Abstract: A solar-cell module is provided which comprises a photovoltaic device sealed on a reinforcing sheet with a filler material, wherein the reinforcing sheet has unevenness formed by plastic deformation, on its surface at least on the side of the photovoltaic device and at least partly on the surface, and a space defined by the unevenness and the photovoltaic device is filled with the filler material. The solar-cell module is produced by a process comprising the steps of superposing at least a thermoplastic-resin sheet member and a photovoltaic device on a reinforcing sheet having unevenness on its surface, and heating the thermoplastic-resin sheet member, the photovoltaic device and the reinforcing sheet while removing air from a space between the reinforcing sheet and the thermoplastic-resin sheet member and a space between the thermoplastic resin sheet member and the photovoltaic device, to bring them into close contact to fix to each other.

Abstract: A terminal exposed from an edge of a solar cell module to extract power from a photovoltaic element, and a conductive member of a cable are electrically connected to each other. The solar cell module has at least photovoltaic elements and a cover member that covers the photovoltaic elements. This electrical connecting portion is located in a fixing member that fixes the cable and the solar cell module to each other. The long-term reliability of the terminal extraction portion is improved, and the solar cell module can be installed easily.

Abstract: An improvement in the photochemical vapor deposition apparatus for the preparation of a functional deposited film on a substrate by exciting and decomposing, or polymerizing a raw material as by way of a photochemical reaction, which comprises a reaction chamber with a raw material gas introducing means and an exhaust means, a radiant light transmissive window and a means to supply a light energy through the light transmissive window to the raw material gas introduced into the reaction space of the reaction chamber. The improvement comprises providing the above apparatus with a means to irradiate an infrared energy ray containing a wavelength having a vibrational absorption power for the raw material gas molecule concurrently with the irradiation of light energy.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device comprises a substrate having a plurality of conductive surfaces surrounded by an insulating surface, a plurality of first photovoltaic elements having single-crystal layer regions covering said conductive surfaces, and a second photovoltaic element covering said plurality of first photovoltaic elements.The single-crystal layer regions are separated from each other.