A light emitting diode includes a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and a mixture layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The mixture layer includes a quantum dot, a hole transporting material, and an electron transporting material.

A light-emitting device includes a pair of first electrodes arranged separated from and opposing each other on a first surface of a substrate; a light-emitting layer arranged on at least one of the first electrodes; a second electrode arranged on the light-emitting layer; and a bridge layer connecting the first electrodes. The bridge layer is formed of a material having a resistance that falls within a range of 100 kΩ to 100 MΩ.

A light-emitting device having a light-extraction structure includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; a light-emitting layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and an inorganic-material-based layer disposed between the first electrode and the light-emitting layer or between the second electrode and the light-emitting layer. The inorganic-material-based layer has thickness of 100 nm or more and has conductivity of 10−6 Ω−1cm−1 or more and 100 Ω−1cm−1 or less.

A light emitting device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. Herein, the light emitting device comprises: a substrate having a light emitting region and a sealing region surrounding the light emitting region; an OLED unit disposed over the light emitting region; a protection layer disposed over the OLED unit; a support unit disposed over the sealing region, wherein materials of the protection layer and the support unit are the same, and the support unit connects to the protection layer; and a cover disposed over the protection layer and the support unit; wherein a first height is between a surface of the support unit adjacent to the cover and a surface of the substrate, a second height is between a surface of the protection layer adjacent to the cover and the surface of the substrate, and the first height is larger than the second height.

An organic light emitting display includes: an organic light emitting display panel including a light emitting surface and a non-light emitting surface opposite the light emitting surface; a heat radiation layer on the non-light emitting surface and having an emissivity equal to or greater than about 0.8 and less than about 1; and a protective member spaced from the heat radiation layer such that an air layer is between the protective member and the heat radiation layer. The protective member includes a base layer and a heat absorbing layer having an emissivity greater than an emissivity of the base layer.

The present disclosure provides an OLED display panel, an electronic device, and a manufacturing method. The OLED display panel comprises a substrate, a first electrode, a light-emitting function layer, and a second electrode including Ag or a metal alloy containing Ag. When the second electrode is made of the metal alloy containing Ag, a content of Ag in the second electrode is more than a sum of contents of all other elements in the second electrode.

The present disclosure provides a method for packaging an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel. The method includes providing a first substrate and a second substrate; forming a first bonding layer in a packaging region of the first substrate; and forming a second bonding layer in a packaging region of the second substrate. The method also includes bonding the first substrate with the second substrate by molecular bonding between the first bonding layer and the second bonding layer.

A light emitting device having a structure in which oxygen and moisture are prevented from reaching light emitting elements, and a method of manufacturing the same, are provided. Further, the light emitting elements are sealed by using a small number of process steps, without enclosing a drying agent. The present invention has a top surface emission structure. A substrate on which the light emitting elements are formed is bonded to a transparent sealing substrate. The structure is one in which a transparent second sealing material covers the entire surface of a pixel region when bonding the two substrates, and a first sealing material (having a higher viscosity than the second sealing material), which contains a gap material (filler, fine particles, or the like) for protecting a gap between the two substrates, surrounds the pixel region. The two substrates are sealed by the first sealing material and the second sealing material. Further, reaction between electrodes of the light emitting elements (cathodes or anodes) and the sealing materials can be prevented by covering the electrodes with a transparent protective layer, for example, CaF2, MgF2, or BaF2.

The present application discloses a light emitting diode comprising a plurality of sub-pixels comprising a first electrode layer, wherein the first electrode layer is a reflective electrode layer; a second electrode layer; a light emitting layer between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; a first microcavity tuning layer sandwiched by the first electrode layer and the light emitting layer within the plurality of sub-pixels; and a second microcavity tuning layer sandwiched by the first microcavity tuning layer and the light emitting layer within at least one of the plurality of sub-pixels, and the first microcavity tuning layer is sandwiched by the first electrode layer and the second microcavity tuning layer within the at least one of the plurality of sub-pixels. The first microcavity tuning layer is made of a material including a transparent conductive material in a first state and the second microcavity tuning layer is made of a material including a transparent conductive material in a second state, the first state and the second state are different states selected from a crystalline state and an amorphous state.

An organic light-emitting device is provided. The organic light-emitting device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; an organic light-emitting element disposed on the first surface; and a low refractive index layer disposed on the second surface, wherein the low refractive index layer includes a mixture including polyvinylidene fluoride and inorganic nano-platelet, a hyperbranched polysiloxane, or a combination thereof.

An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel and an OLED display apparatus are provided. The OLED display panel comprises: a first electrode and a second electrode disposed in a stacked configuration, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a light-output-side electrode; an organic luminescent layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; an electron transport layer disposed between the organic luminescent layer and the second electrode; and an optical coupling layer disposed on a surface of the light-output-side electrode far away from the organic luminescent layer. The electron transport layer contains element ytterbium (Yb) with a volume percentage equal to or less than approximately 3%.

An apparatus and a system directed to an improved hydraulic circuit for use on implements powered by separate motorized vehicle such as a tractor. The apparatus and system include an implement, such as a bale processing or stacking device, configured with wheels to be a towed vehicle, with the towed vehicle configured to be conveyed by a tow vehicle. Additionally, a hydraulic pump on the tow vehicle is coupled to one or more accumulators on the towed device to provide hydraulic power at varying rates as needed by one or more mechanical operations of the implement vehicle. A hydraulic circuit including check and block valves in concert with a pressure switch on the implement device obtains hydraulic power from the tow vehicle from a hydraulic pump located on the tow vehicle via one or more hydraulic transfer lines from the tow vehicle to the implement.

There is provided coal gasification unit including: a coal gasifier; a char recovery unit; flare equipment; an air flow rate adjustment valve and an oxygen supply flow passage that supply oxygen-containing gas to the coal gasifier; an inert gas supply flow passage that supplies nitrogen gas to an upstream side of the char recovery unit; and a control unit that controls a supply amount of the oxygen-containing gas and a supply amount of the nitrogen gas, in which the coal gasifier has a starting burner, and in which the control unit controls the supply amount of the nitrogen gas prior to starting combustion of starting fuel by the starting burner so that an oxygen concentration of mixed gas in which combustion gas generated by combustion of the oxygen-containing gas and the starting fuel has been mixed with the nitrogen gas becomes not more than an ignition concentration.

A component for a gas turbine engine including a gas path wall having a first surface and a second surface. A cooling hole extends through the gas path wall from an inlet in the first surface through a transition to an outlet in the second surface. Cusps are formed on the transition.

A gas separation process for treating exhaust gases from combustion processes. The invention involves routing a first portion of the exhaust stream to a carbon dioxide capture step, while simultaneously flowing a second portion of the exhaust gas stream across the feed side of a membrane, flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side, then passing the permeate/sweep gas back to the combustor.

A sensor mounting table for mounting sensors to an aftertreatment system may include a sensor mounting plate having a substantially flat mounting surface for mounting one or more sensors associated with the aftertreatment system. The substantially flat mounting surface may be offset from a heat shield of the aftertreatment system. The sensor mounting table may further include an insulative material disposed between at least a portion of the substantially flat mounting surface of the sensor mounting plate and the heat shield. The sensor mounting plate may be configured to be attached to the aftertreatment system to secure the insulative material between the substantially flat mounting surface of the sensor mounting plate and the heat shield.

Various embodiments of the invention can include a portable power system with multiple power generation modes and mode based adjustable drag configuration. Embodiments of the invention include a system with an adjustable inlet ram air inlet, a ram air powered section (e.g. a ram air powered turbine with an adjustable ram air inlet), a fuel powered section, e.g., jet fuel powered auxiliary power unit, which is used when insufficient ram air is present or a power surge requires augmented power generation, and a generator section selectively coupled with the ram air powered section and the fuel powered section.

A gas turbine engine cooling system includes a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine includes a core engine, a cold sink, a core undercowl space, and a core cowl at least partially surrounding the core engine and defining a radially outer wall of the core undercowl space. The gas turbine engine cooling system includes an undercowl component positioned in the core undercowl space. The gas turbine engine cooling system also includes a heat pipe including a first end, a second end, and a conduit extending therebetween. The first end is thermally coupled to the undercowl component, and the second end is thermally coupled to the cold sink. The heat pipe facilitates transfer of a quantity of heat from the undercowl component to the cold sink.

An assistance device for an aircraft free-turbine turbine engine, the device including first electrical power supply for powering a winding of a starter rotary machine, referred to as a “first” winding, in order to provide first assistance in accelerating the gas generator of the engine. The device further includes a monitor for monitoring the first assistance, and a second power supply for electrically powering a second winding of the rotary machine to provide second assistance in accelerating the gas generator if the monitor observes that the first assistance is insufficient.

A gas turbine engine duct turns radially inwardly in the downstream direction. The duct includes a plurality of radially extending stator vanes. A generally circumferentially extending splitter vane is provided between two circumferentially neighbouring stator vanes. The splitter vane improves the flow near to the radially inner wall of the duct. This can allow greater design freedom in the duct geometry.

The modular platform for offshore constructions, composed of more than two separate buoyancy elements partially immersed in water, which move along with the water wave movement and which, in the part above the water level, are connected to the structural elements forming a rigid horizontal spatial structure, characterized in that the buoyancy element (1) is given the shape of a cuboid or cylinder having at least one vertical hollow (2) to accommodate the structural element, i.e. piston (3), which forms the axis along which the buoyancy element (1) moves, and which is connected to the horizontal structural element (4) fitted to take external loads.

An electro-hydraulic actuation system includes a regeneration valve in fluid communication with a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber of a hydraulic actuator, and a dump valve is in fluid communication with the second fluid chamber and a fluid reservoir. A pump provides a flow of fluid to the first and second fluid chambers, a displacement of the pump controlling a velocity of the actuator during motion in the retraction and extension directions. An electric motor drives the pump, and a controller controls a state of the regeneration valve and the dump valve. At least one feedback device senses a system condition and provides a respective feedback signal indicative of the sensed system condition to the controller, the controller responsive to the feedback signal to determine an occurrence of an over-center load condition and control a state of the regeneration valve and the dump valve in response to the occurrence to maintain the velocity of the actuator.

A breatheable multilayer spun bonded polypropylene membrane having a coated pressure sensitive adhesive capable of allowing air and moisture vapor to pass through it. The adhesive is formed of a copolymer comprising a backbone of n-butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, and vinyl acetate which is mixed with a surfactant and emulsified to produce bubbles which form pores when the copolymer is set with about 80% to about 90% of the pore sizes ranging from about 200 microns to about 300 microns and a pore density in the cured pressure sensitive adhesive ranging from about 4200 per inch2 to about 4600 per inch2, said pores being uniformly distributed to form a flow path through adhesive.

The adhesive system of the invention is especially useful in bonding replacement windows into vehicles. They allow for sufficient working time while still realizing a fast drive away time. The adhesive system is comprised of a moisture curable adhesive and a cure accelerator that may be applied using a simple single caulk gun and may be applied at ambient temperatures such as −10° C. and about 45° C. The cure accelerator is comprised of a polyol having a backbone that has at least one amine in the backbone. The moisture curable adhesive typically is comprised of an isocyanate terminated prepolymer.

A bituminous composition is used as an adhesive binder. The bituminous composition has at least one acidic additive of general formula (I): R—(COOH)z in which R is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon-based chain having from 4 to 68 carbon atoms, preferably from 4 to 54 carbon atoms, more preferentially from 4 to 36 carbon atoms and z is an integer ranging from 1 to 4, preferably from 2 to 4.

Certain aspects pertain to methods of fabricating an optical device on a substantially transparent substrate that include a pre-deposition operation that removes a width of lower conductor layer at a distance from the outer edge of the substrate to form a pad at the outer edge. The pad and any deposited layers of the optical device may be removed in a post edge deletion operation.

There are provided an adhesive for a solar-cell back sheet having an excellent curing rate and being capable of exhibiting excellent adhesive performance by short-term aging, and also a polyol composition used for the adhesive, a solar-cell back sheet using the adhesive, and a solar-cell module using the sheet. The adhesive for a solar-cell back sheet contains, as essential components, at least one hydroxyl group-containing resin (A) selected from a polyester polyurethane polyol (A1), a polyester polyol (A2), a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylic resin (A3), and a hydroxyl group-containing fluorocarbon resin (A4), a polyisocyanate (B), and a cyclic amide compound (C).

An electrically conductive surfacing material capable of providing sufficient conductivity for lightning strike protection (LSP) and/or electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding is disclosed. The conductive surfacing material is a multi-layered structure having a very thin conductive layer (e.g. solid metal foil) and a resin film formed on at least one surface of the conductive layer. The resin film is formed from a curable resin composition containing an epoxy novolac resin, a tri-functional or tetra-functional epoxy resin, ceramic microspheres, a latent amine-based curing agent, particulate inorganic fillers; and a toughening component. Optionally, the resin film further includes conductive additives to increase electrical conductivity of the surfacing material. The resin film exhibits high Tg as well as high resistance to paint stripper solutions. Furthermore, the conductive surfacing material is suitable for co-curing with fiber-reinforced resin composite substrates.

A method of verifying removal of peel ply material from a composite structure is provided. The method includes doping a layer of peel ply fabric with an identifier. The method also includes curing the composite structure with the layer of peel ply fabric disposed on a surface of the composite structure. The method further includes removing the layer of peel ply fabric from the surface. The method yet further includes scanning the surface of the composite structure for the identifier.

The invention relates to compositions comprising composite materials comprised of discontinuous fibers and one or more polymers and/or oligomers. The invention relates to methods of making the same. The composite materials can be in the form of compositions, composite sheets, laminates, pellets, and/or shaped composite products.

Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material onto the surface of an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of transfer printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. In some cases, the apparatuses and methods involve providing a deposition device, such as a printing device; providing a transfer component; depositing a material onto a portion of the transfer component with the deposition device; modifying the portion of the transfer component with the transfer material thereon to conform the transfer component to at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional article; and transferring the transfer material onto the surface of the article.

A method for making a composite structure with a surfacing film thereon. The surfacing film is co-cured with fiber-reinforced resin composite materials. The surfacing film is formed from a curable resin composition containing an epoxy novolac resin, a tri-functional or tetra-functional epoxy resin, ceramic microspheres, an amine-based curing agent, particulate inorganic fillers; and a toughening component. The surfacing film exhibits high Tg and high cross-linked density after curing, as well as high resistance to paint stripper solutions.

A device for producing a strip-shaped composite sheet may comprise at least two outer metal cover sheets and at least one plastic layer disposed between the two outer metal cover sheets. The device may further comprise at least one first laminating device for laminating the metal cover sheets with the at least one plastic layer arranged between the metal cover sheets, with the first laminating device comprising at least two laminating rolls forming a laminating gap. One object of the present disclosure is to provide methods and devices for producing composite sheets, with which the economy, in particular the production speed, of the production method can be significantly increased and at the same time the risk of delamination of the composite sheets during the further processing can be reduced.”

A method and apparatus for laying composite tape. The method may comprise driving a plurality of robots, each having a respective movement system across a movement surface, in which the movement surface faces a workpiece, and laying composite tape from the plurality of robots in a coordinated manner on the workpiece.

The disclosed composite wood particulate products, adhesives contained in such wood particulate products, and methods of making the adhesive and the wood particulate products employ an aldehyde-free adhesive, and more specifically a formaldehyde-free adhesive. The aldehyde-free adhesive includes an inert additive that extends a resin, such as an isocyanate resin, and forms an evenly dispersed, less expensive polymeric adhesive admixture. The extender-filler of the resin is mixed with water to form a slurry. The slurry can then be mixed with a resin, like the isocyanate resin, to form the adhesive. Various rheology modifiers can be added, if desired, to the extender-filler or the slurry. The adhesive can be blended with wood particles to form a mat that is then pressed into a composite wood particulate product.

A heat exchange apparatus includes a first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between a refrigerant and another medium, a plurality of second heat exchangers configured to transfer heat between the refrigerant and the liquid, a compressor configured to pressurize the refrigerant and a plurality of expansion devices for each of the plurality of second heat exchangers and configured to expand the refrigerant pressurized by the compressor, wherein the refrigerant flows through the plurality of second heat exchangers in parallel, and the liquid flows through the plurality of second heat exchangers in series.

The disclosed apparatus cools a drinking liquid utilizing the Peltier effect, and optionally includes a system of gasification for gasifying the drinking liquid, once cooled. The cooling system in turn includes: a first cooling circuit, in which an operating fluid circulates, associated with a hot side of a Peltier cell; and a second cooling circuit, in which the drinking liquid circulates, associated with a cold side of the Peltier cell. The Peltier cell is integrated in a cooling unit exhibiting a special sandwich structure which integrates, as well as the Peltier cell, a first and a second heat exchanger, apt respectively to exchange directly the heat between the operating fluid which circulates in the first cooling circuit and the hot side of the Peltier cell and between the drinking liquid which circulates in the second cooling circuit and the cold side of the Peltier cell to cool the drinking liquid.

Disclosed herein is a powered air cooling device contained within a single portable unit and a method of using said device. The portable solar powered cooling unit can include some or all of the following: solar panels, a rechargeable power source, a thermostat unit, a thermoelectric (TE) cooling unit, a heat dissipation unit, a cooling unit resembling a heat sink or an actual heat sink, an air distribution device, for example in one preferred embodiment, a low power high volume fan, and a structure that directs air intake and outflow. The unit features the ability to maintain a stable ambient air temperature via heating, cooling, humidity control, or all of the above. The unit may also feature a form factor which allows the dissipation of the desired cooling or heating to occur at a faster rate. The unit itself although portable, may be fixed in place for more permanent applications. The unit can be used to provide temperature and humidity control.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a vapor compression system that includes a refrigerant loop, a compressor disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to circulate refrigerant through the refrigerant loop, and a heat exchanger disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to place the refrigerant in a heat exchange relationship with a cooling fluid. The heat exchanger includes a water box portion having a first length, a shell having a second length, a plurality of tubes disposed in the shell and configured to flow the cooling fluid, and a cooling fluid portion having a third length, where the water box portion and the cooling fluid portion are coupled to the shell, such that the first length, the second length, and the third length form a combined length of the heat exchanger that is substantially equal to a target length.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a vapor compression system that includes a refrigerant loop, a compressor disposed along the refrigerant loop and configured to circulate refrigerant through the refrigerant loop, a condenser disposed downstream of the compressor along the refrigerant loop and configured to condense vapor refrigerant to liquid refrigerant, a subcooler coupled to the condenser, where the subcooler is external of a shell of the condenser, and where the subcooler is configured to receive the liquid refrigerant from the condenser and to cool the liquid refrigerant to sub cooled refrigerant, and an evaporator disposed downstream of the subcooler along the refrigerant loop and configured to evaporate the subcooled refrigerant to the vapor refrigerant.

An apparatus for separating and storing liquid refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit including a housing configured as a refrigerant collection container, the housing having a refrigerant outflow line disposed therein. The refrigerant outflow line extending from an inlet opening, which is disposed in a gas refrigerant region and above a level of the liquid refrigerant, via a liquid refrigerant region to the outside, and has a through-opening formed in the liquid refrigerant region. The housing includes a boiling element for liquid refrigerant disposed therein. The boiling element is connected to the refrigerant outflow line in the region of the through-opening, such that a liquid passing through the through-opening from the housing passes through the boiling element by suction of a gas refrigerant.

This invention relates generally to oil lubricated helium compressor units for use in cryogenic refrigeration systems, operating on the Gifford McMahon (GM) cycle. This invention provides redundancy between water cooling and air cooling if there is a blockage in the water or air supply by having air and water cooled after-coolers in series or parallel.

A container treatment installation having a refrigeration installation, and a method for starting the operation of a refrigeration installation of a container treatment installation, are provided. The refrigeration installation comprises a refrigerant vessel for receiving a refrigerant which can be used for cooling a component of the container treatment installation, and a control device for controlling an amount of the refrigerant in the refrigerant vessel such that, after operation of the refrigeration installation, only a predetermined residual amount of refrigerant remains in the refrigerant vessel for the transport of the refrigerant installation, and after the transport of the refrigeration installation, the predetermined residual amount is filled up with a predetermined replenishment amount of refrigerant.

A system includes first and second compressors arranged in parallel, a condenser, expansion device, evaporator, and flow control device fluidly connected. The first compressor includes a first lubricant sump and the second compressor including a second lubricant sump. A lubricant transfer conduit fluidly connects the first lubricant sump and the second lubricant sump. The flow control device is disposed between the evaporator and the first and second compressors, and includes a fluid inlet and two fluid outlets. A first of the two fluid outlets is fluidly connected to the first compressor, a second of the two fluid outlets is fluidly connected to the second compressor. The second fluid outlet includes a nozzle disposed within a flow passage of the flow control device such that a space is maintained between an outer surface of the nozzle and an inner surface of the flow passage.

An ice making machine having a refrigeration system designed for hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants, and particularly propane (R-290), that includes dual independent refrigeration systems and a unique evaporator assembly comprising of a single freeze plate attached to two cooling circuits. The serpentines are designed in an advantageous pattern that promotes efficiency by ensuring the even bridging of ice during freezing and minimizing unwanted melting during harvest by providing an even distribution of the heat load. The charge limitations imposed with flammable refrigerants would otherwise prevent large capacity ice maker from being properly charged with a single circuit. The ice making machine includes a single water circuit and control system to ensure the proper and efficient production of ice. Material cost is conserved as compared to a traditional dual system icemaker.

A desiccant air conditioning system for treating an air stream entering a building space, including a conditioner configured to expose the air stream to a liquid desiccant such that the liquid desiccant dehumidifies the air stream in the warm weather operation mode and humidifies the air stream in the cold weather operation mode. The conditioner includes multiple plate structures arranged in a vertical orientation and spaced apart to permit the air stream to flow between the plate structures. Each plate structure includes a passage through which a heat transfer fluid can flow. Each plate structure also has at least one surface across which the liquid desiccant can flow. The system includes a regenerator connected to the conditioner for causing the liquid desiccant to desorb water in the warm weather operation mode and to absorb water in the cold weather operation mode from a return air stream.

The present invention provides for a system for calibrating operation of a compressor unit in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. A measuring device measures an operating parameter of the HVAC system at a position where the measuring device is mounted on a refrigerant line of the HVAC system. The measuring device switches states when the value of the measured operating parameter reaches a switching value. A controller estimates a value of the first operating parameter at the position where the first measuring device is mounted on the refrigerant line, and the controller determines whether the estimated first operating parameter is within a threshold percentage of the switching value.

The present invention relates to a method, device and computer program for terminating a defrosting cycle within a refrigerated transport container. The container may include: a transport volume, a cooling unit comprising an evaporator arranged in a cooling space, a return air grid arranged to separate said cooling space from said transport volume, means for sensing temperature indicative of the return air temperature of air returning to said cooling space from said transport volume or the temperature of the return air grid, means for actively heating said evaporator during defrosting cycles, and a processor configured for controlling the duration of said defrosting cycles. The method includes: establishing an indicator(s) indicative of frost and/or ice build-up on said return air grid, and terminating a defrosting cycle when an indicator(s) of frost and/or ice build-up on said return air grid indicates that said return air grid is free of frost and/or ice.

A container for food or beverage which has a heat exchange unit secured internally thereof to be in contact with the food or beverage, the heat exchange unit is filled with liquid carbon dioxide and has a valve which when activated allows the liquid carbon dioxide to pass from the liquid state directly to the gaseous state through a restricted orifice which functions to maintain residual carbon dioxide in the heat exchange unit in the liquid state until all of the liquid carbon dioxide is exhausted from the heat exchange unit.

A system for adaptive cooling and energy harvesting comprising at least one thermoelectric device capable of acting as a thermoelectric cooler and as a thermoelectric generator, a hierarchical multiple-level control system, and electronics controlled by the control system and connected to the thermoelectric device. The electronics selectively configure the thermoelectric device in at least in a thermoelectric cooler operating mode and in a thermoelectric generation operating mode. The thermoelectric device can incorporate quantum-process and quantum-well materials for higher heat transfer and thermoelectric generation efficiencies. The invention provides for thermoelectric devices to additionally operate in temperature sensing mode. The hierarchical control system can comprise a plurality of control system, each of which can operate in isolation and can be interconnected with additional subsystems associated with other hierarchical levels. The hierarchical control system can comprise linear (additive) control, bilinear (additive and multiplicative) control, nonlinear control, and hysteresis.