Abstract: A thermoelectric converter includes a substrate and two thermoelectric elements that may include a flat portion and a concave portion. The thermoelectric elements each include one end that contacts with the thermoelectric element and an other end that contacts with thermoelectric element at a bottom surface of the concave portion. The thermoelectric elements are each positioned to be suspended across a space defined by the concave portion. The thermoelectric converter can be manufactured through photolithographic process, and can be incorporated into an exhaust gas recirculation device.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a solar cell module includes an analysis of measuring frequency characteristics including a resonance point of impedance between two poles of a solar cell module, and frequency characteristics including a resonance point of impedance between an output cable and a frame, and determining equivalent circuit constants of the solar cell module, and a determination of comparing the equivalent circuit constants determined in the analysis with equivalent circuit constants obtained previously to determine change in condition of the solar cell module.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter includes a substrate and two thermoelectric elements that may include a flat portion and a concave portion. The thermoelectric elements each include one end that contacts with the thermoelectric element and an other end that contacts with thermoelectric element at a bottom surface of the concave portion. The thermoelectric elements are each positioned to be suspended across a space defined by the concave portion. The thermoelectric converter can be manufactured through photolithographic process, and can be incorporated into an exhaust gas recirculation device.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a solar cell module includes an analysis of measuring frequency characteristics including a resonance point of impedance between two poles of a solar cell module, and frequency characteristics including a resonance point of impedance between an output cable and a frame, and determining equivalent circuit constants of the solar cell module, and a determination of comparing the equivalent circuit constants determined in the analysis with equivalent circuit constants obtained previously to determine change in condition of the solar cell module.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device according to the present invention, an electrode layer and a recessed part are formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. Further, in the semiconductor substrate, a RESURF layer that is in contact with a bottom surface of the recessed part and the electrode layer is formed. In addition, an insulating film is formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate so as to fill the recessed part. Moreover, a field plate electrode is formed on the insulating film above the recessed part.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a power semiconductor device according to the present invention includes the steps of: (a) forming a silicon nitride film on a semiconductor substrate; (b) after the step (a), forming a ring-shaped trench along a peripheral portion of the semiconductor substrate 6; (c) forming a first silicon oxide film on an inner surface of the trench; (d) after the step (c), forming a second silicon oxide film on an entire surface of the semiconductor substrate to bury the trench; (e) planarizing the second silicon oxide film by using the silicon nitride film as a stopper; and (f) forming a third silicon oxide film in a region in which the silicon nitride film is removed.

Abstract: A passivation film having a predetermined width from an outer peripheral end portion toward an inner side and extending along the outer peripheral end portion is formed on a front surface of a semiconductor substrate. An outer peripheral end surface orthogonal to the front surface and a rear surface is formed by grinding the outer peripheral end portion of the semiconductor substrate. A thickness of the semiconductor substrate is reduced to a predetermined thickness by grinding the rear surface. The ground rear surface is etched by discharging a mixed acid onto the rear surface while rotating the semiconductor substrate with the rear surface facing upward, to remove a fracture layer. Thereby, chipping or cracking of the semiconductor substrate is suppressed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a base layer that has a first conductivity type, a source layer that is formed on the base layer and has a second conductivity type, and an insulating film that is formed on the source layer. The semiconductor device further includes a plurality of gate structures that penetrate the base layer, and a plurality of conductive parts that penetrate the insulating film and the source layer and electrically connect the source layer and the base layer to each other. The gate structures are formed in a stripe shape in plan view. Parts in which the conductive portion is connected to the base layer are formed in a stripe shape in plan view, and are formed between the gate structures. Further, a dimension of the part in which the source layer and the base layer are in contact with each other between the gate structure and the conductive portion is 0.36 ?m or more.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a power semiconductor device according to the present invention includes the steps of: (a) forming a silicon nitride film on a semiconductor substrate; (b) after the step (a), forming a ring-shaped trench along a peripheral portion of the semiconductor substrate 6; (c) forming a first silicon oxide film on an inner surface of the trench; (d) after the step (c), forming a second silicon oxide film on an entire surface of the semiconductor substrate to bury the trench; (e) planarizing the second silicon oxide film by using the silicon nitride film as a stopper; and (f) forming a third silicon oxide film in a region in which the silicon nitride film is removed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a base layer that has a first conductivity type, a source layer that is formed on the base layer and has a second conductivity type, and an insulating film that is formed on the source layer. The semiconductor device further includes a plurality of gate structures that penetrate the base layer, and a plurality of conductive parts that penetrate the insulating film and the source layer and electrically connect the source layer and the base layer to each other. The gate structures are formed in a strip shape in plan view. Parts in which the conductive portion is connected to the base layer are formed in a stripe shape in plan view, and are formed between the gate structures. Further, a dimension of the part in which the source layer and the base layer are in contact with each other between the gate structure and the conductive portion is 0.36 ?m or more.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device according to the present invention, an electrode layer and a recessed part are formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. Further, in the semiconductor substrate, a RESURF layer that is in contact with a bottom surface of the recessed part and the electrode layer is formed. In addition, an insulating film is formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate so as to fill the recessed part. Moreover, a field plate electrode is formed on the insulating film above the recessed part.

Abstract: A passivation film having a predetermined width from an outer peripheral end portion toward an inner side and extending along the outer peripheral end portion is formed on a front surface of a semiconductor substrate. An outer peripheral end surface orthogonal to the front surface and a rear surface is formed by grinding the outer peripheral end portion of the semiconductor substrate. A thickness of the semiconductor substrate is reduced to a predetermined thickness by grinding the rear surface. The ground rear surface is etched by discharging a mixed acid onto the rear surface while rotating the semiconductor substrate with the rear surface facing upward, to remove a fracture layer. Thereby, chipping or cracking of the semiconductor substrate is suppressed.

Abstract: In a thin film transistor using a polycrystalline semiconductor film, when a storage capacitor is formed, it is often that a polycrystalline semiconductor film is used also in one electrode of the capacity. In a display device having a storage capacitor and thin film transistor which have a polycrystalline semiconductor film, the storage capacitor exhibits a voltage dependency due to the semiconductor film, and hence a display failure is caused. In the display device of the invention, a metal conductive film 5 is stacked above a semiconductor layer 4d made of a polycrystalline semiconductor film which is used as a lower electrode of a storage capacitor 130.

Abstract: An additional circuit is formed on a glass substrate, and a passivation film is deposited thereon. After an insulation film is deposited on the passivation film, a contact hole is formed, and a signal line is deposited and connected to the additional circuit. After the signal line and the insulation film are patterned, an organic insulation film is formed, to thereby have a surface of an uneven configuration depending on a step formed by the signal line and the insulation film. A reflective electrode is formed on the organic insulation film, to thereby have a surface of an uneven configuration. This eliminates the need to perform a photolithography process step for the formation of the surface of the organic insulation film in the uneven configuration, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

Abstract: In an evaluation device a plurality of evaluation cells, a signal wiring for applying a voltage to the evaluation cells, and an output terminal pad for a signal taking out wiring for measuring outputs from the evaluation cells through a signal taking out wiring are provided on an insulating substrate. Thus, the in-plane distribution of electric characteristics can be easily measured. Further, the electric characteristics related to the particle diameter of the crystal of a poly-crystal silicon film are evaluated so that the in-plane unevenness of the particle diameter of the crystal of the poly-crystal silicon film can be managed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a glass substrate serving as a substrate having an insulated surface and a silicon layer located on a position overlapping with this glass substrate. The silicon layer includes an amorphous gettering region. Preferably, the silicon layer includes a main region serving as an active element region, and the gettering region is preferably included in the remaining portion of the silicon layer excluding the main region. Preferably, the silicon layer may include a portion serving as an active region of a thin-film transistor.

Abstract: In a thin film transistor using a polycrystalline semiconductor film, when a storage capacitor is formed, it is often that a polycrystalline semiconductor film is used also in one electrode of the capacity. In a display device having a storage capacitor and thin film transistor which have a polycrystalline semiconductor film, the storage capacitor exhibits a voltage dependency due to the semiconductor film, and hence a display failure is caused. In the display device of the invention, a metal conductive film 5 is stacked above a semiconductor layer 4d made of a polycrystalline semiconductor film which is used as a lower electrode of a storage capacitor 130.

Abstract: A TFT according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an insulative base film formed on a TFT array substrate, and a semiconductor film including a channel region formed on the base film, in which an impurity concentration of a channel region in the semiconductor film becomes substantially uniform in a film thickness direction of the semiconductor film, the impurity concentration of the channel region is discontinuous at a boundary between the semiconductor film and the base film, and an impurity concentration of the base film is lower than an impurity concentration of the semiconductor film and is monotonously decreased toward the TFT array substrate.

Abstract: An additional circuit is formed on a glass substrate, and a passivation film is deposited thereon. After an insulation film is deposited on the passivation film, a contact hole is formed, and a signal line is deposited and connected to the additional circuit. After the signal line and the insulation film are patterned, an organic insulation film is formed, to thereby have a surface of an uneven configuration depending on a step formed by the signal line and the insulation film. A reflective electrode is formed on the organic insulation film, to thereby have a surface of an uneven configuration. This eliminates the need to perform a photolithography process step for the formation of the surface of the organic insulation film in the uneven configuration, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A gate insulating film of a thin-film transistor is formed on a polysilicon film in which a source region and a drain region of the thin-film transistor are formed. A gate electrode of the thin-film transistor is formed on the gate insulating film. An insulating layer containing a silicon atom, a dangling bond of which is terminated with a nitrogen atom or an ON group, is provided in an interface between the polysilicon film and the gate insulating film.