Light receiving or light emitting device and itsd production method

• US 7,220,997 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sphelar Power Corporation (Dexerials Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Josuke Nakata
• Inventors: Nakata, Josuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Louie; Wai-Sing
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hafiz; Mursalin B.
• Application Number:
  US10/511,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20060086384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 257/80, 257/81, 257/83, 257/84, 257/431, 257/433, 257/459, 257/88
• US Class Current: 257/88
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/035281 Shape of the body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0504 specially adapted for series or parallel connection of solar cells in a module
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/20 with a particular shape, e.g. curved or truncated substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/24 of the light emitting region, e.g. non-planar junction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A light-receiving device incorporating particulate semiconductor devices (solar cells) having a light-to-electricity transducing function or a light-emitting device incorporating particulate semiconductor devices (light-emitting diodes) having an electricity-to-light transducing function. In a solar cell panel shown, solar cells are arrayed on the same plane in rows. Each row of solar cells are parallel interconnected through positive electrode wires and negative electrode wires, and solar cells of adjoining rows are interconnected in series through a connection part. These solar cells connected in parallel and in series are covered with a transparent covering member, thus forming a panel. These solar cells each have externally exposed positive and negative electrode terminals, and therefore the solar cells can be interconnected in parallel, in series, or in parallel and series. When the conductive wires and the covering member are flexible, the device can be deformable. When the solar cells are replaced with light-emitting diodes, the device can be a light-emitting one.

Claims

1. A light receiving or light emitting device comprising:

a plurality of particulate semiconductor elements disposed in at least one column;

each semiconductor element of said plurality of elements having a light-to-electricity transducing function or an electricity-to-light transducing function;

each semiconductor element in said at least one column including opposing end parts and a pair of opposing electrodes disposed on said opposing end parts;

said pair of opposing electrodes interposing a center of each semiconductor between said pair of opposing electrodes;

an axis between each pair of opposing electrodes being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said at least one column;

said at least one column including flexible wires connecting in parallel each semiconductor element disposed in said at least one column;

a space provided between adjacent semiconductor elements in said at least one column so that said at least one column is capable of being flexed; and

a flexible covering material covering and embedding each semiconductor element and each wire in said at least one column.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

another column of said plurality of semiconductor elements;

said other column of semiconductor elements including said flexible wires connecting in parallel each semiconductor element disposed in said other column of semiconductor elements;

one wire of said wires in said at least one column of semiconductor elements being connected to one wire of said wires in said other column of semiconductor elements for connecting in series said at least one column of semiconductor elements to said other column of semiconductor elements; and

the flexible covering material covering and embedding each semiconductor element and each wire in said at least one column of semiconductor elements and said other column of semiconductor elements.

3. The device of claim 1, comprising:

a plurality of said columns of semiconductor elements arranged juxtaposed to one another;

each column of semiconductor elements including said flexible wires for connecting in parallel each semiconductor element disposed in each column of semiconductor elements;

one wire of said wires in each column of semiconductor elements being connected to one wire of said wires in each adjacent column of semiconductor elements for connecting in series each adjacent column of semiconductor elements; and

the flexible covering material covering and embedding each semiconductor element and each wire in each of said columns of semiconductor elements so that the device forms a flexible panel.

4. A light receiving or light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein said wires and covering material form an elongated flexible member.

5. The device of claim 2 or 3, wherein the semiconductor elements in each column are connected in series to semiconductor elements in one or more columns adjacent to the column by said wires.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said semiconductor elements comprise a spherical element main body made of p type or n type semiconductor, and a pn junction, and said pair of electrodes are connected to both ends of said pn Junction.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said semiconductor elements comprise a cylindrical element main body made of p type or n type semiconductor, and a pn junction, and said pair of electrodes are connected to both ends of said pn junction.

8. The device of claim 2 or 3, wherein said semiconductor elements consist of light receiving elements, and the device is a solar cell panel that receives sunlight and converts the light into electricity.

9. The device of claim 2 or 3, wherein said semiconductor elements comprise light emitting elements, and the device is a surface-emitting light emitting panel.

10. The device of claim 2 or 3, wherein partially cylindrical lens parts that correspond to the semiconductor elements of the respective columns are disposed adjacent to a surface of said covering material.

11. The device of claim 2 or 3, wherein a protective film is formed on at least one surface of said covering material.

12. The device of claim 2 or 3, wherein a reflective film that reflects light is formed on any one or more surface portions of said covering material.

13. A method for manufacturing a light receiving or light emitting device in which a plurality of particulate semiconductor elements that have a light-to-electricity transducing function or an electricity-to-light transducing function are incorporated lined up in at least one column, comprising:

a first step in which a plurality of semiconductor elements, a temporary fastening plate to which plural conductive wire members are temporarily fastened and a retaining plate having a plurality of retaining hales are prepared;

a second step in which said retaining plate is fitted into an opening part of the temporary fastening plate, respective semiconductor elements are fitted in the retaining holes, and intermediate portions in the direction of height of the semiconductor elements are held by the retaining holes; and

a third step in which the pairs of electrodes of said semiconductor elements are electrically connected to the conductive wire members.

14. The light receiving or light emitting device according to claim 13, wherein in the third step, the pairs of electrodes of the semiconductor elements are electrically connected to the conductive wire members by irradiating a metal film with a low melting point formed on the surface of said pairs of electrodes with a heating beam.