The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 12, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 10, 1997
Akira Sakai, Soraku-gun, JP;
Yasushi Fujioka, Soraku-gun, JP;
Shotaro Okabe, Nara, JP;
Masahiro Kanai, Soraku-gun, JP;
Yuzo Kohda, Kyotanabe, JP;
Tadashi Hori, Nara, JP;
Takahiro Yajima, Soraku-gun, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
There is provided a method of forming a photovoltaic element, in which a p-type semiconductor layer is formed in a device for forming a semiconductor thin film having a cathod electrode structure, in which in a plasma discharge space, the surface area of a cathod electrode in a plasma discharge space is larger than the sum of surface areas of a belt-like member and an anode electrode, a potential of said cathod electrode at the time of excitation of glow discharge is positive relative to the belt-like member and the anode electrode, and a separator electrode partially constituting the cathod electrode is configured to have a form of a fin or a block, and an n-type semiconductor layer is formed in a device for forming a semiconductor thin film having a cathod electrode structure of a capacitive-coupling, parallel-plate type. Thereby, a photovoltaic element having a high quality and superior uniformity over a large area, less defects, superior photo deterioration property and improved series resistance can be manufactured providing a high throughput in large quantities with good reproducibility.