Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Photoelectric – Panel or array
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-10
2002-04-16
Chapman, Mark (Department: 1753)
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Photoelectric
Panel or array
C136S256000, C136S291000, C368S205000, C368S223000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06372977
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus, and more specifically to an electronic apparatus with a combination of a solar battery and an information display means.
BACKGROUND ART
In the case in which a solar battery is used as a primary cell of an information display that includes an electronic watch, a solar battery module is often positioned at the watch face, in order to receive light for conversion to electrical energy.
That is, as shown in
FIG. 3
, a solar battery module
3
, made up of a solar battery formed on a substrate, is disposed at the position of a watch face
4
, this being used as the watch face as is. Light is converted to electrical energy and used to charge a secondary cell such as a nickel-cadmium battery, electrical energy from the secondary cell being extracted so as to drive the watch.
Another means, as shown in
FIG. 4
, is one in which a solar battery module
3
is disposed below the watch face
4
. In either case, in a solar battery module that obtains an electromotive force obtained from four solar battery elements, the shape shown in
FIG. 9
is usually used.
In the configuration of a solar battery shown in
FIG. 9
, as shown in
FIG. 10
, the electrodes
5
of the four solar batteries
6
are connected by using an extended electrode from part of the electrodes, electromotive force being extracted from output electrode
7
and
7
′ provided at these ends.
In a solar battery
6
of the past, as shown in FIG.
19
(A), solar battery
6
is formed by laminating, onto a transparent substrate
11
, electrodes
12
and
14
and, for example, a P-I-N type amorphous silicon layer
13
, wherein, because the electromotive force occurring during operation is limited to 0.5 V or so, for use as a power supply in an electronic watch, it is not possible with one element
6
to charge a secondary cell such as a nickel-cadmium battery.
Given the above, the structure adopted is one in which a plurality of solar batteries
6
are disposed on the substrate
11
, these elements
6
being connected in series so that the electromotive forces thereof are added, thereby generating a voltage that charges a secondary battery.
FIG.
19
(B) is a schematic representation of the connection structure of the solar battery
6
. This solar battery
6
is formed by forming a transparent conductive film
12
onto a glass substrate
11
, onto which is then formed a P-I-N type amorphous silicon film (hereinafter abbreviated a-Si film), and further onto which is formed a metal electrode film
14
.
An electromotive force generated because of the light incident from below the substrate
11
can be extracted from the transparent conductive film
12
and the metal electrode film
14
that surround the a-Si film
13
on both sides.
The laminate structure on the top of the substrate
11
is divided between left and right at substantially the center in FIG.
19
(B), and both sides thereof are other solar battery element regions, the left and right sides being called element A and element B, respectively, for the purpose of the description herein.
The metal electrode film
14
of the element A and the transparent electrode film
12
of the element B are linked, thereby connecting the solar battery elements
6
and
6
′ in series.
At locations other than FIG.
19
(B) as well, there is the same type of connection between the metal electrode film
14
and the transparent conductive film
12
of adjacent elements
6
and
6
′, thereby making a series connection between a plurality of solar battery elements
6
and
6
′ formed on the substrate
11
, so as to form a solar battery with the desired electromotive force.
A method for manufacturing a solar battery such as noted above is described below, with reference to FIG.
19
(A) and FIG.
19
(B).
First, as shown in FIG.
19
(A), a transparent conductive film
12
is formed on the substrate
11
. This is, for example, an SnO2 film formed by a CVD process.
Then, laser machining is done of the SnO2 film so as to pattern it to the desired electrode shape. Next, a CVD process is used to laminate an a-Si film
13
onto the transparent conductive film
12
, this being then laser machined to pattern the desired shape.
Additionally, a metal film that will serve as the metal electrode film
14
is sputtered onto the transparent conductive film
12
and the a-Si film
13
, and the metal electrode film
14
is again laser machined to obtain the desired patterning shape for an electrode.
A solar cell such as shown in
FIG. 9
or
FIG. 10
having a connection cross-sectional structure as shown in FIG.
19
(B) is completed in this manner. The cross-sectional construction other than the connection part is as shown in FIG.
19
(A).
The relationship between the information display means of the past and a solar battery module including a solar battery
6
is one in which, with an opaque solar battery
6
of a special color, for example, it is difficult to use this at the surface of an information display means of an electronic apparatus including a watch face or liquid-crystal display of an electronic watch.
For example, the general approach is to form this integrally with the watch face, or to dispose it on the lower side of the watch face and, for that purpose, for example, in the case of a watch face, holes are appropriately formed in the watch face, so that sunlight can strike the solar battery
6
, or the solar battery
6
itself is made a blackish color or other color that does not stand out, with the solar battery
6
itself being visible to the outside.
Another past example is, as shown in
FIG. 11
, one in which a solar battery
6
is annularly disposed around the periphery of the watch face.
In a watch configured as noted above, however, the watch becomes special and more costly, and is either limited in application or limited in the quantity that will be sold.
In the same manner, in an information display means other than a watch, such as an electronic apparatus in which a solar battery
6
drives a display means that uses a liquid crystal, it is impossible to dispose an opaque solar battery on the surface of the liquid-crystal display means, and difficult to form holes in the liquid-crystal display for the purpose of causing sunlight to pass therethrough.
Additionally, as a method to solve the above-noted technological problems, there has been a proposal for a watch or a liquid-crystal display in which a solar battery is formed linearly with a fine width on a transparent substrate, so that the solar battery is formed so as to cover the upper surface of a information display so as to be invisible to the human eye.
In the prior art, however, there was merely a vague indication of this configuration, and neither a technical basis nor disclosed data to indicate just what dimension would produce a desirable effect, the prior art, therefore, not going beyond the realm of an idea.
In a watch with a solar battery of the past as described above, in the case in which a solar battery module is disposed as the watch face, the presence of the solar battery module imposes restrictions with regard to watch face design.
Even if the solar battery module is disposed below the watch face, the watch face must have transparency to light, thereby being restricted with regard to materials and design, meaning that it is not possible to use a watch face with various materials and designed.
If it were possible to impart transparency to light to a solar battery module
3
formed by a solar battery
6
on a substrate, and also form the solar battery
6
so that it not visible to the human eye, it would be possible to use a solar battery module
3
formed by a solar battery
6
on a substrate on an information display such as a liquid-crystal display or watch face, or in a protective glass crystal, thereby enabling the fabrication of an electronic apparatus, such as a solar battery watch, without restrictions imposed with regard to design of the watch face or liquid-crystal display.
Additionally, if the configuration is made
Chapman Mark
Citizen Watch Co. Ltd.
Greer Burns & Crain Ltd.
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