Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor and an image processor. The image sensor has at least one type of color filter and a specific filter disposed thereon in a manner corresponding to each pixel on a light receiving surface. The specific filter transmits light in a particular wavelength range in which spectral irradiance of sunlight is lower than that in wavelength ranges adjacent to either side of the particular wavelength range. The image processor detects an emission state of a particular light source based on a signal component of an image signal generated by pixels having the specific filters thereon. The particular light source is different from the sunlight.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor and an image processor. The image sensor has at least one type of color filter and a specific filter disposed thereon in a manner corresponding to each pixel on a light receiving surface. The specific filter transmits light in a particular wavelength range in which spectral irradiance of sunlight is lower than that in wavelength ranges adjacent to either side of the particular wavelength range. The image processor detects an emission state of a particular light source based on a signal component of an image signal generated by pixels having the specific filters thereon. The particular light source is different from the sunlight.

Abstract: Provided is a vehicle driving assist device which can clearly display superimposing guide lines on an image captured from the surrounding area of a vehicle without increasing the areas of the superimposing lines. The vehicle driving assist device displays an image captured from the surrounding area of a vehicle on a vehicle monitor. The vehicle driving assist device comprises: an imaging unit mounted in a vehicle for capturing the image from the surrounding area of the vehicle; and an image processing unit for displaying superimposing guide lines on the image output from the imaging unit. The image processing unit displays the guide lines in a manner such that colors are periodically altered in the length directions thereof and displayed.

Abstract: A solar battery panel inspection apparatus is an apparatus for inspecting a solar battery panel including a transparent insulating substrate having a main surface, and a transparent electrode layer, a semiconductor photoelectric conversion layer and a back electrode layer which are sequentially stacked and having an outer circumferential insulating region in which the main surface is exposed, to check the insulation performance of the outer circumferential insulating region.

Abstract: There are provided an image processing method and an imaging device module capable of properly calculating a black level when brightness on the positive maximum value side in a brightness histogram of an optical black region are clipped to an upper limit brightness, that is, when brightness on the positive maximum value side in a brightness histogram of an optical black region exceed an upper limit brightness. An image processing method includes forming a brightness histogram of pixels in an optical black region of an imaging face of an imaging device; shifting the brightness histogram toward where a brightness pixel value is zero until a peak value of the brightness histogram becomes smaller than an upper limit of a pixel value, when the peak value is equal to or larger than the upper limit brightness of the pixel value; and calculating a black level based on a peak value which became smaller than the upper limit.

Abstract: A highly reliable thin film solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same are provided to improve bonding strength between a back-surface electrode layer and a bus bar without limiting the kind of metal film of the back-surface electrode layer. The thin film solar cell at least includes a light-transmitting insulating substrate, a transparent conductive film, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a back-surface electrode layer provided on the light-transmitting insulating substrate, and a bus bar provided on the back-surface electrode layer. The bus bar is electrically connected with the back-surface electrode layer with a conductive tape interposed whereby the back-surface electrode layer is used as a take-out electrode. The conductive tape preferably includes a thermosetting resin and a conductive particle. Furthermore, the conductive tape is preferably an anisotropic conductive tape.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin film photoelectric conversion module includes the steps of forming a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements connected in series on a substrate, and carrying out reverse bias processing simultaneously on a group of photoelectric conversion elements including a plurality of the photoelectric conversion elements positioned with one or a plurality of the photoelectric conversion elements interposed between each of them, by applying a plurality of voltages electrically isolated from one another to the group of photoelectric conversion elements.

Abstract: Provided is a vehicle driving assist device which can clearly display superimposing guide lines on an image captured from the surrounding area of a vehicle without increasing the areas of the superimposing lines. The vehicle driving assist device displays an image captured from the surrounding area of a vehicle on a vehicle monitor. The vehicle driving assist device comprises: an imaging unit mounted in a vehicle for capturing the image from the surrounding area of the vehicle; and an image processing unit for displaying superimposing guide lines on the image output from the imaging unit. The image processing unit displays the guide lines in a manner such that colors are periodically altered in the length directions thereof and displayed.

Abstract: The solar cell panel inspection device comprises a housing, a first terminal for abutting against a back-side electrode layer, a second terminal for abutting against a region in proximity to an outer peripheral end of an outer peripheral insulating area, a mechanism moving first terminal and second terminal vertically and horizontally, a voltage applying section for applying voltage respectively between first terminal and second terminal, a current detecting section for detecting a current flowing between first terminal and second terminal applied with voltage by voltage applying section, means for regulating moisture amount in housing, and means for reducing moisture amount in housing.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin film photoelectric conversion module comprising the steps of: (A) forming a plurality of divided strings by dividing a string, in which thin film photoelectric conversion elements provided by sequentially laminating a first electrode layer, a photoelectric conversion layer and a second electrode layer on the surface of an insulating substrate are electrically connected in series, into a plurality of strings by dividing grooves, electrically insulating and separating the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer one from the other and extending in a serial connection direction; and (B) performing reverse biasing by applying a reverse bias voltage to each of thin film photoelectric conversion elements of the divided string.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a photoelectric conversion device in which an object to be processed is processed by directing a light beam to a position determined based on information including temperature information and distortion information acquired in advance. There is also provided a light beam irradiation processing apparatus including a control portion capable of controlling a light beam generating portion and a drive portion in such a manner that a light beam can be directed to a position determined based on information including temperature information acquired by a temperature information acquiring portion and distortion information stored therein.

Abstract: A solar battery panel inspection apparatus is an apparatus for inspecting a solar battery panel including a transparent insulating substrate having a main surface, and a transparent electrode layer, a semiconductor photoelectric conversion layer and a back electrode layer which are sequentially stacked and having an outer circumferential insulating region in which the main surface is exposed, to check the insulation performance of the outer circumferential insulating region.

Abstract: A film formed on a substrate is radiated with a first light beam to separate the film into a plurality of regions. Repairing is carried out by removing the film at a removal deficient site where the film remains between the plurality of regions. A film removal method allowing separation of a film into a plurality of regions at high yield, a method for fabricating a photoelectric conversion device using the film removal method, and a film removal device can be provided.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin film photoelectric conversion module comprising the steps of: (A) forming a plurality of divided strings by dividing a string, in which thin film photoelectric conversion elements provided by sequentially laminating a first electrode layer, a photoelectric conversion layer and a second electrode layer on the surface of an insulating substrate are electrically connected in series, into a plurality of strings by dividing grooves, electrically insulating and separating the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer one from the other and extending in a serial connection direction; and (B) performing reverse biasing by applying a reverse bias voltage to each of thin film photoelectric conversion elements of the divided string.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin film solar cell is characterized by including a string formation step for forming a string of thin film photoelectric conversion elements which are electrically connected in series and each of which has a first electrode layer, a photoelectric conversion layer and a second electrode layer which are successively laminated on a surface of a translucent insulation substrate; a film removal step for removing the thin film photoelectric conversion element portion formed on the outer circumference of the surface of the translucent insulation substrate by a light beam to form a non-conductive surface region on the entire circumference; and a cleaning step for removing conductive extraneous matters generated in the film removal step and attached to the non-conductive surface region.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin film photoelectric conversion module includes the steps of forming a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements connected in series on a substrate, and carrying out reverse bias processing simultaneously on a group of photoelectric conversion elements including a plurality of the photoelectric conversion elements positioned with one or a plurality of the photoelectric conversion elements interposed between each of them, by applying a plurality of voltages electrically isolated from one another to the group of photoelectric conversion elements.

Abstract: A highly reliable thin film solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same are provided to improve bonding strength between a back-surface electrode layer and a bus bar without limiting the kind of metal film of the back-surface electrode layer. The thin film solar cell at least includes a light-transmitting insulating substrate, a transparent conductive film, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a back-surface electrode layer provided on the light-transmitting insulating substrate, and a bus bar provided on the back-surface electrode layer. The bus bar is electrically connected with the back-surface electrode layer with a conductive tape interposed whereby the back-surface electrode layer is used as a take-out electrode. The conductive tape preferably includes a thermosetting resin and a conductive particle. Furthermore, the conductive tape is preferably an anisotropic conductive tape.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light-emitting module wherein light entering into a solar cell is not attenuated, thereby preventing power output decrease of the solar cell. In addition, this light-emitting module can be produced by a simple process. Specifically disclosed is a light-emitting module wherein at least (a) a solar cell unit (b) a first adhesive layer, (c) a light-emitting unit composed of a second light-transmitting insulating substrate (transparent PET), a second metal layer (circuit pattern) and a light-emitting element (chip LED), (d) a second adhesive layer and (e) a third light-transmitting insulating substrate are sequentially stacked. The transparent PET having a thickness about 50-500 ?m which is provided with the circuit pattern in advance is used for producing the light-emitting unit. A silver paste which can be cured by 30-minute heating at 150° C. is used as a circuit pattern material, and the circuit pattern is formed on the transparent PET by screen printing, and then thermally cured.

Abstract: A thin-film solar cell (1) includes a transparent insulation substrate (2), a transparent electrode layer (3), a semiconductor photoelectric conversion layer (4) and a back electrode layer (5) sequentially formed on the transparent insulation substrate (2), and a separation trench (8) separating at least the back electrode layer (5). The transparent electrode layer (3) protrudes in a longitudinal direction of the separation trench (8), extending beyond the semiconductor photoelectric conversion layer (4) and back electrode layer (5). A method of fabricating the thin-film solar cell (1) is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light-emitting module wherein light entering into a solar cell is not attenuated, thereby preventing power output decrease of the solar cell. In addition, this light-emitting module can be produced by a simple process. Specifically disclosed is a light-emitting module wherein at least (a) a solar cell unit (b) a first adhesive layer, (c) a light-emitting unit composed of a second light-transmitting insulating substrate (transparent PET), a second metal layer (circuit pattern) and a light-emitting element (chip LED), (d) a second adhesive layer and (e) a third light-transmitting insulating substrate are sequentially stacked. The transparent PET having a thickness about 50-500 ?m which is provided with the circuit pattern in advance is used for producing the light-emitting unit. A silver paste which can be cured by 30-minute heating at 150° C. is used as a circuit pattern material, and the circuit pattern is formed on the transparent PET by screen printing, and then thermally cured.