Method of producing same-sized particles

Claim 3

A method as in claim 1, which further comprises: terminating the effect of the etchant on the particle after it has fallen through the aperture.

Claim 4

A method as in claim 2, wherein: the terminating step includes rinsing the particle.

Claim 5

A method as in claim 1, which further comprises directing the particle to a collection zone after it has fallen through the aperture.

Claim 6

A method as in claim 1 of simultaneously treating a plurality of particles having assorted sizes including sizes which are equal to and larger than the selected size, wherein: the particles are supported on respective portions of the surface which immediately surround respective apertures so that each particle is superjacent to a respective aperture, whereby each particle of the selected size substantially immediately falls through an aperture and particles larger than the selected size fall through an aperture after a sufficient decrease in the size thereof.

Claim 7

A method as in claim 5, which further comprises: vibrating the surface to effect the superjacency of each particle with respect to a respective aperture.

Claim 8

A method as in claim 6, wherein: the decreasing step is effected by spraying the etchant onto the supported particles, the etchant and material removed from the particles passing through the apertures.

Claim 9

A method as in claim 6, wherein: vibrating the surface effects on-going movement of the particles between different apertures to which the particles are momentarily superjacent.

Claim 10

A method as in claim 8, wherein: the on-going movement of the particles effects the exposure of the entire surfaces thereof to the etchant, and vibrating the surface also assists particles which have achieved the selected size to fall through their respective apertures.

Claim 11

A method as in claim 9, which further comprises: terminating the effect of the etchant on particles which have fallen through an aperture.

Claim 12

A method as in claim 10, wherein: the terminating step includes rinsing the particles.

Claim 13

A method as in claim 11, wherein: the particles are silicon spheres.

Claim 14

A method as in claim 12, wherein: the etchant is KOH, NaOH or a mixture of NH 3 and HF.

Claim 17

In a method of producing a solar cell, the solar cell being of the type which includes a plurality of silicon spheres which have the same selected size and are affixed to a flexible metal foil, a method of treating generally spherical silicon spheres having various sizes so that the spheres have the selected size, which method comprises: supporting each sphere on a portion of a surface which immediately surrounds an aperture having the selected size so that each sphere is superjacent to a respective aperture, c a u s i n g spheres of the selected size to fall through the apertures, and decreasing the size of supported spheres which are larger than the selected sized by exposing the spheres to an etchant until they fall through their respective apertures,

Claim 18

In a method of producing a solar cell, the solar cell being of the type which includes a plurality of silicon spheres which have the same selected size and are affixed to a flexible metal foil, a method of treating generally spherical silicon spheres having various sizes so that the spheres have the selected size, which method comprises: supporting each sphere on a portion of a surface which immediately surrounds an aperture having the selected size so that each sphere is superjacent to a respective aperture, c a u s i n g spheres of the selected size to fall through the apertures, and decreasing the size of supported spheres which are larger than the selected sized by exposing the spheres to an etchant until they fall through their respective apertures,

Claim 19

A method as in claim 15, wherein: the semiconductor is silicon, the product is a solar cell, and the etchant is KOH, NaOH or a mixture of NH 3 and HF.