Patents by Inventor Hiroyuki Otsuka

Hiroyuki Otsuka has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20160329442
    Abstract: Provided is a solar battery cell with low price, high reliability, and high conversion efficiency. A manufacturing method for the solar battery cell including the following processes. That is: forming and laminating a second conductive-type layer and an antireflection film on a first conductive-type semiconductor substrate; applying a conductive paste containing a conductive particle and a glass frit to a predetermined position of the antireflection film; firing the semiconductor substrate with the conductive paste applied thereto; and forming an electrode penetrating the antireflection film and electrically connected to the second conductive-type layer. The semiconductor substrate with the conductive paste applied thereto is consecutively subjected to heat treatment just after the firing instead of being returned to room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Mitta, Takenori Watabe, Hiroyuki Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20160141438
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate for a solar cell, wherein a flat chamfered portion is formed on one corner of a silicon substrate having a square shape in a planar view, or a notch is formed on the corner or close to the corner. This invention makes it possible to easily check the position of the substrate and determine the direction of the substrate in a solar cell manufacturing step, and suppresses failures generated due to the direction of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Ooiwa, Takenori Watabe, Hiroyuki Otsuka, Kazuo Hara
  • Publication number: 20160120405
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus of an embodiment includes a focusing indicator projector, a fundus imaging unit, a driver, and a focusing controller. The focusing indicator projector is configured to irradiate light fluxes for projecting a pair of focusing indicators onto a fundus of an eye. The fundus imaging unit is configured to capture an image of the fundus. The driver is configured to move an optical system including the focusing indicator projector, the fundus imaging unit, and a focusing lens. The focusing controller is configured to move the focusing lens based on projection images of the focusing indicators captured by the fundus imaging unit, wherein the projection images are captured along with movement of the optical system by the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Kanichi TOKUDA, Hiroyuki OTSUKA
  • Publication number: 20160118515
    Abstract: A back contact type solar battery which provides a reduced electric power loss, free positioning of a bus bar, and a simple manufacturing process. The solar battery includes: semiconductor substrate; first conductivity type region formed on back surface side located on the opposite side of acceptance surface side of the semiconductor substrate; second conductivity type region formed on the back surface side of the semiconductor substrate; first conductivity type collecting electrode linearly formed on the first conductivity type region; and second conductivity type collecting electrode linearly formed on the second conductivity type region. The first and second conductivity type regions are alternately arranged. Each of the first and second conductivity type collecting electrodes has discontinuous places. The discontinuous places of each conductivity type are substantially aligned on straight line in arrangement direction in which the first and second conductivity type regions are alternately arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Chikara MORI, Takenori WATABE, Hiroyuki OTSUKA
  • Publication number: 20160079466
    Abstract: A solar cell wherein: an emitter layer is formed on a light-receiving-surface side of a crystalline silicon substrate, with a dopant of the opposite conductivity type from the silicon substrate added to said emitter layer; a passivation film is formed on the surface of the silicon substrate; and an extraction electrode and a collector electrode are formed. Said extraction electrode extracts photogenerated charge from the silicon substrate, and said collector electrode contacts the extraction electrode at least partially and collects the charge collected at the extraction electrode. The extraction electrode contains a first electrode that consists of a sintered conductive paste containing a dopant that makes silicon conductive. Said first electrode, at least, is formed so as to pass through the abovementioned passivation layer. The collection electrode contains a second electrode that has a higher conductivity than the aforementioned first electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hashigami, Takenori Watabe, Mitsuhito Takahashi, Shintarou Tsukigata, Takashi Murakami, Ryo Mitta, Yoko Endo, Hiroyuki Otsuka
  • Patent number: 9224888
    Abstract: A solar cell has a passivation film formed on a crystalline silicon substrate that has at least a p-n junction, and an electrode formed by printing and heat-treating a conductive paste. The solar cell has a first electrode comprising an extraction electrode, which extracts photogenerated carriers from the silicon substrate, formed so as to contact the silicon substrate and a second collector electrode, which collects the carriers collected at the extraction electrode, formed so as to contact the first electrode. Other than the point of contact between the first electrode and the second electrode, at least, the second electrode contacts the silicon substrate only partially or not at all. By leaving the passivation film between the collector electrode and the silicon, either completely or partially, the solar cell reduces charge losses at electrode/silicon interfaces, improves the short-circuit current and open voltage, and yields improved characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hashigami, Naoki Ishikawa, Takenori Watabe, Hiroyuki Otsuka
  • Patent number: 9216607
    Abstract: The present invention relates to screen printing plate for a solar cell in which an electroconductive paste is used to simultaneously print a bus bar electrode and a finger electrode, the screen printing plate characterized in that the opening width of a finger electrode opening of the screen printing plate is less than 80 ?m and a bus bar electrode opening of the screen printing plate has a closed section. The use of this screen printing plate makes it possible to reduce the cost of manufacturing solar cells, prevent the connecting section between the bus bar electrode and the finger electrode from breaking without causing an increase in shadow loss or compromising the aesthetic quality of the solar cells, and manufacture highly reliable solar cells with good productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoko Endo, Ryo Mitta, Takenori Watabe, Hiroyuki Otsuka
  • Patent number: 9181615
    Abstract: A coating fluid comprising a boron compound, an organic binder, a silicon compound, an alumina precursor, and water and/or an organic solvent is used to diffuse boron into a silicon substrate to form a p-type diffusion layer. The coating fluid is spin coated onto the substrate to form a uniform coating having a sufficient amount of impurity whereupon a p-type diffusion layer having in-plane uniformity is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shintarou Tsukigata, Toshifumi Matsuoka, Takenori Watabe, Hiroyuki Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20150287851
    Abstract: A solar cell includes: a semiconductor substrate on which at least pn junctions are formed; a multiplicity of finger electrodes that are formed in a comb-like shape on at least one surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a plurality of bus bar electrodes that are arranged so as to be orthogonal to the lengthwise direction of the finger electrodes and are connected with the finger electrodes. This solar cell is configured so that the finger electrodes connected with one of the bus bar electrodes are separated from the finger electrodes connected with another bus bar electrode that is arranged so as to be parallel to this one of the bus bar electrodes, and ends in the lengthwise direction of adjacent two or more of the finger electrodes connected with each bus bar electrode are electrically connected with one another by auxiliary electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoko Endo, Hiroyuki Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20150228841
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a solar cell having excellent long-term reliability and high efficiency, said method including: a step (7) for applying a paste-like electrode agent to an antireflection film formed on the light receiving surface side of a semiconductor substrate having at least a pn junction, said electrode agent containing a conductive material; and an electrode firing step (9) having local heat treatment (step (9a)) for applying heat such that at least a part of the conductive material is fired by irradiating merely the electrode agent-applied portion with a laser beam, and whole body heat treatment (step (9b)) for heating the whole semiconductor substrate to a temperature below 800° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Murakami, Takenori Watabe, Hiroyuki Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20150206990
    Abstract: This solar cell production method involves productively forming an antireflection film comprising silicon nitride, said antireflection film having an excellent passivation effect. In an embodiment, a remote plasma CVD is used to form a first silicon nitride film on a semiconductor substrate (102) using the plasma flow from a first plasma chamber (111), then to form a second silicon nitride film, which has a different composition than the first silicon nitride film, using the plasma flow from a second plasma chamber (112), into which ammonia gas and silane gas have been introduced at a different flow ratio than that of the first plasma chamber (111). The plasma chambers (111, 112) have excitation parts (111a, 112a) that excite the ammonia gas, and activation reaction parts (111b, 112b) and a flow controller (113).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuhito Takahashi, Takenori Watabe, Hiroyuki Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20150197379
    Abstract: A refill container includes one sheet of lamination body having a base material and a sealant layer and a pouring nozzle seal portion, where the lamination body is folded such that the sealant layer is arranged inward, a peripheral portion of the surface lamination body and the rear surface lamination body is sealed, the bend portion together with the surface lamination body, the rear surface lamination body, and the pouring nozzle seal portion forms a pouring nozzle which pours a content, a tip of the pouring nozzle is sealed by a pouring-nozzle tip seal portion, the pouring-nozzle tip seal portion is detached along an opening line to form a pouring opening, an easily cutting processing which forms a plurality of half-cutting lines parallel to the opening line is performed, and the plurality of half-cutting lines is broken at a ridge line of the bend portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki OTSUKA, Kenichirou IMAI, Youko KOIDE
  • Patent number: 9018520
    Abstract: Disclosed is a solar cell having a silicon monocrystal substrate surface with a textured structure and, near the surface of said substrate, a damage layer reflecting the slice processing history from the time of manufacture of the silicon monocrystal substrate. The damage layer near the surface of the silicon monocrystal substrate is derived from the slice processing history at the time of manufacture of the substrate and functions as a gettering site, contributing to a longer lifetime of the substrate minority carriers. Thanks to this effect, the solar cell characteristics are dramatically increased. Further, new damage need be inflicted, and no additional work is required because damage from the slicing is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shun Moriyama, Takenori Watabe, Takashi Murakami, Shintarou Tsukigata, Mitsuhito Takahashi, Hiroyuki Otsuka
  • Patent number: 8859320
    Abstract: Disclosed in a method that is for producing a solar cell and that is characterized by performing an annealing step on a semiconductor substrate before an electrode-forming step. By means of performing annealing in the above manner, it is possible to improve the electrical characteristics of the solar cell without negatively impacting reliability or outward appearance. As a result, the method can be widely used in methods for producing solar cells having high reliability and electrical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Mitta, Mitsuhito Takahashi, Hiroshi Hashigami, Takashi Murakami, Shintarou Tsukigata, Takenori Watabe, Hiroyuki Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20140273686
    Abstract: A transparent composite substrate according to the present invention includes a composite layer containing a glass cloth formed of an assembly of glass fibers and a resin material impregnated in the glass cloth. The resin material has an Abbe number of equal to or larger than 45. The assembly of the glass fibers itself has a variation in a refractive index and a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the refractive index is equal to or less than 0.01. This makes it possible to provide a transparent composite substrate having superior optical characteristics and a high-reliable display element substrate using the transparent composite substrate. Further, the resin material preferably contains an alicyclic epoxy resin or an alicyclic acrylic resin as a major component thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO BAKELITE COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshimasa Eguchi, Hideo Umeda, Manabu Naito, Hiroyuki Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20140242865
    Abstract: A transparent composite substrate according to the present invention includes a composite layer containing a glass cloth formed of an assembly of glass fibers and a resin material impregnated in the glass cloth. The assembly of the glass fibers itself has a variation in a refractive index and a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the refractive index is equal to or less than 0.008. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a transparent composite substrate having superior optical characteristic and a high-reliable display element substrate having the transparent composite substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Sumitomo Bakelite Company Limited
    Inventors: Hideo Umeda, Manabu Naito, Hiroyuki Otsuka, Toshimasa Eguchi
  • Publication number: 20140209552
    Abstract: Provided are a raisable-lowerable member capable of shortening a time required for assembling and disassembling of a crane, and a crane comprising the raisable-lowerable member. The raisable-lowerable member comprises: a boom attachable to an upper slewing body of the crane turnably about a boom-pivot-turn-axis in a raising-lowering direction; and a mast to be driven so as to be turned about a mast pivot-turn-axis parallel to the boom-pivot-turn-axis. The boom includes a boom body, a boom foot joined to a basal end of the boom body and adapted to be attached to the upper slewing body turnably about the boom-pivot-turn-axis, and a mast mounting portion joined to the basal end of the boom body. The mast has a basal end which includes a mast foot to be attached to the mast mounting portion turnably about the mast pivot-turn-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Kobelco Cranes Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki OTSUKA
  • Patent number: 8783174
    Abstract: The method for screen printing improves accuracy during a plurality of screen printing steps. After a first layer and an alignment mark are printed on a workpiece, the alignment mark is imaged by a camera so that the alignment mark is stored as image data in an image processing device adapted to deliver reference data for subsequent printing, and the image data is used to renew the reference data in the image processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Mitta, Hiroyuki Otsuka, Ikuo Sakai, Kenji Abe, Naoki Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20130291743
    Abstract: The present invention relates to screen printing plate for a solar cell in which an electroconductive paste is used to simultaneously print a bus bar electrode and a finger electrode, the screen printing plate characterized in that the opening width of a finger electrode opening of the screen printing plate is less than 80 ?m and a bus bar electrode opening of the screen printing plate has a closed section. The use of this screen printing plate makes it possible to reduce the cost of manufacturing solar cells, prevent the connecting section between the bus bar electrode and the finger electrode from breaking without causing an increase in shadow loss or compromising the aesthetic quality of the solar cells, and manufacture highly reliable solar cells with good productivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoko Endo, Ryo Mitta, Takenori Watabe, Hiroyuki Otsuka
  • Patent number: D740688
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Otsuka, Youko Koide