Abstract: There are provided a solid-state imaging device capable of effectively reducing color mixing and a manufacturing method thereof. A solid-state imaging device of the present disclosure includes a substrate and a photoelectric conversion unit provided in the substrate. In this solid-state imaging device, a plurality of protrusions are provided on the light incident surface of the substrate. Further, in this solid-state imaging device, the width of the protrusion becomes smaller as the distance from the center of the plurality of protrusions increases.

Abstract: A thin-film solar cell includes a cell having a transparent electrode layer, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a back electrode layer stacked on a transparent insulation substrate. A plurality of cells are connected in series to constitute a cell string. A bus bar is arranged on the back electrode layer of an end cell constituting the cell string. The thin-film solar cell has a photoelectric conversion layer on a series-connection direction end of the transparent electrode layer. In plan view, a series-connection direction end of the back electrode layer at an end of the cell string and the series-connection direction end of the transparent electrode layer at the end of the cell string do not overlap, while the bus bar and the transparent electrode layer at the end cell constituting the cell string overlap at least partially. A method of fabricating the thin-film solar cell is provided.

Abstract: A laminated body, comprising: a supporting body having a concave-convex surface; and a semiconductor layer laminated on a surface of the supporting body, wherein a part of the supporting body includes a layer thickness measurement portion for optically measuring a layer thickness of the semiconductor layer, and the layer thickness measurement portion includes a reduced surface roughness region whose surface roughness is smaller than that of the concave-convex surface.

Abstract: An integrated thin-film solar battery is disclosed. The integrated thin film solar battery includes a plurality of series connected solar cell strings with one or more power collecting electrodes electrically joined to the string. The thin-film photoelectric conversion elements have a first transparent electrode layer and a second transparent electrode layer sandwiching a photoelectric conversion layer. The string has an element separating groove and the first electrode layer has an extending section having one end that crosses the element separating groove and extends to a region of an adjacent element. At least a portion of the first electrode layer just below the power collecting electrodes and another portion of the first electrode layer are insulated and separated from each other by at least one of an electrode separating line and an insulating line.

Abstract: A thin-film solar cell includes a cell having a transparent electrode layer, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a back electrode layer stacked on a transparent insulation substrate. A plurality of cells are connected in series to constitute a cell string. A bus bar is arranged on the back electrode layer of an end cell constituting the cell string. The thin-film solar cell has a photoelectric conversion layer on a series-connection direction end of the transparent electrode layer. In plan view, a series-connection direction end of the back electrode layer at an end of the cell string and the series-connection direction end of the transparent electrode layer at the end of the cell string do not overlap, while the bus bar and the transparent electrode layer at the end cell constituting the cell string overlap at least partially. A method of fabricating the thin-film solar cell is provided.

Abstract: A laminated body, comprising: a supporting body having a concave-convex surface; and a semiconductor layer laminated on a surface of the supporting body, wherein a part of the supporting body includes a layer thickness measurement portion for optically measuring a layer thickness of the semiconductor layer, and the layer thickness measurement portion includes a reduced surface roughness region whose surface roughness is smaller than that of the concave-convex surface.

Abstract: An integrated thin-film solar battery, comprising: a plurality of strings having a plurality of thin-film photoelectric conversion elements formed on a transparent insulating substrate, the thin-film photoelectric conversion elements being electrically connected in series to each other, wherein the thin-film photoelectric conversion elements have a first transparent electrode layer laminated on the transparent insulating substrate, a photoelectric conversion layer laminated on the first electrode layer and a second electrode layer laminated on the photoelectric conversion layer, the plurality of strings are arranged in parallel on the same transparent insulating substrate in a direction perpendicular to the series-connecting direction across one or more string separating grooves extending to the series-connecting direction, the string separating groove includes a first groove formed by removing the first electrode layer, and a second groove formed by removing the photoelectric conversion layer and the seco

Abstract: An integrated thin-film solar battery, comprising: a string that includes a plurality of thin-film photoelectric conversion elements formed on a transparent insulating substrate and electrically connected in series to each other; and one or more power collecting electrodes electrically jointed to the string, wherein the thin-film photoelectric conversion elements have a first transparent electrode layer laminated on the transparent insulating substrate, a photoelectric conversion layer laminated on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer laminated on the photoelectric conversion layer, the power collecting electrode is electrically jointed onto the second electrode layer of any thin-film photoelectric conversion element in the string, the string has an element separating groove formed by removing the second electrode layer and the photoelectric conversion layer between the adjacent two thin-film photoelectric elements, the first electrode layer of one thin-film photoelectric conversion elem

Abstract: An integrated thin-film solar battery, comprising: a string that includes a plurality of thin-film photoelectric conversion elements formed on a transparent insulating substrate and electrically connected in series to each other; and one or more power collecting electrodes electrically jointed to the string, wherein the thin-film photoelectric conversion elements have a first transparent electrode layer laminated on the transparent insulating substrate, a photoelectric conversion layer laminated on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer laminated on the photoelectric conversion layer, the power collecting electrode is electrically jointed onto the second electrode layer of any thin-film photoelectric conversion element in the string, the string has an element separating groove formed by removing the second electrode layer and the photoelectric conversion layer between the adjacent two thin-film photoelectric elements, the first electrode layer of one thin-film photoelectric conversion elem

Abstract: A thin film solar cell includes: a transparent conductive film arranged on a translucent insulating substrate; first and second separation trenches orthogonal to each other on the translucent insulating substrate and separating the transparent conductive film; and a first opening trench parallel to the first separation trench and second opening trenches parallel to said second separation trench, orthogonal to each other on the translucent insulating substrate; wherein solar cells formed on the translucent insulating substrate are arranged at adjacent positions with said first opening trench positioned therebetween and at adjacent positions with said second opening trench positioned therebetween; pairs of said solar cells adjacent to each other with said first opening trench positioned therebetween are electrically connected, and among pairs of solar cells positioned adjacent to each other with the second opening trench in between, some are electrically connected to each other, and others are electrically insu

Abstract: A thin film solar cell includes: a transparent conductive film arranged on a translucent insulating substrate; first and second separation trenches orthogonal to each other on the translucent insulating substrate and separating the transparent conductive film; and a first opening trench parallel to the first separation trench and second opening trenches parallel to said second separation trench, orthogonal to each other on the translucent insulating substrate; wherein solar cells formed on the translucent insulating substrate are arranged at adjacent positions with said first opening trench positioned therebetween and at adjacent positions with said second opening trench positioned therebetween; pairs of said solar cells adjacent to each other with said first opening trench positioned therebetween are electrically connected, and among pairs of solar cells positioned adjacent to each other with the second opening trench in between, some are electrically connected to each other, and others are electrically insu

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing metal powder by means of blowing a cooling liquid toward a flowing down melt metal flow characterized that the cooling liquid is successively discharged downwardly from an annular nozzle toward the melt metal flow for surrounding it in the form of a hyperboloid of one sheet, wherein the annular nozzle is provided with a hole through which the melt metal flow may pass, and that the hyperboloid of one sheet has a pressure reduced by 50˜750 mmHg at the neighborhood of the constricted part inside the hyperboloid of one sheet. According to the present invention, there may be prepared fine and sherical metal powder which has a narrow range of a particle size distribution.

Abstract: An atomizing method for producing metal powder, including splitting molten metal in the vicinity of an exit of a nozzle by introducing the molten metal into a center of the nozzle, wherein gas is flowing through the nozzle. The split molten metal is then further split into fine particles by liquid ejected in an inverse cone shaped flow from a slit surrounding a lower side of the nozzle. The resulting powder is of fine size and spherical or granular shape, and is suitable for metal injection shaping.

Abstract: The following technical means is provided to achieve a chain shift operation with a minimum of the guide pulley travel distance, to improve speed change efficiency and operatability, and to prevent the speed change assembly from protruding sideward:At a forward location of a sprocket cluster (2), a link base (8) of a pantograph link mechanism (12) is supported by a chain stay (7), and from this, an inner link (9) and an outer link (10) are extended. To respective free end portions of these links, there is connected a movable member (11), which pivotally supports a chain guide (15) which is elastically urged. The guide pulley travel control means (18) functions in such a way that when the pantograph link mechanism (12) is deformed, it would cause a guide pulley (13) of the chain guide (15) to move inward axially of the hub shaft and at the same time forwardly downward substantially along a radial path of the sprocket cluster (2).

Abstract: A stepless speed change device including an eccentric cam assembly whose eccentricity is adjustable relative to a center shaft, a carrier rotatably arranged about the eccentric cam assembly, rotary members on input and output sides, respectively, and a plurality of friction pieces arranged in two rows each including a plurality of the friction pieces. The friction pieces in one row are rockably connected to the rotary member on the input side and free ends of the friction pieces are engaged with an inside of the carrier. The friction pieces in the other row are rockably connected to the carrier and free ends of the friction pieces are engaged with an inside of the rotary member on the output side. As an alternative, all the friction pieces are rockably connected to the carrier and free ends of the friction pieces in one row and the other row are engaged with insides of the rotary members on the input and output sides, respectively.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for finely dividing a molten metal by atomization is provided herein. This apparatus includes a nozzle for feeding a molten metal and an annular atomizing nozzle to force a high-pressure liquid jet against a stream of the molten metal flowing from the feed nozzle. The atomizing nozzle is made of an annular jetting zone adapted to form a narrow opening under the pressure of the high-pressure liquid, an inside jacket and an outside jacket adjacent to the annular jetting zone. The apparatus further includes a pressure reduction chamber located beneath the atomizing nozzle which is in contact with the lower part of the jet from the atomizing nozzle.

Abstract: A process for producing a composite metal powder which comprises mixing a powder of a metal or alloy with a melt of a metal or alloy of a different class from that of the metal or alloy powder and atomizing the resulting molten mixture by jetting a high speed jet stream of water against the stream of the mixture to thereby obtain a composite metal powder in which the surface of the metal or alloy powder is coated with a layer of the originally molten or alloy.