Abstract: This invention is to safely and surely distribute authentication information to users or user terminals. This method includes: requesting authentication using predetermined authentication information for an access destination via a network; receiving a notification indicating an authentication failure from the access destination; acquiring currently valid authentication information from an authentication information manager by transmitting data to indicate own legitimacy, and storing the acquired currently valid authentication information into a storage device; and requesting the authentication using the acquired currently valid authentication information for the access destination via the network. Thus, by supposing that a failure in the authentication occurs, and by causing the user side to present the data to indicate own legitimacy for the authentication information manager, the currently valid authentication information is distributed, for example, after the encryption.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a photoelectric conversion substrate, a first electrode on one surface of the substrate, a second electrode on the other surface of the substrate, and a third electrode on the other surface of the substrate. The third electrode extracts electric power from the second electrode, and overlaps the second electrode at the periphery in the in-plane direction of the photoelectric conversion substrate. The thickness of the second electrode is larger than that of the third electrode, and the difference between the thickness of the second electrode and that of the third electrode is not less than 10 micrometers and not more than 30 micrometers.

Abstract: When forming an electrode by printing several times, the cross section area of the electrode is increased and the resistance is reduced while more electrode material is required, which leads to a cost up and waste of resources. There is provided a solar cell manufacturing method for forming an electrode of a predetermined pattern by repeating printing on a substrate surface by a predetermined number of times. A mask pattern for printing the entire predetermined pattern is used at least once among the predetermined number of printings while mask patterns, each for printing a part of the predetermined pattern, are used in the other printings, thereby forming the electrode of the predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A chassis braking system for braking a chassis includes a braking unit including a braking surface biased toward a road surface on which the chassis runs and having a first state where movement of the braking surface toward the road surface is locked and a second state where the braking surface abuts against the road surface. A control unit releases the lock of the braking unit and shifts the braking unit from the first state to the second state when predetermined conditions are met.

Abstract: In a foot of a legged mobile robot, deformation of the foot is absorbed by a first concavity and the position and shape of a ground-contact portion hardly change. Accordingly, variation in a resistive force against the moment about the yaw axis can be reduced and a spinning motion can be prevented. In addition, when the foot is placed on a bump or a step, a flexible portion deforms and receives it, and a frictional retaining force is generated between the flexible portion and the bump. Thus, the foot is flexibly adapted to the road surface, and sliding caused by the bump and excessively fast motion are prevented. Accordingly, the foot can be adapted to various kinds of road surfaces such as surfaces having bumps and depressions, and the attitude stability can be increased.

Abstract: In a foot of a legged mobile robot, deformation of the foot is absorbed by a first concavity and the position and shape of a ground-contact portion hardly change. Accordingly, variation in a resistive force against the moment about the yaw axis can be reduced and a spinning motion can be prevented. In addition, when the foot is placed on a bump or a step, a flexible portion deforms and receives it, and a frictional retaining force is generated between the flexible portion and the bump. Thus, the foot is flexibly adapted to the road surface, and sliding caused by the bump and excessively fast motion are prevented. Accordingly, the foot can be adapted to various kinds of road surfaces such as surfaces having bumps and depressions, and the attitude stability can be increased.

Abstract: A two-wheeled vehicle able to assist wheels and keep a chassis in a stable posture at the time of abnormal operation without detracting from mobility at the time of normal operation, wherein, when some sort of abnormality is detected in the two-wheeled vehicle, an auxiliary wheel actuator disengages a projection and recess, whereby a first auxiliary wheel springs out toward a road surface together with a shank due to a biasing force of a coil spring. At the time of normal operation, the first auxiliary wheel is recessed in a step board.

Abstract: By altering the assembly condition (for example, frame bent depth, type and height of precoat resin, type of mold resin) of an optically coupled device, the quantity of light arriving at a photodetector (for example, a phototransistor) from a photoemitter (for example, an infrared-emitting diode) is set to be a value within a predetermined range. As a result, an optically coupled device having a current transmission rate within a particular range can be fabricated, independent of the performance of the photoemitter and the performance of the photodetector. Thus, the yield of the optically coupled device can be improved.

Abstract: By altering the assembly condition (for example, frame bent depth, type and height of precoat resin, type of mold resin) of an optically coupled device, the quantity of light arriving at a photodetector (for example, a phototransistor) from a photoemitter (for example, an infrared-emitting diode) is set to be a value within a predetermined range. As a result, an optically coupled device having a current transmission rate within a particular range can be fabricated, independent of the performance of the photoemitter and the performance of the photodetector. Thus, the yield of the optically coupled device can be improved.

Abstract: A water-repellent layer is formed on a light-receiving surface of a solar battery prior to the formation of a coated-film electrode. The coated-film electrode is formed by screen-printing a coating solution on the water-repellent layer. The coating solution is restricted from spreading on the surface of the water-repellent layer and a narrow ridge-shaped coated-film electrode is formed. Thus, the front electrode is smaller in width and larger in height, so received light loss and transmission loss are decreased.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing a semiconductor apparatus can solve problems in that a semiconductor film is not separated completely from a substrate and a great quantity of etchant is required. Ammonium fluoride is added to a hydrofluoric acid solution, so as to improve the etching rate and promote separation of the semiconductor film from the substrate. A manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a re-liquefying function capable of again liquefying vapor of hydrofluoric acid solution so as to use liquefied vapor as the etchant so that the etchant is saved.

Abstract: A process of forming electrodes is simplified during modularizing of a solar battery. According to the manufacturing method and the manufacturing apparatus, a thin solar battery is manufactured at a reduced cost and with a better yield. Using a robot which includes a suction chip which can handle a semiconductor film 2 without any damage which is separated from a particular substrate 1, the semiconductor films 2 are each accurately placed through a transparent resin 3 onto a glass substrate 7 which serves as a window of a solar battery, and p-type and n-type electrodes are printed at a time on the semiconductor films 2 which are arranged. Further, since a monolithic tab electrode is soldered to connect the electrodes, the manufacturing processes of the solar battery are simplified.

Abstract: A method of making the solar cells includes a step of forming a first electroconductive region on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate having through-holes defined therein and also having an emitter layer formed thereon, a step of disposing the semiconductor substrate on a transparent substrate with a second surface of the semiconductor substrate opposite to the first surface thereof confronting the transparent substrate through a resinous material, a step of bonding the semiconductor substrate and the transparent substrate together by means of the resinous material, and a step of forming a second electroconductive region on the first electroconductive region.

Abstract: A method for producing a thin film solar cell includes preparing a substrate of a low purity material and having opposed front and rear surfaces; forming an insulating film on the front surface of the substrate; forming a second conductivity type active layer of a high purity material on the insulating film with a front surface exposed; forming a second conductivity type semiconductor region within the active layer, reaching the front surface, to produce a p-n junction for light-to-electricity conversion; forming an anti-reflection film on the front surface of the active layer, the anti-reflection film reducing reflection of incident light; forming a surface electrode in contact with the front surface of the active layer; adhering the front surface side of the active layer to a supporting plate and selectively etching the low purity substrate from the rear surface to form a supporting substrate supporting the active layer; and forming a rear electrode on the rear surface of the supporting substrate contacting

Abstract: A solar cell has a high ability to prevent recombination of electrons near the cell surface, wherein a surface of a p-type substrate at a surface is provided with an n-type region subjected to a treatment with a phosphorus containing acid and a silicon nitride layer is then directly formed on the n-type region.The solar cell can be prepared at a low temperature by a method comprising 1) a step of subjecting the n-type region to a phosphorus containing acid treatment at a low temperature and 2) a step of forming a silicon nitride by a vacuum and thermal CVD method.

Abstract: A solar battery cell, solar battery module, and solar battery module group achieving high product value by enabling the display of surface patterns without reducing the power generating efficiency of the solar battery cells are provided. The direction and/or reflectance of reflected light incident to the surface of the solar battery cell are varied by controlling the distribution of the rough surface structure imparted to the solar battery cell surface. The direction or reflectance of reflected light incident to the surface of the solar battery cell is changed in part depending upon the part of the semiconductor solar battery cell surface to which the light is incident. Semiconductor solar battery cells with high product value can therefore be achieved because patterns with strong visual impact can be displayed and easily recognized without reducing the power generation efficiency of the solar battery cell.

Abstract: In a method for fabricating a thin film solar cell, a thin semiconductor film serving as a power generating layer is formed on a substrate via an intermediate layer, a plurality of holes are formed penetrating through the thin semiconductor film and reaching the intermediate layer, and the intermediate layer is etched away through the through-holes, separating the thin semiconductor film from the substrate with high-efficiency. Since stress is hardly applied to the thin semiconductor film during the separation process, cracking and breaking of the semiconductor film is avoided. Further, since the surface of the substrate is maintained in good condition, the substrate can be reused, resulting in a reduction in the production cost.

Abstract: In a method of producing a solar cell, a photovoltaic thin semiconductor crystalline film is formed on an underlying substrate and hydrogen passivated throughout the film thickness direction of the photovoltaic film whereby a high efficiency solar cell is obtained. In addition, since the passivation process is performed before forming a rear surface electrode on the thin semiconductor crystalline film, the passivation process is not limited by the rear surface electrode. Thereby, a solar cell having a higher energy conversion efficiency is obtained. The passivation process is performed by exposing the thin semiconductor crystalline film to a hydrogen ion ambient having a low acceleration energy, below 2 KeV, or to a plasma ambient. Therefore, the uniformity of the passivation process at a wafer surface is improved and a large area wafer can be efficient processed.

Abstract: In a method of producing a solar cell, a photovoltaic thin semiconductor crystalline film is formed on an underlying substrate and hydrogen passivated throughout the film thickness direction of the photovoltaic film whereby a high efficiency solar cell is obtained. In addition, since the passivation process is performed before forming a rear surface electrode on the thin semiconductor crystalline film, the passivation process is not limited by the rear surface electrode. Thereby, a solar cell having a higher energy conversion efficiency is obtained. The passivation process is performed by exposing the thin semiconductor crystalline film to a hydrogen ion ambient having a low acceleration energy, below 2 KeV, or to a plasma ambient. Therefore, the uniformity of the passivation process at a wafer surface is improved and a large area wafer can be efficient processed.

Abstract: A method for producing a thin-film solar cell includes successively depositing a lower anti-reflection film having a relatively large etching rate in a prescribed etchant and an upper anti-reflection film having a relatively small etching rate in the prescribed etchant on a photosensitive surface of a semiconductor substrate; patterning the upper anti-reflection film to form an aperture; and etching the lower anti-reflection film using the patterned upper anti-reflection film as a mask.