Photoelectric element
First Claim
1. A photoelectric element comprising:
- a first region of a semiconductor of a first conductivity type having front and rear major surfaces, one of which constitutes a light-receiving surface;
at least one second region provided on at least one portion of the light-receiving side of the first region to form a photovoltaic mechanism in conjunction with the first region, said second region having a shorter side, in plan view, whose length is not more than twice the minority carrier diffusion length of the first region;
a barrier layer covering at least those portions of the light-receiving surface of the first region at which the second region is not provided; and
a transparent conductive film in electrical contact with the at least one second region and also in contact with the barrier layer, for enabling a voltage generated by light incident on the light-receiving surface to be applied to the light-receiving surface under the barrier layer as a bias voltage of a polarity inducing majority carriers of the semiconductor constituting the first region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A photoelectric element includes a first region having a light-receiving surface. A second region having a short side length not greater than twice the minority carrier diffusion length of the first region is provided on at least one portion of the first region to form a photovoltaic mechanism in conjunction with the first region. A barrier layer is provided to cover at least those portions of the light-receiving surface of the first region not covered by the second region, and a transparent conductive film is provided on the barrier layer and electrically connected to at least one second region. The voltage of the second region generated by incident light is applied through the transparent conductive film to the light-receiving surface of the first region to produce an electric field in the direction inducing majority carriers.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A photoelectric element comprising:
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a first region of a semiconductor of a first conductivity type having front and rear major surfaces, one of which constitutes a light-receiving surface; at least one second region provided on at least one portion of the light-receiving side of the first region to form a photovoltaic mechanism in conjunction with the first region, said second region having a shorter side, in plan view, whose length is not more than twice the minority carrier diffusion length of the first region; a barrier layer covering at least those portions of the light-receiving surface of the first region at which the second region is not provided; and a transparent conductive film in electrical contact with the at least one second region and also in contact with the barrier layer, for enabling a voltage generated by light incident on the light-receiving surface to be applied to the light-receiving surface under the barrier layer as a bias voltage of a polarity inducing majority carriers of the semiconductor constituting the first region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification