Patents by Inventor Hisashi Uzu

Hisashi Uzu 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).

  • Patent number: 11621358
    Abstract: A solar cell in which performance degradation caused by an alkali component is suppressed. A solar cell is a back-contact solar cell that comprises a semiconductor substrate; a p-type semiconductor layer, and a first electrode layer corresponding thereto, layered sequentially on one part of the rear side of the semiconductor substrate; an n-type semiconductor layer, and a second electrode layer corresponding thereto, layered sequentially on another part of the rear side of the semiconductor substrate. One part of the n-type semiconductor layer lies directly atop one part of the adjacent p-type semiconductor layer. The first electrode layer is separate from the n-type semiconductor layer and covers the p-type semiconductor layer. The second electrode layer covers the entirety of an overlapping portion where the n-type semiconductor layer lies atop the p-type semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunta Yoshikawa, Hisashi Uzu
  • Publication number: 20220005965
    Abstract: A solar cell module comprises cell groups each containing solar cells, and each solar cell includes photoelectric converters, N number of which being connected in series, and first, second and third terminals. When the first terminal on one end of a first cell group has a reference potential, the second terminal on the other end of the mth cell group is connected to the first terminal on one end of another cell group, and N number of the third terminals of the mth cell group are respectively connected to N number of the first terminals of an m+1th cell group. The difference in potential between the second terminal on the other end of the mth cell group and the first terminal on one end of the other cell group is 10% or less of the difference in potential between the second and first terminals of the mth cell group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi UZU, Gensuke KOIZUMI
  • Patent number: 11004995
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device according to the present disclosure is provided with: a condensing optical system having chromatic aberration; a first photoelectric converter, which is arranged on an optical axis of the condensing optical system; and a second photoelectric converter, which is arranged on an outer peripheral side of the first photoelectric converter when viewed from an optical axis direction of the condensing optical system, and which has a bandgap lower than a bandgap of the first photoelectric converter, wherein the first photoelectric converter is arranged on an inner side of a rectangle that circumscribes a condensing region of absorbable longest-wavelength light determined based on the bandgap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiro Nakano, Hisashi Uzu, Kenji Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20200203540
    Abstract: A solar cell, such as a back contact solar cell that can be cut into an arbitrary shape, includes a semiconductor substrate; a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer and a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer, disposed on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate; first electrode layers corresponding to the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer, and a second electrode layer corresponding to the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer. The second electrode layer and the plurality of first electrode layers form a sea-island structure in which the first electrode layers are in the form of islands, while the second electrode layer is in the form of sea. This solar cell also includes a plate electrode which is arranged to face the back surface of the semiconductor substrate, and which is connected to the plurality of first electrode layers, while being not connected to the second electrode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi UZU, Takashi KUCHIYAMA, Kunta YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20200203539
    Abstract: A solar cell in which performance degradation caused by an alkali component is suppressed. A solar cell is a back-contact solar cell that comprises a semiconductor substrate; a p-type semiconductor layer, and a first electrode layer corresponding thereto, layered sequentially on one part of the rear side of the semiconductor substrate; an n-type semiconductor layer, and a second electrode layer corresponding thereto, layered sequentially on another part of the rear side of the semiconductor substrate. One part of the n-type semiconductor layer lies directly atop one part of the adjacent p-type semiconductor layer. The first electrode layer is separate from the n-type semiconductor layer and covers the p-type semiconductor layer. The second electrode layer covers the entirety of an overlapping portion where the n-type semiconductor layer lies atop the p-type semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunta YOSHIKAWA, Hisashi UZU
  • Patent number: 10672930
    Abstract: A tandem-type photoelectric conversion device includes, arranged in the following order from a light-incident side: a first photoelectric conversion unit; an anti-reflection layer; a transparent conductive layer; and a second photoelectric conversion unit. The first photoelectric conversion unit includes a light absorbing layer including a photosensitive material of perovskite-type crystal structure represented by general formula R1NH3M1X3 or HC(NH2)2M1X3, wherein R1 is an alkyl group, M1 is a divalent metal ion, and X is a halogen. The second photoelectric conversion unit includes a light absorbing layer having a bandgap narrower than a bandgap of the light absorbing layer in the first photoelectric conversion unit. The anti-reflection layer and the transparent conductive layer are in contact with each other, and a refractive index of the anti-reflection layer is lower than a refractive index of the transparent conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryota Mishima, Masashi Hino, Hisashi Uzu, Tomomi Meguro
  • Patent number: 10529882
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multi-junction photoelectric conversion device includes forming a first electrode on a first photoelectric conversion unit including a first semiconductor layer as a photoelectric conversion layer, the first electrode including a plurality of patterned regions separated from one another by separation grooves; and eliminating a leakage existing in the first semiconductor layer by applying a reverse bias voltage between one of the patterned regions of the first electrode and a second photoelectric conversion unit comprising a second semiconductor layer as a photoelectric conversion layer. The application of the reverse bias voltage is performed while irradiating the second photoelectric conversion unit with light, generating a photocurrent in the second photoelectric conversion unit that is larger than a photocurrent in the first photoelectric conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi Uzu, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Toru Terashita, Kenji Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20190319149
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device according to the present disclosure is provided with: a condensing optical system having chromatic aberration; a first photoelectric converter, which is arranged on an optical axis of the condensing optical system; and a second photoelectric converter, which is arranged on an outer peripheral side of the first photoelectric converter when viewed from an optical axis direction of the condensing optical system, and which has a bandgap lower than a bandgap of the first photoelectric converter, wherein the first photoelectric converter is arranged on an inner side of a rectangle that circumscribes a condensing region of absorbable longest-wavelength light determined based on the bandgap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiro Nakano, Hisashi Uzu, Kenji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10333016
    Abstract: A multi-junction photoelectric conversion device includes, in the following order from a light-receiving side: a first photoelectric conversion unit; an intermediate layer; and a second photoelectric conversion unit. The first photoelectric conversion unit includes: a first light absorbing layer comprising a perovskite-type crystal structure photosensitive material; a first charge transport layer on the light-receiving side of the first light absorbing layer; and a second charge transport layer on a rear side of the first light absorbing layer. The second charge transport layer is in contact with the intermediate layer. The second photoelectric conversion unit includes: a second light absorbing layer that is a crystalline silicon substrate; and a first conductive semiconductor layer that is in contact with the intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi Uzu, Masashi Hino, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Ryota Mishima, Tomomi Meguro, Kenji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10217887
    Abstract: The crystalline silicon-based solar cell includes a first intrinsic silicon-based thin-film, a p-type silicon-based thin-film, a first transparent electrode layer, and a patterned collecting electrode on a first principal surface of an n-type crystalline silicon substrate; and a second intrinsic silicon-based thin-film, an n-type silicon-based thin-film, a second transparent electrode layer, and a plated metal electrode on a second principal surface of the n-type crystalline-silicon substrate. On a peripheral edge of the first principal surface, an insulating region freed of a short-circuit between the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer is provided. The plated metal electrode is formed on an entire region of the second transparent electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko Uto, Daisuke Adachi, Hisashi Uzu
  • Publication number: 20190044001
    Abstract: A solar cell wiring member for electrically connecting a plurality of solar cells includes a first principal surface, a second principal surface, and a plurality of first projected parts. The wiring member has a band shape, and the plurality of the first projected parts are located on a part of the first principal surface that is connected to a solar cell. Each of the plurality of the first projected parts has a triangular cross section, and the plurality of the first projected parts extend parallel to each other in a first extending direction The first extending direction is non-parallel to a longitudinal direction of the wiring member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gensuke Koizumi, Toru Terashita, Hisashi Uzu
  • Publication number: 20190044016
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multi-junction photoelectric conversion device includes forming a first electrode on a first photoelectric conversion unit including a first semiconductor layer as a photoelectric conversion layer, the first electrode including a plurality of patterned regions separated from one another by separation grooves; and eliminating a leakage existing in the first semiconductor layer by applying a reverse bias voltage between one of the patterned regions of the first electrode and a second photoelectric conversion unit comprising a second semiconductor layer as a photoelectric conversion layer. The application of the reverse bias voltage is performed while irradiating the second photoelectric conversion unit with light, generating a photocurrent in the second photoelectric conversion unit that is larger than a photocurrent in the first photoelectric conversion unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi Uzu, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Toru Terashita, Kenji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10177705
    Abstract: A composite solar cell comprises a spectroscopic element, a first photoelectric conversion element, and a second photoelectric conversion element. The first photoelectric conversion element is positioned in a first direction of the spectroscopic element and the second photoelectric conversion element is positioned in a second direction of the spectroscopic element. The first photoelectric conversion element is a perovskite-type photoelectric conversion element containing, in a light absorbing layer, a perovskite crystal structure material represented by a general formula R1NH3M1X3. A band gap of a light absorbing layer of the second photoelectric conversion element is narrower than the band gap of the light absorbing layer of the first photoelectric conversion element. The spectroscopic element preferentially outputs the short wavelength light of the incident light in the first direction and preferentially outputs the long wavelength light of the incident light in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi Uzu, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Masashi Hino, Tomomi Meguro, Kenji Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20180226529
    Abstract: A multi-junction photoelectric conversion device includes, in the following order from a light-receiving side: a first photoelectric conversion unit; an intermediate layer; and a second photoelectric conversion unit. The first photoelectric conversion unit includes: a first light absorbing layer comprising a perovskite-type crystal structure photosensitive material; a first charge transport layer on the light-receiving side of the first light absorbing layer; and a second charge transport layer on a rear side of the first light absorbing layer. The second charge transport layer is in contact with the intermediate layer. The second photoelectric conversion unit includes: a second light absorbing layer that is a crystalline silicon substrate; and a first conductive semiconductor layer that is in contact with the intermediate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Uzu, Masashi Hino, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Ryota Mishima, Tomomi Meguro, Kenji Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20180019360
    Abstract: A tandem-type photoelectric conversion device includes, arranged in the following order from a light-incident side: a first photoelectric conversion unit; an anti-reflection layer; a transparent conductive layer; and a second photoelectric conversion unit. The first photoelectric conversion unit includes a light absorbing layer including a photosensitive material of perovskite-type crystal structure represented by general formula R1NH3M1X3 or HC(NH2)2M1X3, wherein R1 is an alkyl group, M1 is a divalent metal ion, and X is a halogen. The second photoelectric conversion unit includes a light absorbing layer having a bandgap narrower than a bandgap of the light absorbing layer in the first photoelectric conversion unit. The anti-reflection layer and the transparent conductive layer are in contact with each other, and a refractive index of the anti-reflection layer is lower than a refractive index of the transparent conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Mishima, Masashi Hino, Hisashi Uzu, Tomomi Meguro
  • Publication number: 20180019361
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes, arranged in the following order from a light-receiving side: a transparent electroconductive layer; a first photoelectric conversion unit that is a perovskite-type photoelectric conversion unit; and a second photoelectric conversion unit. The first photoelectric conversion unit includes, arranged in the following order from the light-receiving side: a hole transporting layer; a light absorbing layer including a photosensitive material of perovskite-type crystal structure represented by general formula RNH3MX3 or HC(NH2)2MX3; and an electron transporting layer. The second photoelectric conversion unit includes a light absorbing layer having a bandgap narrower than a bandgap of the light absorbing layer in the first photoelectric conversion unit. A product of a resistivity ? and a thickness t of the hole transporting layer satisfies ?t?0.1 ?Q·m2. The transparent electroconductive layer is in contact with the hole transporting layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Mishima, Masashi Hino, Hisashi Uzu, Tomomi Meguro
  • Patent number: 9761752
    Abstract: An electrode layer formation step of forming an electrode layer including the first electrode and a removal-target body on a first main surface side of a photoelectric conversion part; an insulating layer formation step of forming an insulating layer so as to cover at least the removal-target body; an opening formation step of forming an opening in the insulating layer by utilizing the removal-target body; and a metal layer formation step of forming a metal layer on the electrode layer through the opening of the insulating layer by a plating method are performed in this order. In the opening formation step, at least a part of the removal-target body is removed by irradiation by a laser beam, so that the opening of the insulating layer is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Uzu, Daisuke Adachi
  • Publication number: 20170155358
    Abstract: A composite solar cell comprises a spectroscopic element, a first photoelectric conversion element, and a second photoelectric conversion element. The first photoelectric conversion element is positioned in a first direction of the spectroscopic element and the second photoelectric conversion element is positioned in a second direction of the spectroscopic element. The first photoelectric conversion element is a perovskite-type photoelectric conversion element containing, in a light absorbing layer, a perovskite crystal structure material represented by a general formula R1NH3M1X3. A band gap of a light absorbing layer of the second photoelectric conversion element is narrower than the band gap of the light absorbing layer of the first photoelectric conversion element. The spectroscopic element preferentially outputs the short wavelength light of the incident light in the first direction and preferentially outputs the long wavelength light of the incident light in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Hisashi Uzu, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Masashi Hino, Tomomi Meguro, Kenji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9634176
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a crystalline silicon-based solar cell having a photoelectric conversion section includes a silicon-based layer of an opposite conductivity-type on a first principal surface side of a crystalline silicon substrate of a first conductivity-type, and a collecting electrode formed by an electroplating method on a first principal surface of the photoelectric conversion section. By applying laser light from a first or second principal surface side of the photoelectric conversion section, an insulation-processed region his formed where a short-circuit between the first principal surface and a second principal surface of the photoelectric conversion section is eliminated. On the collecting electrode and/or the insulation-processed region, a protecting layer s formed for preventing diffusion of a metal contained in the collecting electrode into the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Adachi, Masanori Kanematsu, Hisashi Uzu
  • Publication number: 20170084772
    Abstract: The crystalline silicon-based solar cell according to the present invention includes a first intrinsic silicon-based thin-film, a p-type silicon-based thin-film, a first transparent electrode layer, and a patterned collecting electrode on a first principal surface of an n-type crystalline silicon substrate; and a second intrinsic silicon-based thin-film, an n-type silicon-based thin-film, a second transparent electrode layer, and a plated metal electrode on a second principal surface of the n-type crystalline-silicon substrate. On a peripheral edge of the first principal surface, an insulating region freed of a short-circuit between the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer is provided. The plated metal electrode is formed on an entire region of the second transparent electrode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Toshihiko Uto, Daisuke Adachi, Hisashi Uzu