Patents by Inventor Koichiro Tanaka

Koichiro Tanaka 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).

  • Publication number: 20120153416
    Abstract: An object is to provide a photoelectric conversion element with high conversion efficiency. In a photoelectric conversion element with a fine periodic structure on a light-receiving surface side, focus is given to the traveling direction of light that is reflected off another surface. The photoelectric conversion element may be given a structure in which a textured structure that reflects light to the other surface is provided, and light that travels from the light-receiving surface side to the other surface side is reflected so that a component that travels along the photoelectric conversion layer increases. By the distance traveled by the reflected light inside the photoelectric conversion layer increasing, the light that enters the photoelectric conversion element is more easily absorbed by the photoelectric conversion layer and less easily released from the light-receiving surface side, and a photoelectric conversion element with high conversion efficiency can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Fumito Isaka, Jiro Nishida
  • Publication number: 20120153333
    Abstract: A highly reliable light-emitting device which includes an organic EL element and is lightweight is provided. The light-emitting device includes a first organic resin layer; a first glass layer over the first organic resin layer; a light-emitting element over the first glass layer; a second glass layer over the light-emitting element; and a second organic resin layer over the second glass layer. The first organic resin layer and the first glass layer each have a property of transmitting visible light. The thickness of the first glass layer and the thickness of the second glass layer are independently greater than or equal to 25 ? and less than or equal to 100 ?. The light-emitting element includes a first electrode having a property of transmitting visible light, a layer containing a light-emitting organic compound, and a second electrode stacked in this order from the first glass layer side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Koichiro Tanaka, Masaaki Hiroki, Hisao Ikeda, Kengo Akimoto
  • Publication number: 20120152314
    Abstract: The present invention provides a photoelectric conversion device. Specifically, the photoelectric conversion device has a structure in which a substrate including a photoelectric conversion element provided at the bottom and a substrate including a photoelectric conversion element provided at the side are secured in a brace form by a light-dividing device. This structure divides incident light using the light-dividing device into a plurality of wavelength bands, and causes the divided light to fall onto the photoelectric conversion elements provided at the bottom and side, thereby making it possible to provide a photoelectric conversion device which is capable of generating a lame amount of electric power. In addition, the light-dividing device distributes pressures and impacts applied to the substrates at the bottom and side, thus making it possible to provide a photoelectric conversion device which has resistance to pressures and impacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichiro TANAKA, Yu Arita
  • Patent number: 8202811
    Abstract: To provide a manufacturing apparatus of a semiconductor device, which does not use a stepper in a manufacturing process in the case where mass production of semiconductor devices is carried out by using a large-sized substrate. A thin film formed over a substrate having an insulating surface is selectively irradiated with a laser beam through light control means, specifically through an electro-optical device to cause ablation; accordingly, the thin film is partially removed, thereby processing the thin film in a remaining region into a desired shape. The electro-optical device functions as a variable mask by inputting an electrical signal based on design CAD data of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8188402
    Abstract: The invention relates to a laser treatment apparatus including a laser oscillator, an interlock provided in the laser oscillator, a movable table which moves with a certain movement period, a timer, an interlock provided in the timer, a sensor which can detect movement of the movable table, and a computer, in which the timer starts measuring time when the sensor senses passage of the movable table, and when the movable table does not pass the sensor even after the movement period, conduction between contacts of the interlock provided in the timer is blocked to operate the interlock in the laser oscillator, thereby stopping laser output. The invention also relates to a laser treatment method using the laser treatment apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Takatsugu Omata
  • Publication number: 20120126277
    Abstract: A light-emitting element includes a conductive layer functioning as a first electrode, an electroluminescent layer, and a conductive layer functioning as a second electrode, and further includes an insulating material filling a defect portion in the electroluminescent layer so that the defect portion is sealed. In the light-emitting element, the conductive layer functioning as a second electrode overlaps with the conductive layer functioning as a first electrode with the electroluminescent layer and the insulating material interposed therebetween and is in contact with a top surface of the electroluminescent layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Hisao Ikeda, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8183067
    Abstract: A display device which can be manufactured with improved material use efficiency and through a simplified manufacturing process, and a manufacturing technique thereof. A light-absorbing layer is formed, an insulating layer is formed over the light-absorbing layer, the light-absorbing layer and the insulating layer are selectively irradiated with laser light to remove an irradiated region of the insulating layer so that a first opening is formed in the insulating layer, and the light-absorbing layer is selectively removed by using the insulating layer having the first opening as a mask so that a second opening is formed in the insulating layer and the light-absorbing layer. A conductive film is formed in the second opening to be in contact with the light-absorbing layer, thereby electrically connecting to the light-absorbing layer with the insulating layer interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Koichiro Tanaka, Hironobu Shoji, Ikuko Kawamata
  • Patent number: 8173977
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser irradiation apparatus and a laser irradiation method that increase energy intensity distribution in a region having low energy intensity distribution in an end region in a major-axis direction of laser light, in performing laser irradiation. In irradiating an irradiation surface with laser light, laser light oscillated from a laser oscillator is converged in one direction through an optical element. The laser light which passes through the optical element and which is converged in one direction passes through a means which shields an end region in a major-axis direction of the laser light. Accordingly, a region where energy intensity distribution is precipitously high in the end region in the major-axis direction of the laser light can be formed in the irradiation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8170130
    Abstract: A transmission device includes a differential encoding section for differentially encoding transmission data, a first waveform generation section, a second waveform generation section, and two transmission antennas. A reception device includes a reception antenna, a delay detection section, and a data determination section for low-pass filtering a delay detection signal. The reception device receives modulated signals modulated by using two waveforms having low correlations with each other. Thus, regardless of the presence or absence of delay dispersion in a propagation path and even in a high-speed fading in which the propagation path varies at high speed, a transmission diversity effect can be achieved, thereby making it possible to improve transmission characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Nakahara, Hitoshi Takai, Koichiro Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20120097963
    Abstract: A first shape of semiconductor region having on its one side a plurality of sharp convex top-end portions is formed first and a continuous wave laser beam is used for radiation from the above region so as to crystallize the first shape of semiconductor region. A continuous wave laser beam condensed in one or plural lines is used for the laser beam. The first shape of semiconductor region is etched to form a second shape of semiconductor region in which a channel forming region and a source and drain region are formed. The second shape of semiconductor region is disposed so that a channel foaming range would be formed on respective crystal regions extending from the plurality of convex end portions. A semiconductor region adjacent to the channel forming region is eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chiho KOKUBO, Aiko Shiga, Shunpei Yamazaki, Hidekazu Miyairi, Koji Dairiki, Koichiro Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20120088324
    Abstract: An evaporation donor substrate which enables only a desired evaporation material to be evaporated at the time of deposition by an evaporation method, and capable of reduction in manufacturing cost by increase in use efficiency of the evaporation material and deposition with high uniformity. An evaporation donor substrate capable of controlling laser light so that a desired position of an evaporation donor substrate is irradiated with the laser light in accordance with the wavelength of the emitted laser light at the time of evaporation. Specifically, an evaporation donor substrate in which a region which reflects laser light and a region which absorbs laser light at the time of irradiation with laser light having a wavelength of greater than or equal to 400 nm and less than or equal to 600 nm at the time of evaporation are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Kohei YOKOYAMA, Takahiro IBE, Takuya TSURUME, Koichiro TANAKA
  • Patent number: 8148259
    Abstract: The present invention offers a method for forming an opening portion by a simple process without using a photomask or a resist. Further, the present invention proposes a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device at low cost. A plurality of light absorbing layers is formed over a substrate, an interlayer insulating layer is formed over the plurality of light absorbing layers, the plurality of light absorbing layers is irradiated with a linear or rectangular laser beam from the interlayer insulating layer side, and at least the interlayer insulating layer which is over the plurality of light absorbing layers is removed and an opening portion is formed; and accordingly, a plurality of opening portions can be formed by removing the plurality of light absorbing layers and an insulating film formed over the plurality of light absorbing layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Arai, Koichiro Tanaka, Yukie Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8138058
    Abstract: To provide a laser irradiation apparatus which performs alignment of an irradiated object and emits a laser beam precisely, a laser irradiation method, and a manufacturing method of a TFT with high reliability with the use of a method for precisely targeting a desired irradiation position of the laser beam. A substrate with marker is mounted on a stage formed using a material which transmits infrared light; a marker, which is provided in the substrate with marker mounted on the stage, is detected using a camera capable of sensing infrared light, and a position of the stage is controlled; a laser beam is emitted from a laser oscillator; the laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator is processed into a linear shape by an optical system, and the substrate with marker mounted on the stage is irradiated with the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Takatsugu Omata
  • Publication number: 20120028391
    Abstract: To improve the use efficiency of materials and provide a technique of fabricating a display device by a simple process. The method includes the steps of providing a mask on a conductive layer, forming an insulating film over the conductive layer provided with the mask, removing the mask to form an insulating layer having an opening; and forming a conductive film in the opening so as to be in contact with the exposed conductive layer, whereby the conductive layer and the conductive film can be electrically connected through the insulating layer. The shape of the opening reflects the shape of the mask. A mask having a columnar shape (e.g., a prism, a cylinder, or a triangular prism), a needle shape, or the like can be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koichiro TANAKA
  • Patent number: 8105435
    Abstract: The inhomogeneous energy distribution at the beam spot on the irradiated surface is caused by a structural problem and processing accuracy of the cylindrical lens array forming an optical system. According to the present invention, in the optical system for forming a rectangular beam spot, an optical system for homogenizing the energy distribution of the shorter side direction of a rectangular beam spot of a laser light on an irradiated surface is replaced with a light guide. The light guide is a circuit that can confine emitted beams in a certain region and guide and transmit its energy flow in parallel with the axis of a path thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichiro Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20120021592
    Abstract: There is proposed an apparatus for doping a material to be doped by generating plasma (ions) and accelerating it by a high voltage to form an ion current is proposed, which is particularly suitable for processing a substrate having a large area. The ion current is formed to have a linear sectional configuration, and doping is performed by moving a material to be doped in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of a section of the ion current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Toshiji Hamatani, Koichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8093593
    Abstract: A first shape of semiconductor region having on its one side a plurality of sharp convex top-end portions is formed first and a continuous wave laser beam is used for radiation from the above region so as to crystallize the first shape of semiconductor region. A continuous wave laser beam condensed in one or plural lines is used for the laser beam. The first shape of semiconductor region is etched to form a second shape of semiconductor region in which a channel forming region and a source and drain region are formed. The second shape of semiconductor region is disposed so that a channel forming range would be formed on respective crystal regions extending from the plurality of convex end portions. A semiconductor region adjacent to the channel forming region is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiho Kokubo, Aiko Shiga, Shunpei Yamazaki, Hidekazu Miyairi, Koji Dairiki, Koichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8080811
    Abstract: An evaporation donor substrate which enables only a desired evaporation material to be evaporated at the time of deposition by an evaporation method, and capable of reduction in manufacturing cost by increase in use efficiency of the evaporation material and deposition with high uniformity. An evaporation donor substrate capable of controlling laser light so that a desired position of an evaporation donor substrate is irradiated with the laser light in accordance with the wavelength of the emitted laser light at the time of evaporation. Specifically, an evaporation donor substrate in which a region which reflects laser light and a region which absorbs laser light at the time of irradiation with laser light having a wavelength of greater than or equal to 400 nm and less than or equal to 600 nm at the time of evaporation are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Yokoyama, Takahiro Ibe, Takuya Tsurume, Koichiro Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20110304920
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a laser irradiation technique for irradiating the irradiation surface with the laser beam having homogeneous intensity distribution using a cylindrical lens array without being affected by the intensity distribution of the original beam. A laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator is divided by two kinds of cylindrical lens arrays into a plurality of beams, which are two kinds of linear laser beams with their energy intensity distribution inverted each other, and the two kinds of linear laser beams are superposed in a minor-axis direction. This can form the linear laser beam having homogeneous intensity distribution on the irradiation surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichiro TANAKA, Hirotada OISHI
  • Publication number: 20110300690
    Abstract: To provide a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device in which the space between semiconductor films transferred at plural locations is narrowed. A first bonding substrate having first projections is attached to a base substrate. Then, the first bonding substrate is separated at the first projections so that first semiconductor films are formed over the base substrate. Next, a second bonding substrate having second projections is attached to the base substrate so that the second projections are placed in regions different from regions where the first semiconductor films are formed. Subsequently, the second bonding substrate is separated at the second projections so that second semiconductor films are formed over the base substrate. In the second bonding substrate, the width of each second projection in a direction (a depth direction) perpendicular to the second bonding substrate is larger than the film thickness of each first semiconductor film formed first.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihisa SHIMOMURA, Tatsuya MIZOI, Hidekazu MIYAIRI, Koichiro TANAKA