region 42 by cut lines C1 and C2, in a pattern corresponding to the arrangement of the beam region 20, the first leg region 21, and the second leg region 22. In addition, an intermediate contact region 74 corresponding to the intermediate contact region 52 is formed between each row module region 72, and a first contact region 75 and a second contact region 76 corresponding to the first contact region 53 and second contact region 54 are formed at both ends of the device component substrate 71. The metal layer 14 is separated into a first wiring region 64a, a second wiring region 64b, an intermediate wiring region 64c, and a connecting wiring region 64d by cut lines C1 and C2, a first insulating region 27, and a second insulating region 28 as described above, but to avoid complexity in the figure, the illustration of these reference numerals is omitted in Figure 6.

[0060] The cut line C1 on this device component substrate 71 is formed at the boundary between the beam region 40 and the intermediate contact region 74 and first contact region 75, which correspond to the intermediate contact region 52 and first contact region 53, which are integrated with the first leg region 41 and first leg region 21, similar to the example shown in Figure 3. The cut line C1 consists of a line portion C1a that extends in the X direction and is formed at the boundary separating the beam region 40 and the portion of the first leg region 41 that extends in the X direction in the Y direction, and a line portion C1b that extends in the Y direction and is formed at the boundary separating the beam region 40 and the intermediate contact region 74 and first contact region 75 in the X direction.

[0061] The first leg region 41, sandwiched between the two beam regions 40, is demarcated by two cut lines C1. Furthermore, when considering one first leg region 41, if there is another first leg region 41 sandwiched between the two beam regions 40 and the second leg region 42 positioned between them, the line C1a that demarcates the first leg region 41 on the other first leg region 41 side connects to the line C1a that demarcates the other first leg region 41 on the first leg region 41 side via line C1b, thus forming a "U" shape.

[0062] The cut line C2 is similar to the cut line C1, and the cut line C2 is formed at the boundary between the beam region 40 and the intermediate contact region 74 and second contact region 76, which correspond to the intermediate contact region 52 and second contact region 54, which are integrated with the second leg region 42 and second leg 22. The cut line C2 is composed of a line portion C2a that extends in the X direction and is formed at the boundary that separates the beam region 40 and the X-extended portion of the second leg region 42 in the Y direction, and a line portion C2b that extends in the Y direction and is formed at the boundary that separates the beam region 40 and the intermediate contact region 74 and second contact region 76 in the X direction, resulting in a "U" shape.

[0063] In the examples above, configurations using both p-type and n-type thermoelectric elements are described. However, a thermoelectric power generation device may also be configured to use only one type of thermoelectric element, either p-type or n-type, on the first leg. In this configuration, the first insulating region provided on the first leg electrically divides the metal layer into a first wiring region at the tip of the first leg and a second wiring region from the first insulating region through the beam to the second contact region. The thermoelectric element is then mounted on the first leg so as to connect the first and second wiring regions. The metal layer of the second leg, on which no thermoelectric element is mounted, is made narrower than the metal layer of the first leg to increase its thermal resistance, thereby creating a large temperature difference between the two ends of the thermoelectric element on the first leg. The method for narrowing the width of the metal layer of the second leg is not limited. For example, the width of the metal layer of the second leg can be narrowed by etching, or by using a mask when forming the metal layer on the surface of the base film by vapor deposition or plating. The formation of the first and second insulating regions and the processing to narrow the width of the metal layer of the second leg may be performed simultaneously or at different times. In addition to making the width of the base film of the first and second legs the same and only narrowing the width of the metal layer of the second leg compared to that of the first leg, the width of the second leg itself, i.e., the base film and metal layer, may also be narrower than that of the first leg. Furthermore, a row module can be formed using such a configuration to create a thermoelectric power generation device using that row module, and multiple row modules can be arranged to create a thermoelectric power generation device similar to the example in Figure 5.

[0064] Figure 7 shows the simulation results of the temperature distribution around the legs (first leg 21 or second leg 22) and beam 20 when the thermoelectric power generation device 10, configured as described above, is attached to a high-temperature heat source. This simulation result is a numerical simulation of a state where the beam 20 is placed above the heat source Hs in the atmosphere, and Figure 7 shows that higher concentrations indicate higher temperatures. Similarly, Figure 8 shows the numerical simulation results of the temperature distribution when thermoelectric elements are placed on a substrate and this substrate is in close contact with a high-temperature heat source, mimicking a typical π-type or flat-type thermoelectric power generation device. Furthermore, Figure 9 shows the temperature distribution inside the thermoelectric elements in the simulations shown in Figures 7 and 8. Note that the graph indicated by the symbol A in Figure 9 is for the thermoelectric power generation device 10, and the graph indicated by the symbol B is for a π-type or flat-type thermoelectric power generation device.

[0065] As can be seen from these simulation results, in thermoelectric power generation device 10, because the thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 are located away from the high-temperature heat source, the thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 can be positioned outside the thermal boundary layer, and a large temperature difference can be created within the thermoelectric elements E1 and E2. In contrast, in thermoelectric power generation devices with general π-type or flat-type structures, the thermoelectric elements are located inside the thermal boundary layer, and it is difficult to create a temperature difference within the thermoelectric elements. Therefore, it can be seen that the power generation efficiency is improved by the structures of the thermoelectric power generation devices 10, 50, etc.

[0066] Next, thermoelectric power generation devices with the above configuration 10, as well as π-type and flat-type structures, were fabricated and their power generation performance was investigated. The fabricated thermoelectric power generation device 10 is shown in Figure 10(A), the π-type structure thermoelectric power generation device in Figure 10(B), and the flat-type structure thermoelectric power generation devices in Figure 10(C). All thermoelectric power generation devices were fabricated using thermoelectric elements with the same performance. Furthermore, the flat-type structure thermoelectric power generation device was constructed by making the thermoelectric power generation device 10 planar, i.e., it had almost the same configuration and shape as the thermoelectric power generation device component 30.

[0067] The wiring boards used in the three types of thermoelectric power generation devices described above are polyimide copper substrates consisting of a copper metal layer (8 μm thick) and a polyimide base film (25 μm thick), and the thermoelectric elements used are BiTe-based (p-type: Bi 0.3 S 1.7 The thermoelectric generator was constructed using Te3 (n-type: Bi2Te3+Ru, dimensions: 2×2×1mm). The output of each thermoelectric generator was measured when the heat source temperature was varied from 40°C to 100°C. The measurement results are shown in Figure 11. Note that in Figure 11, the measurement results for thermoelectric generator 10 are shown as a paper-cut type thermoelectric generator. Thermoelectric generator 10 showed high power generation efficiency, obtaining an output approximately 7.3 times higher than that of a π-type thermoelectric generator and approximately 13.4 times higher than that of a flat-type thermoelectric generator.

[0068] Furthermore, a thermoelectric power generation device 50, as shown in Figure 5, was fabricated, and its power generation performance when attached to a curved surface was verified. In this verification, the output of the thermoelectric power generation device 50 was measured when it was attached to a flat plate that served as a heat source, and when it was attached to the circumferential surface of a cylinder that served as a heat source. Figure 12(A) shows the thermoelectric power generation device 50 attached to the flat plate that served as a heat source, and Figure 12(B) shows it attached to the circumferential surface of a cylinder. The wiring board 11B and thermoelectric elements E1 and E2 used in the thermoelectric power generation device 50 were the same as those described above.

[0069] Figure 13 shows the results of measuring the output of the thermoelectric power generation device 50 in each case. At a heat source temperature of 100°C, the output when the thermoelectric power generation device 50 was attached to a flat plate was 208 μW. When it was attached to the circumference of a cylinder, the output was 214 μW. This indicates that the thermoelectric power generation performance of the thermoelectric power generation device 50 does not change significantly even when it is attached to a curved surface. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0070] 10.50 Thermoelectric power generation devices 11, 11B Wiring board 12 base film 14 Metal layer 14a 1st wiring area 14b 2nd wiring area 14c Connection wiring area 20 Beam section 20a 1st connection part 20b 2nd connection part 21 1st leg 21a, 22a script font 21b, 53 1st contact part 22 Second leg 22b, 54 2nd contact part 27. First Insulation Region 28 Second Insulation Region 30, 70 Thermoelectric power generation device components 40 Beam area 40a 1st connection area 40b 2nd connection area 41 1st leg area 41b, 75 1st contact area 42 Second leg area 42b, 76 2nd contact area 47 Heatsink 47a Fin 51-column module 52 Intermediate contact section 64a 1st wiring area 64b 2nd wiring area 64c Intermediate wiring area 64d Connection wiring area 70 Thermoelectric power generation device components 72-column module area 74 Intermediate contact area C1, C2 cut lines E1, E2 thermoelectric elements

Claims

1. A flexible wiring board having an insulating base material and a metal layer formed on one surface of the base material, and a p-type thermoelectric element and an n-type thermoelectric element provided on the wiring board, The wiring board is a band-shaped beam portion having a first connecting portion at one end protruding outward in the width direction and a second connecting portion at the other end protruding in a direction opposite to the first connecting portion; a first leg portion, on one surface side of the beam portion, extending in a strip shape from an end portion of the first connecting portion on the other end side of the beam portion toward the other end side of the beam portion and in a direction away from the beam portion, and having a first contact portion at a tip end thereof that comes into contact with a heat source; a second leg portion that extends in a strip shape from an end portion of the second connecting portion on one surface side of the beam portion toward the one end side of the beam portion and in a direction away from the beam portion, and has a second contact portion at its tip that comes into contact with the heat source on the one end side of the beam portion relative to the first contact portion; and the metal layer is electrically divided into a first wiring region on the tip side of the first leg, a second wiring region on the tip side of the second leg, and a connection wiring region extending from the first insulating region through the beam portion to the second insulating region by a first insulating region formed between the base end and the tip of the first leg and a second insulating region formed between the base end and the tip of the second leg, the p-type thermoelectric element is attached to the first leg portion so as to connect the connection wiring region and the first wiring region; The n-type thermoelectric element is attached to the second leg portion so as to connect the connection wiring region and the second wiring region. A thermoelectric power generation device characterized by:

2. A flexible wiring board having an insulating base material and a metal layer formed on one surface of the base material, and either a p-type or n-type thermoelectric element provided on the wiring board, The wiring board is a band-shaped beam portion having a first connecting portion at one end protruding outward in the width direction and a second connecting portion at the other end protruding in a direction opposite to the first connecting portion; a first leg portion, on one surface side of the beam portion, extending in a strip shape from an end portion of the first connecting portion on the other end side of the beam portion toward the other end side of the beam portion and in a direction away from the beam portion, and having a first contact portion at a tip end thereof that comes into contact with a heat source; a second leg portion extending in a strip shape from an end portion of the second connecting portion on one surface side of the beam portion toward the one end side of the beam portion and in a direction away from the beam portion, the metal layer being formed to be narrower than the first leg portion, and having a second contact portion at its tip that comes into contact with the heat source on the one end side of the beam portion relative to the first contact portion; and the metal layer is electrically divided by a first insulating region formed between the base end and the tip end of the first leg into a first wiring region on the tip side of the first leg and a second wiring region extending from the first insulating region through the beam portion to the second contact portion; The thermoelectric element is attached to the first leg portion so as to connect the first wiring region and the second wiring region. A thermoelectric power generation device characterized by:

3. 3. The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the beam portion is sandwiched between the first leg portion and the second leg portion, and the first leg portion and the second leg portion are alternately arranged in a width direction of the beam portion.

4. 4. The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of row modules each consisting of a set of the first leg, the second leg, and the beam; or a plurality of row modules each having the first leg and the second leg alternately arranged in the width direction of the beam, with the beam sandwiched between the first leg and the second leg; the plurality of row modules are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the width direction of the beam; and an intermediate contact portion, which is an integral part of the first contact portion and the second contact portion, is formed between adjacent row modules, connecting the first leg of one of the adjacent row modules to the second leg of the other of the adjacent row modules and coming into contact with a heat source.

5. 5. The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1, wherein a heat sink having a plurality of fins is provided on the surface of the beam portion.

6. a flexible, flat wiring substrate having an insulating base material and a metal layer formed on one surface of the base material; a p-type thermoelectric element and an n-type thermoelectric element provided on the wiring substrate, The wiring board is formed by cut lines with a strip-shaped beam region having a first connecting region at one end that protrudes outward in the width direction and a second connecting region at the other end that protrudes in the opposite direction from the first connecting region, a first leg region that extends in a strip-like manner from the end of the other end side of the beam region of the first connecting region to the other end side of the beam region and has a first contact region at its tip that comes into contact with a heat source, and a second leg region that extends in a strip-like manner from the end of one end side of the beam region of the second connecting region to the one end side of the beam region and has a second contact region at its tip that comes into contact with a heat source, the metal layer is electrically separated into a first wiring region on the tip side of the first leg region, a second wiring region on the tip side of the second leg region, and a connection wiring region extending from the first insulating region through the beam region to the second insulating region by a first insulating region formed between the base end and the tip of the first leg region and a second insulating region formed between the base end and the tip of the second leg region, the p-type thermoelectric element is attached to the first leg region so as to connect the connection wiring region and the first wiring region; The n-type thermoelectric element is attached to the second leg region so as to connect the connection wiring region and the second wiring region. A thermoelectric power generation device component characterized by:

7. a flexible, flat wiring substrate having an insulating base material and a metal layer formed on one surface of the base material; a p-type or n-type thermoelectric element provided on the wiring substrate, The wiring board is formed with a strip-shaped beam region having a first connecting region at one end protruding outward in the width direction and a second connecting region at the other end protruding in the opposite direction from the first connecting region, a first leg region extending in a strip-like manner from the end of the beam region on the other end side of the first connecting region to the other end side of the beam region and having a first contact region at its tip that comes into contact with a heat source, and a second leg region extending in a strip-like manner from the end of the beam region on the one end side of the second connecting region to the one end side of the beam region, the metal layer being formed narrower than the first leg region, and having a second contact region at its tip that comes into contact with a heat source, the metal layer is electrically separated by a first insulating region formed between the base end and the tip end of the first leg region into a first wiring region on the tip side of the first leg region and a second wiring region extending from the first insulating region through the beam region to the second contact region; The thermoelectric element is attached on the first leg region so as to connect the first wiring region and the second wiring region. A thermoelectric power generation device component characterized by:

8. The thermoelectric power generation device component according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the wiring board is formed such that the beam region is sandwiched between the first leg region and the second leg region in the width direction of the beam region, and a plurality of the first leg regions and the second leg regions are arranged alternately.

9. 9. The thermoelectric power generation device component according to claim 6, wherein the wiring board has a plurality of row modules each consisting of a set of the first leg region, the second leg region, and the beam region, or a plurality of row module regions in which the first leg region and the second leg region are alternately arranged in the width direction of the beam region, with the beam region sandwiched between the first leg region and the second leg region, the plurality of row module regions being aligned in a direction perpendicular to the width direction of the beam region, and an intermediate contact region integrating the first contact region and the second contact region is formed between adjacent row module regions, the intermediate contact region connecting the first leg region of one of the adjacent row module regions and the second leg region of the other adjacent row module region and coming into contact with a heat source.

10. 10. The thermoelectric generation device component according to claim 6, further comprising a heat sink having a plurality of fins attached to a surface of the beam region.

11. a dividing process in which a cut line is formed in a flexible wiring board having an insulating base material and a metal layer formed on one surface of the base material, and the board is divided into a strip-shaped beam region having a first connecting portion region at one end that protrudes outward in the width direction and a second connecting portion region at the other end that protrudes in the opposite direction from the first connecting portion region, a first leg region that extends in a strip-like manner from an end of the first connecting portion region on the other end side of the beam region to the other end side of the beam region and has a first contact portion region at its tip that comes into contact with a heat source, and a second leg region that extends in a strip-like manner from an end of the second connecting portion region on the one end side of the beam region to one end side of the beam region and has a second contact portion region at its tip that comes into contact with a heat source; a metal layer processing step of forming a first insulating region between the base end and the tip end of the first leg region and a second insulating region between the base end and the tip end of the second leg region in the metal layer, and electrically isolating the metal layer into a first wiring region on the tip side of the first leg region, a second wiring region on the tip side of the second leg region, and a connection wiring region extending from the first insulating region through the beam region to the second insulating region; a thermoelectric element mounting step of mounting a p-type thermoelectric element on the first leg region so as to connect the connection wiring region and the first wiring region, and mounting an n-type thermoelectric element on the second leg region so as to connect the connection wiring region and the second wiring region; A method for manufacturing a thermoelectric generation device component, comprising:

12. a dividing process in which a cut line is formed in a flexible wiring board having an insulating base material and a metal layer formed on one surface of the base material, and the board is divided into a strip-shaped beam region having a first connecting portion region at one end that protrudes outward in the width direction and a second connecting portion region at the other end that protrudes in the opposite direction from the first connecting portion region, a first leg region that extends in a strip-like manner from an end of the first connecting portion region on the other end side of the beam region to the other end side of the beam region and has a first contact portion region at its tip that comes into contact with a heat source, and a second leg region that extends in a strip-like manner from an end of the second connecting portion region on the one end side of the beam region to one end side of the beam region and has a second contact portion region at its tip that comes into contact with a heat source; a metal layer processing step of forming a first insulating region between the base end and the tip end of the first leg region, electrically separating the metal layer into a first wiring region on the tip side of the first leg region and a second wiring region extending from the first insulating region through the beam region to the second contact region, and making the metal layer in the second leg region narrower than the first leg region; a thermoelectric element mounting step of mounting either a p-type or an n-type thermoelectric element on each of the first leg regions so as to connect the first wiring region and the second wiring region; A method for manufacturing a thermoelectric generation device component, comprising:

13. 13. The method for manufacturing a thermoelectric generation device component according to claim 11, further comprising a heat sink attachment step of attaching a heat sink having a plurality of fins to a surface of the beam region.

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