Patent US5136351A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5136351A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Photovoltaic device with porous metal layer
Assignee: Sharp Corp
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Filing: 1991-03-29
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Granted: 1992-08-04
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Expires: 2011-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A photovoltaic device includes a semi-continuous metal layer having an uneven surface, which is not uniform, formed on a substrate, a reflective continuous metal layer having a substantially uniform thickness formed to cover the semi-continuous metal layer, a semiconductor film for photoelectric conversion formed on the reflective continuous metal layer, and a transparent electrode formed on the semiconductor film.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasumi Inoue
- 👤 Yukihiko Nakata
- 👤 Manabu Itoh
- 👤 Akitoshi Yokota
- 👤 Hitoshi Sannomiya
- 👤 Sota Moriuchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:38
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F10/00; H10F10/10; H10F10/17; H10F10/172; H10F71/00; H10F71/10; H10F71/107; H10F77/00; H10F77/20; H10F77/206; H10F77/211; H10F77/244; H10F77/251; H10F77/40; H10F77/42; H10F77/48; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/52; Y02E10/548; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: a substrate; a metal layer having a nonuniform and uneven surface formed on said substrate, said metal layer including a plurality of continuous metal layers which form a porous layer; a reflective continuous metal layer having a substantially uniform thickness formed to cover said porous metal layer; a semiconductor film for photoelectric conversion formed on said reflective continuous metal layer; and a transparent electrode formed on said semiconductor film.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: a substrate; a metal layer having a nonuniform and uneven surface formed on said substrate, said metal layer including a plurality of continuous metal layers which form a porous layer; a reflective continuous metal layer having a substantially uniform thickness formed to cover said porous metal layer; a semiconductor film for photoelectric conversion formed on said reflective continuous metal layer; and a transparent electrode formed on said semiconductor film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said porous metal layer comprises a first silver layer preferably having a thickness within the range of 250-800Å, and said reflective continuous metal layer comprises a second silver layer preferably having a thickness within the range of 300-700Å.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device according to claim 2, wherein said first silver layer comprises more preferably a thickness within the range of 250-600Å, and said second silver layer comprises more preferably a thickness within the range of 350-500Å.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device according to claim 2, wherein said substrate comprises a stainless steel substrate, and further comprising a titanium layer inserted between said stainless steel substrate and said first and second silver layers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein a ZnO layer is inserted between said reflective continuous metal layer and said semiconductor film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device according to claim 5, wherein said ZnO layer comprises preferably a thickness within the range of 500-2500Å.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: a substrate; a continuous metal layer having a reflecting surface formed on said substrate; a transparent conductive layer formed to cover said continuous metal layer; a reflective metal layer formed on said transparent conductive layer having a nonuniform and uneven surface formed on said substrate, said reflective metal layer including a plurality of continuous metal layers which form a porous layer; a semiconductor film for photoelectric conversion formed to cover said reflective metal layer and said transparent conductive layer; and a transparent electrode formed on said semiconductor film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: a substrate; a continuous metal layer having a reflecting surface formed on said substrate; a transparent conductive layer formed to cover said continuous metal layer; a reflective metal layer formed on said transparent conductive layer having a nonuniform and uneven surface formed on said substrate, said reflective metal layer including a plurality of continuous metal layers which form a porous layer; a semiconductor film for photoelectric conversion formed to cover said reflective metal layer and said transparent conductive layer; and a transparent electrode formed on said semiconductor film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device according to claim 7, wherein said continuous metal layer comprises silver, and said reflective metal layer comprises silver.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device according to claim 7, wherein said continuous silver layer comprises an uneven surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device according to claim 9, wherein said continuous silver layer comprises a sub-layer having a nonuniform and uneven surface, said sub-layer including a plurality of continuous sub-layers which form a semicontinuous sub-layer; and a continuous sub-layer having a substantially uniform thickness formed to cover said semi-continuous sub-layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device according to claim 7, wherein said reflective metal layer covers 30-70% of the surface of said transparent conductive layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device according to claim 7, wherein said semiconductor film comprises an n-type semiconductor layer, an i-type semiconductor layer, a p-i semiconductor interface layer and a p-type semiconductor layer to form a p-i-n structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device according to claim 6, wherein said ZnO layer comprises more preferably a thickness within the range of 700-1500Å.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of continuous metal layers which form said porous layer comprise a peninsula-like pattern.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of reflective metal layers which form said porous layer comprise an island-like pattern.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-04 | 1996-02-03 | 1996-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-04 | 2000-02-03 | 2000-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-04 | 2004-02-03 | 2004-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |