Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
351 words
A method of making a photoelectric conversion device, comprising the steps of: forming a first conductive layer on a substrate having a insulating surface; subjecting the first conductive layer to first laser beam scanning to form therein (n-1) (where n is an integer larger than 2) sequentially arranged first grooves G 1 to G n-1 and n sequentially arranged first electrodes E 1 to E n separated by the first grooves G 1 to G n-1 , respectively; forming on the substrate a non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate layer having formed therein at least one semiconductor junction to cover the first grooves G 1 to G n-1 and the first electrodes E 1 to E n so that the regions of the non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate member on the electrodes E 1 to E n may be non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate members Q 1 to Q n ; subjecting the non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate member to second laser beam scanning to form non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate members Q 1 to Q n second grooves O 1 to O n-1 extending into the first electrodes E 1 to E n-1 , respectively; forming a second conductive layer which continuously extends on the non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate members Q 1 to Q n and extends into the grooves O 1 to O n-1 to provide coupling portions K 1 to K n-1 which are connected to the first electrodes E 1 to E n-1 through the grooves O 1 to O n-1 ; and subjecting the second conductive layer to third laser beam scanning to form isolating portion H 1 to H n-1 on the non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate members Q 1 to Q n-1 , respectively, and n sequentially arranged second electrodes F 1 to F n which are isolated by the isolating portions H 1 to H n-1 , respectively, and opposite the first electrodes E 1 to E n through the non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate members Q 1 to Q n , respectively, the second electrode F j+1 (j=1, 2, . . . (n-1)) being connected to the first electrode E j through the coupling portion K j .
Claim 2
Independent Claim
351 words
A method of making a photoelectric conversion device, comprising the steps of: forming a first conductive layer on a substrate having a insulating surface; subjecting the first conductive layer to first laser beam scanning to form therein (n-1) (where n is an integer larger than 2) sequentially arranged first grooves G 1 to G n-1 and n sequentially arranged first electrodes E 1 to E n separated by the first grooves G 1 to G n-1 , respectively; forming on the substrate a non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate layer having formed therein at least one semiconductor junction to cover the first grooves G 1 to G n-1 and the first electrodes E 1 to E n so that the regions of the non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate member on the electrodes E 1 to E n may be non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate members Q 1 to Q n ; subjecting the non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate member to second laser beam scanning to form non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate members Q 1 to Q n second grooves O 1 to O n-1 extending into the first electrodes E 1 to E n-1 , respectively; forming a second conductive layer which continuously extends on the non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate members Q 1 to Q n and extends into the grooves O 1 to O n-1 to provide coupling portions K 1 to K n-1 which are connected to the first electrodes E 1 to E n-1 through the grooves O 1 to O n-1 ; and subjecting the second conductive layer to third laser beam scanning to form isolating portion H 1 to H n-1 on the non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate members Q 1 to Q n-1 , respectively, and n sequentially arranged second electrodes F 1 to F n which are isolated by the isolating portions H 1 to H n-1 , respectively, and opposite the first electrodes E 1 to E n through the non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate members Q 1 to Q n , respectively, the second electrode F j+1 (j=1, 2, . . . (n-1)) being connected to the first electrode E j through the coupling portion K j .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method of making a photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the second groove O j (j=1, 2, . . . (n-1)) is formed a predetermined distance apart from the first groove G j but adjacent thereto, and wherein the isolating portion H j is formed a predetermined distance apart from the first groove G j or the second groove O j and adjacent to the second groove O j .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method of making a photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the second groove O j (j=1, 2, . . . (n-1)) is formed to extend across the first electrode E j in the direction of its thickness so that the coupling portion K j may be connected with the side of the first electrode E j which is exposed to the groove O j .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of making a photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the first laser beam scanning of the first conductive layer is performed in the air.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method of making a photoelectric conversion device according to claim 4, wherein the first laser beam scanning is followed by etching through using gas of hydrogen fluoride (HF), hydrogen chloride (HCl), CF 4 , CFH 3 or CClF 2 , or liquid of fluoric acid (HF), hydrochloric acid (HCl), C 2 F 3 Cl 4 or C 2 F 3 Cl 3 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of making a photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the second laser beam scanning of the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer is carried out in the air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method of making a photoelectric conversion device according to claim 6, wherein the second laser beam scanning is followed by etching through using gas of hydrogen fluoride (HF), hydrogen chloride (HCl), CF 4 , CHF 3 or CClF 2 , or liquid of fluoric acid (HF), hydrochloric acid (HCl), C 2 F 3 Cl 4 or C 2 F 3 Cl 3 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of making a photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the third laser beam scanning of the second conductive layer is performed in the air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method of making a photoelectric conversion device according to claim 8, wherein the third laser beam scanning is followed by etching through using gas of hydrogen fluoride (HF), hydrogen chloride (HCl), CF 4 , CHF 3 or CClF 2 , or liquid of fluoric acid (HF), hydrochloric acid (HCl), C 2 F 3 Cl 4 or C 2 F 3 Cl 3 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of making a photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the third laser beam scanning of the second conductive layer is performed in the atmosphere of oxygen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method of making a photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the second laser beam scanning of the second conductive layer is performed so that the isolating portion H j (j=1, 2, . . . (n-1)) may extend into the non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate member Q i .