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US5133810A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Flexible photovoltaic device and manufacturing method thereof

Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1991-04-22
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Granted: 1992-07-28
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Expires: 2011-04-22
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Abstract

Abstract A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device includes the steps of: preparing a plurality of photovoltaic elements each including an insulator film, a first electrode, an amorphous semiconductor film for photoelectric conversion and a second electrode stacked in this order on a supporting substrate; electrically connecting the photovoltaic elements with each other; attaching a common protection film onto the second electrodes of the photovoltaic elements; and removing the supporting substrate from the photovoltaic elements, wherein the protection film mechanically couples the plurality of photovoltaic elements with each other.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masashi Morizane
  • 👤 Koichi Okada
  • 👤 Kenji Murata
  • 👤 Hiroshi Inoue
  • 👤 Yasuo Kishi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 13:46
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/10; H10F77/16; H10F77/169; H10F77/1692; H10F19/00; H10F19/30; H10F19/80; H10F19/90; H10F19/902; H10F19/906; H10F19/908; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim 98 words
A photovoltaic device, comprising: a plurality of flexible photovoltaic elements each including a first electrode, an amorphous semiconductor film for photoelectric conversion, and a second electrode stacked in this order on an insulator film and each flexible photovoltaic element comprising a plurality of electrically interconnected unit solar cells; a plurality of conductors for electrically connecting said plurality of flexible photovoltaic elements with each other; and a common first protection film attached directly on said second electrodes of said plurality of flexible photovoltaic elements, said first protection film mechanically coupling said plurality of flexible photovoltaic elements with each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 98 words
A photovoltaic device, comprising: a plurality of flexible photovoltaic elements each including a first electrode, an amorphous semiconductor film for photoelectric conversion, and a second electrode stacked in this order on an insulator film and each flexible photovoltaic element comprising a plurality of electrically interconnected unit solar cells; a plurality of conductors for electrically connecting said plurality of flexible photovoltaic elements with each other; and a common first protection film attached directly on said second electrodes of said plurality of flexible photovoltaic elements, said first protection film mechanically coupling said plurality of flexible photovoltaic elements with each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein said insulator film and said first electrode are transparent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein said insulator film is opaque, and said second electrode and said first protection film are transparent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The photovoltaic device of claim 1, further comprising a common second protection film attached on said insulator films of said plurality of photovoltaic elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 14 words
The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein said insulator film comprises a polyimide resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein said first protection film comprises polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
The photovoltaic device of claim 4, wherein said second protection film comprises polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 107 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device, comprising the steps of: preparing a plurality of photovoltaic elements each including an insulator film, a first electrode, an amorphous semiconductor film for photoelectric conversion, and a second electrode stacked in this order on a supporting substrate and each photovoltaic element comprising a plurality of electrically interconnected unit solar cells; electrically connecting said plurality of photovoltaic elements with each other; attaching a common first protection film onto said second electrodes of said plurality of photovoltaic elements; and removing said supporting substrate from said photovoltaic elements, wherein said first protection film mechanically couples said plurality of photovoltaic elements with each other.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 107 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device, comprising the steps of: preparing a plurality of photovoltaic elements each including an insulator film, a first electrode, an amorphous semiconductor film for photoelectric conversion, and a second electrode stacked in this order on a supporting substrate and each photovoltaic element comprising a plurality of electrically interconnected unit solar cells; electrically connecting said plurality of photovoltaic elements with each other; attaching a common first protection film onto said second electrodes of said plurality of photovoltaic elements; and removing said supporting substrate from said photovoltaic elements, wherein said first protection film mechanically couples said plurality of photovoltaic elements with each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said insulator film and said first electrode are transparent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said insulator film is opaque, and said second electrode and said first protection film are transparent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of attaching a common second protection film onto said insulator films of said plurality of photovoltaic elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said insulator film comprises a polyimide resin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said supporting substrate is separated in water from said insulator film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said first protection film comprises polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said first protection film is laminated on said second electrode by a heat roller.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said second protection film comprises polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said second protection film is laminated on said insulator film by a heat roller.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 106 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device, comprising the steps of: preparing a plurality of photovoltaic elements each including an insulator film, a first electrode, an amorphous semiconductor film for photoelectric conversion, and a second electrode stacked in this order on a supporting substrate and each photovoltaic element comprising a plurality of electrically interconnected unit solar cells; attaching a common first protection film having a plurality of conductors at predetermined positions onto said second electrodes of said plurality of photovoltaic elements, so as to electrically connect and mechanically couple said plurality of photovoltaic elements with each other; and removing said supporting substrate from said photovoltaic elements.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 106 words
A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device, comprising the steps of: preparing a plurality of photovoltaic elements each including an insulator film, a first electrode, an amorphous semiconductor film for photoelectric conversion, and a second electrode stacked in this order on a supporting substrate and each photovoltaic element comprising a plurality of electrically interconnected unit solar cells; attaching a common first protection film having a plurality of conductors at predetermined positions onto said second electrodes of said plurality of photovoltaic elements, so as to electrically connect and mechanically couple said plurality of photovoltaic elements with each other; and removing said supporting substrate from said photovoltaic elements.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said insulator film and said first electrode are transparent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said insulator film is opaque, and said second electrode and said first protection film are transparent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of attaching a common second protection film onto said insulator films of said plurality of photovoltaic elements.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said insulator film comprises a polyimide resin.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said supporting substrate is separated in water from said insulator film.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said first protection film comprises polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 24, wherein said first protection film is laminated on said second electrode by a heat roller.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said second protection film comprises polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said second protection film is laminated on said insulator film by a heat roller.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE3231798A1 Cited
JPS63107073A Cited
JPH01105581A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-07-28 1996-01-27 1996-07-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-07-28 2000-01-27 2000-07-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-07-28 2004-01-27 2004-07-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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