Abstract: A method of forming a laminate and a method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device using the laminate are provided. The laminate forming method includes a first step of forming an intermediate layer on a base member, and a second step of forming a metal layer on the intermediate layer, the adhesion of the metal layer to the base member being lower than that of the intermediate layer, the reflectance of the metal layer being higher than that of the intermediate layer. The rate of formation of the metal layer is increased at an intermediate stage in the second step. The laminate thereby formed has improved characteristics and is capable of maintaining improved reflection characteristics and adhesion even under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions or during long-term use.

Abstract: A switching regulator circuit assembly housed in a case is disclosed. The assembly includes a first and a second circuit board assemblies each having a circuit board on which electronic parts are mounted and an insulator member having an electronic parts enclosing part for enclosing the electronic parts. The first and second electronic board assemblies are fixed to each other with the insulator member disposed in between; accordingly the electronic parts are enclosed in the electronic parts enclosing part.

Abstract: A method of forming a laminate and a method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device using the laminate are provided. The laminate forming method includes a first step of forming an intermediate layer on a base member, and a second step of forming a metal layer on the intermediate layer, the adhesion of the metal layer to the base member being lower than that of the intermediate layer, the reflectance of the metal layer being higher than that of the intermediate layer. The rate of formation of the metal layer is increased at an intermediate stage in the second step. The laminate thereby formed has improved characteristics and is capable of maintaining improved reflection characteristics and adhesion even under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions or during long-term use.

Abstract: A method of forming a laminate and a method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device using the laminate are provided. The laminate forming method includes a first step of forming an intermediate layer on a base member, and a second step of forming a metal layer on the intermediate layer, the adhesion of the metal layer to the base member being lower than that of the intermediate layer, the reflectance of the metal layer being higher than that of the intermediate layer. The rate of formation of the metal layer is increased at an intermediate stage in the second step. The laminate thereby formed has improved characteristics and is capable of maintaining improved reflection characteristics and adhesion even under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions or during long-term use.

Abstract: In a process for forming on a substrate a transparent conductive film having crystallizability, the process comprises a first step of forming a film at a first film formation rate and a second step of forming a film at a second film formation rate, and the relationship between film formation rates in the respective steps satisfies: 2?(second film formation rate)/(first film formation rate)?100; which provides a process for producing a transparent conductive film by a deposition process advantageous for cost reduction, which can form in a short time a transparent conductive film having an uneven surface profile with a high light-confining effect, and can bring about an improvement in photovoltaic performance and enjoy a high mass productivity when applied to the formation of multi-layer structure of photovoltaic devices.

Abstract: There are provided techniques of forming a back reflecting layer with constant characteristics throughout long-term film formation and forming a metal oxide film so as to be able to maintain a current of a bottom cell and thereby keep a short-circuit current Jsc of a solar cell constant over a long period of time. A sputtering method is a method of forming a stack of a metal film and a metal oxide film, comprising the step 1 of forming a metal layer on a substrate, the step 2 of bringing a surface of the metal layer into contact with active oxygen, and the step 3 of forming a metal oxide film thereon after the step 2, wherein in the step 2 an amount of active oxygen at a first substrate position is different from that at a second substrate position.

Abstract: The stacked photovoltaic element of the present invention is a stacked photovoltaic element comprising a stack formed of a plurality of unit elements each having a pin constitution, and a transparent electrode provided on the surface of a light incident side of the stacked unit elements, wherein the transparent electrode provided on the surface of the light incident side comprises indium tin oxide (ITO), and the transparent electrode has 90% or more and 99.8% or less in transmittivity of a light of the maximum absorption wavelength of a unit element having the smallest current in a light collection efficiency measurement among the plurality of unit elements, and 50 ?/? or more and 300 ?/? or less in sheet resistance. Such a constitution of the present invention provides a stacked photovoltaic element having an excellent photoelectric conversion efficiency and high reliability at a low cost.

Abstract: A method of forming a laminate and a method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device using the laminate are provided. The laminate forming method includes a first step of forming an intermediate layer on a base member, and a second step of forming a metal layer on the intermediate layer, the adhesion of the metal layer to the base member being lower than that of the intermediate layer, the reflectance of the metal layer being higher than that of the intermediate layer. The rate of formation of the metal layer is increased at an intermediate stage in the second step. The laminate thereby formed has improved characteristics and is capable of maintaining improved reflection characteristics and adhesion even under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions or during long-term use.

Abstract: There are provided techniques of forming a back reflecting layer with constant characteristics throughout long-term film formation and forming a metal oxide film so as to be able to maintain a current of a bottom cell and thereby keep a short-circuit current Jsc of a solar cell constant over a long period of time. A sputtering method is a method of forming a stack of a metal film and a metal oxide film, comprising the step 1 of forming a metal layer on a substrate, the step 2 of bringing a surface of the metal layer into contact with active oxygen, and the step 3 of forming a metal oxide film thereon after the step 2, wherein in the step 2 an amount of active oxygen at a first substrate position is different from that at a second substrate position.

Abstract: In a film formation method comprising introducing a sputtering gas into a film forming chamber and forming a film on a substrate therein, the partial pressure of H2O in an atmosphere inside the film forming chamber is controlled so as to satisfy prescribed conditions, thereby forming a reflective layer of a prescribed reflectance on the substrate, thereby providing a film formation method using sputtering and a production method of a photovoltaic element using the film formation method that attain stable good film formation even during long-time sputter film formation, can constantly form a reflective film with a desired reflectance, has excellent workability and durability, and constantly attain high photoelectric conversion efficiency.

Abstract: In a process for forming on a substrate a transparent conductive film having crystallizability, the process comprises a first step of forming a film at a first film formation rate and a second step of forming a film at a second film formation rate, and the relationship between film formation rates in the respective steps satisfies:

Abstract: In a film formation method comprising introducing a sputtering gas into a film forming chamber and forming a film on a substrate therein, the partial pressure of H2O in an atmosphere inside the film forming chamber is controlled so as to satisfy prescribed conditions, thereby forming a reflective layer of a prescribed reflectance on the substrate, thereby providing a film formation method using sputtering and a production method of a photovoltaic element using the film formation method that attain stable good film formation even during long-time sputter film formation, can constantly form a reflective film with a desired reflectance, has excellent workability and durability, and constantly attain high photoelectric conversion efficiency.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a back reflector layer having a texture structure with a high reflectivity by preventing oxidation of a metal or alloy base layer, and a method for forming it. A further object is to provide a photovoltaic element with excellent characteristics such as a conversion efficiency, and a process for fabricating it. The back reflector layer has a metal or alloy (hereinafter referred to as a first metal) base layer, and a transparent oxide of a second metal, formed on the first metal. A photovoltaic element is formed by forming a semiconductor junction on the back reflector layer. In the back reflector layer and the photovoltaic element, the electron affinity of the second metal is at least 0.46 eV smaller than that of the first metal, and the transparent oxide is formed by a sputtering method in an atmosphere comprising at least H.sub.2 O and an inert gas and with a target having a composition ratio of the second metal of 1.06 to 1.