US4542578A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of manufacturing photovoltaic device
Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co Ltd
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Filing: 1984-03-15
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Granted: 1985-09-24
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Expires: 2004-03-15
Abstract
Abstract Mutually spaced apart TCO film portions are formed on a glass substrate. An amorphous silicon film of PIN junction type is formed to cover these TCO film portions, and an aluminum film is formed thereon. The aluminum film in the vicinity of the gap between adjacent TCO film portions is removed by means of a laser beam, and the amorphous silicon film is removed by reactive plasma etching using the aluminum film as a mask to thereby expose portions of the TCO film. An aluminum-titanium film is formed over the aluminum film and the exposed portions of the TCO film. The aluminum-titanium film is separated by means of a laser beam to form a plurality of photoelectric converting regions. The photoelectric converting regions thus formed on the glass substrate are connected in series.
Inventors
- 👤 Masaru Yamano
- 👤 Isao Nagaoka
- 👤 Yukinori Kuwano
- 👤 Hiroshi Kawada
- 👤 Souichi Sakai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:58
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/10; H10F77/16; H10F77/169; H10F77/1692; H10F19/00; H10F19/30; H10F19/31; H10F19/33; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device comprising the steps of: preparing a substrate having an insulating surface; forming on said insulating surface of said substrate a plurality of mutually spaced first electrodes corresponding to a plurality of photoelectric converting regions; forming a semiconductor film and a second electrode continuously covering the entire surface of said plurality of first electrodes one upon the other in this order; removing portions of said second electrode by means of an energy beam at least in the vicinities of the gap between adjacent said first electrodes so as to divide said second electrodes into a plurality of portions corresponding to said plurality of photoelectric converting regions;
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device comprising the steps of: preparing a substrate having an insulating surface; forming on said insulating surface of said substrate a plurality of mutually spaced first electrodes corresponding to a plurality of photoelectric converting regions; forming a semiconductor film and a second electrode continuously covering the entire surface of said plurality of first electrodes one upon the other in this order; removing portions of said second electrode by means of an energy beam at least in the vicinities of the gap between adjacent said first electrodes so as to divide said second electrodes into a plurality of portions corresponding to said plurality of photoelectric converting regions;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
removing said semiconductor film by dry etching, using said second electrodes as masks, thereby exposing a portion of each of said first electrodes; and electrically connecting said exposed portion of each said first electrode with a portion of the adjacent second electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
removing said semiconductor film by dry etching, using said second electrodes as masks, thereby exposing a portion of each of said first electrodes; and electrically connecting said exposed portion of each said first electrode with a portion of the adjacent second electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of forming said semiconductor film and said second electrode one upon the other includes a step of forming a non-single crystalline semiconductor film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device as recited in claim 2, wherein the step of removing portions of said second electrode includes a step of applying a laser beam to said second electrodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device as recited in claim 2, wherein the step of removing portions of said second electrode includes a step of applying an electron beam to said second electrode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device as recited in claim 2, wherein the step of removing portions of said second electrode includes a step of applying an ion beam to said second electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device as recited in claim 2, wherein the step of dry etching said semiconductor film includes a step of reactive ion etching said semiconductor film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device as recited in claim 2, wherein the step of electrically connecting said exposed portion of a said first electrode with a portion of an adjacent said second electrode includes a step of forming a connecting electrode electrically connected to said adjacent second electrode and the exposed portion of said first electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device as recited in claim 7, wherein the step of forming said connecting electrode includes a step of forming a connecting electrode layer over said second electrode and the exposed portion of said first electrode and a step of applying an energy beam to said connecting electrode for removal of portions thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of forming said plurality of mutually spaced first electrodes includes a step of forming a first electrode layer on said insulated surface of said substrate and a step of removing by means of an energy beam the portions of said first electrodes corresponding to the gap between adjacent said, photoelectric converting regions.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device comprising the steps of: preparing a substrate having an insulating surface; forming on said insulating surface of said substrate a plurality of mutually spaced first electrodes corresponding to a plurality of photoelectric converting regions; forming a non-crystalline semiconductor film and a second electrode continuously covering the entire surface of said plurality of first electrodes one upon the other in this order; removing portions of said second electrode by means of an energy beam at least in the vicinities of the gap between adjacent said first electrodes so as to divide said second electrodes into a plurality of portions corresponding to said plurality of photoelectric converting regions; removing said semiconductor film by dry etching, using said second electrodes as masks, thereby exposing a portion of each of said first electrodes; and electrically connecting said plurality of photoelectric converting regions by forming a connecting electrode electrically connected to each said adjacent second electrode and the exposed portion of each said first electrode.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device comprising the steps of: preparing a substrate having an insulating surface; forming on said insulating surface of said substrate a plurality of mutually spaced first electrodes corresponding to a plurality of photoelectric converting regions; forming a non-crystalline semiconductor film and a second electrode continuously covering the entire surface of said plurality of first electrodes one upon the other in this order; removing portions of said second electrode by means of an energy beam at least in the vicinities of the gap between adjacent said first electrodes so as to divide said second electrodes into a plurality of portions corresponding to said plurality of photoelectric converting regions; removing said semiconductor film by dry etching, using said second electrodes as masks, thereby exposing a portion of each of said first electrodes; and electrically connecting said plurality of photoelectric converting regions by forming a connecting electrode electrically connected to each said adjacent second electrode and the exposed portion of each said first electrode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4281208A
Cited
US4292092A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-09-23 | 1989-03-25 | 1989-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-23 | 1993-03-25 | 1993-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-23 | 1997-03-25 | 1997-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |