Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20060086384?dq=3984803
Timestamp: 2016-10-24 22:27:05
Document Index: 787604538

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'arts 31', 'art 5', 'arts 35', 'arts 35', 'arts 35', 'arts 31', 'arts 35']

Patent US20060086384 - Light receiving or light emitting device and itsd production method - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA 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...http://www.google.com/patents/US20060086384?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20060086384 - Light receiving or light emitting device and itsd production methodAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS20060086384 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 10/511,959PCT numberPCT/JP2002/006251Publication dateApr 27, 2006Filing dateJun 21, 2002Priority dateJun 21, 2002Also published asCA2483645A1, CA2483645C, CN1628390A, CN100380685C, DE60230335D1, EP1553638A1, EP1553638A4, EP1553638B1, EP1811575A2, EP1811575A3, US7220997, WO2004001858A1Publication number10511959, 511959, PCT/2002/6251, PCT/JP/2/006251, PCT/JP/2/06251, PCT/JP/2002/006251, PCT/JP/2002/06251, PCT/JP2/006251, PCT/JP2/06251, PCT/JP2002/006251, PCT/JP2002/06251, PCT/JP2002006251, PCT/JP200206251, PCT/JP2006251, PCT/JP206251, US 2006/0086384 A1, US 2006/086384 A1, US 20060086384 A1, US 20060086384A1, US 2006086384 A1, US 2006086384A1, US-A1-20060086384, US-A1-2006086384, US2006/0086384A1, US2006/086384A1, US20060086384 A1, US20060086384A1, US2006086384 A1, US2006086384A1InventorsJosuke NakataOriginal AssigneeJosuke NakataExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (2), Referenced by (71), Classifications (24), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetLight receiving or light emitting device and itsd production method
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION [0055] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. [0056] The present embodiment is one example of a case in which the present invention is applied to a cord-form solar cell used as a light receiving device. First, the method of manufacture and structure of this solar cell will be described. First of all, in a first step, as is shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, a temporary fastening plate 1 to which twelve conductive wire members 4 (positive pole wire members 4 a and negative pole wire members 4 b) are fastened, a retaining plate 2, and (for example) 120 semiconductor elements 3 (hereafter referred to as “solar cells”), are prepared. [0057] The temporary fastening plate 1 is a rectangular plate with a thickness of approximately 1 to 2 mm constructed from a hard synthetic resin (e. g., a phenol type or epoxy type synthetic resin) or the like. [0058] A rectangular opening part 5 that is used to insert the retaining plate 2, and a pair of projecting strips 6 in which twelve grooves used for the alternate temporary fastening of positive pole wire members 4 a and negative pole wire members 4 b in facing positions on the front and rear with the opening part 5 interposed are formed, are formed in this temporary fastening plate 1. The conductive wire members 4 possess flexibility and conductivity, and are (for example) metal wire members (e. g., wire members made of copper, aluminum, silver, gold or the like) with a diameter of approximately 0.2 to 0.3 mm. The twelve wire members 4 are respectively temporarily fastened in the grooves of the projecting strips 6, and are arranged as shown in the drawings, with both end parts being fastened by tapes 7 used for temporary fastening. Respective pairs of positive pole wire members 4 a and negative pole wire members 4 b are disposed parallel to each other with a gap that is substantially equal to the diameter of the solar cells 3 being left between the wire members. The retaining plate 2 is a sheet-form plate with a thickness of approximately 1 to 2 mm which is constructed from the same hard synthetic resin as the temporary fastening plate 1; this retaining plate 2 is fitted into the opening part 5 of the temporary fastening plate 1. [0059] As is shown in FIG. 2, 120 hexagonal retaining holes 8 that are used for the insertion of the solar cells 3 are formed in the retaining plate 2 in the form of a matrix with (for example) 20 rows and 6 columns. The retaining holes 8 of each column are formed so that these holes are disposed between the respective pairs of positive pole wire members 4 a and negative pole wire members 4 b. However, such an arrangement of the retaining holes 8 in 20 rows and 6 columns is merely an example; the present invention is not limited to 20 rows and 6 columns. [0060] As is shown in FIG. 3, the particulate solar cells 3 each have a spherical element main body 11 with a diameter of (e. g.) 1.0 to 1.5 mm consisting of p type single crystal silicon, an n type diffusion layer 12 (thickness: approximately 0.5 μm) in which (for example) phosphorus (P) is diffused in the surface portion of this element main body 11, a substantially spherical surface form pn junction 13 that is formed in the boundary between the element main body 11 and diffusion layer 12, a flat part 14 formed in one end portion of the element main body 11, in which no pn junction is formed, a pair of electrodes 15, 16 (positive pole 15 and negative pole 16) that are disposed in spot form on both end parts with the center of the element main body 11 interposed, solder coating films that are formed on the surfaces of the respective electrodes 15, 16, and an SiO2 coating film 17 (thickness: approximately 0.4 μm) used for passivation which is formed on the surface of the diffusion layer 12 except for the areas of the pair of electrodes 15, 16. [0061] For example, this solar cell 3 can be manufactured by the method proposed by the inventor of the present application in WO 98/15983. In this manufacturing method, a small piece of p type silicon is melted, and is allowed to drop freely from the upper end portion of a dropping tube. This silicon is solidified by radiant cooling when the silicon drops while being maintained in a spherical shape by the action of surface tension, so that a spherical single crystal silicon body is created. A diffusion layer 12, flat part 14, pair of electrodes 15, 16 and passivation coating film 17 are formed in this spherical single crystal silicon body by well known techniques such as etching, masking, diffusion treatments and the like. [0062] The abovementioned pair of electrodes 15, 16 are respectively formed by (for example) baking an aluminum paste or silver paste. The diameter of the electrodes 15, 16 is approximately 300 to 500 μm, and the thickness is approximately 200 to 300 μm. However, the electrodes 15, 16 may also be formed by a plating process, or may be formed by some other method. Each solar cell 3 generates an electromotive force with an open-circuit voltage of approximately 0.6 V when the cell receives sunlight with a light intensity of 100 mW/cm2. Here, in the solar cells 3, p type diffusion layers may be formed in n type silicon element main bodies, and a pair of electrodes and a passivation coating film may be formed in the same manner as described above. Alternatively, as is shown in FIG. 4, spherical solar cells 3A may be used in which the flat part 14 of the solar cells 3 is not formed, and a diffusion layer 12 a, pn junction 13 a, electrodes 15 a, 16 a, passivation film 17 a are formed in an element main body 11 a that is left in a spherical shape. [0063] Furthermore, the particulate semiconductor elements need not always be spherical; these elements may also be short cylindrical solar cells 3B as shown in FIG. 5. These solar cells 3B each comprise a short cylindrical element main body 11 b consisting of p type single crystal silicon (e. g., 1.0 to 1.5 mmφ, 1.0 to 1.6 mm L), an n type diffusion layer 12 b in the surface portion of this element main body 11 b, a pn junction 13 b, a p+ type diffusion layer 18 with a thickness of approximately 0.2 μm formed by the diffusion of boron (B), a pair of electrodes 15 b, 16 b (positive pole 15 b and negative pole 16 b) formed on both end parts in the axial direction of the element main body 11 b, a passivation coating film 17 b consisting of SiO2. [0064] Next, in a second step, as is shown in FIG. 6, the retaining plate 2 is fitted into the opening part 5 of the temporary fastening plate 1, and solar cells 3 are respectively inserted into the 120 retaining holes 8 that are formed in the retaining plate 2. As is shown in FIG. 7, these solar cells 3 are placed in the retaining holes 8 with the direction of conduction uniformly arranged, and intermediate portions in the direction of height of the cells 3 are held by the retaining holes 8 so that the solder coating films of the positive poles 15 are caused to adhere tightly to the positive pole wire members 4 a, and the solder coating films of the negative poles 16 are caused to adhere tightly to the negative pole wire members 4 b. As is shown in FIG. 8, the solar cells 3 are mounted in a state in which the temporary fastening plate 1 and retaining plate 2 are placed on a working bench 20 so that the solar cells do not fall out of the retaining holes 8. [0065] Next, in a third step, as is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the contact parts between the positive pole wire members 4 a and the solder coating films of the electrodes 15 and the contact parts between the negative pole wire members 4 b and the solder coating films of the electrodes 16 are irradiated with a heating beam 21 (laser beam or infrared light beam), so that the positive pole wire members 4 a and the electrodes 15 are electrically connected, and so that the negative pole wire members 4 b and the electrodes 16 are electrically connected. In this way, the plurality of solar cells 3 in the respective columns are connected in parallel via the wire members 4 a an 4 b. [0066] Next, in a fourth step, the retaining plate 2 is removed from the opening part 5 of the temporary fastening plate 1, and the wire members 4 a and 4 b and solar cells 3 of the respective columns are coated from both the upper and lower sides by placing a soft transparent synthetic resin (e. g., an EVA resin, silicone resin or the like) in a semi-molten state. [0067] Next, the solar cells 3 of the six columns are set in a specified metal mold of a molding apparatus together with the temporary fastening plate 1, and are compression-molded by an appropriate pressing force, so that a covering material 22 is formed which covers the wire members 4 a and 4 b and the 20 solar cells 3 in embedded form as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Thus, when the 20 solar cells 3 of each column covered by the covering material 22 are removed from the temporary fastening plate 1, and the excess portions of the wire members 4 a and 4 b are cut, flexible cord-form solar cells 23 are completed with a cylindrical shape having a length of approximately 10 cm as shown in FIG. 9. If the solar cells 3 in these cord-form solar cells 23 are indicated by diode symbols in the figures, then the equivalent circuit 24 of the solar cells 23 is as shown in FIG. 11. Here, the 20 solar cells 3 are connected in parallel, the end parts of the positive pole wire members 4 a constitute positive pole terminals 25 a, and the end parts of the negative pole wire members 4 b constitute negative pole terminals 25 b. [0068] Next, the functions and advantages of this cord-form solar cell 23 will be described. [0069] Since the respective solar cells 3 each generate an electromotive force with an open-circuit voltage of approximately 0.6 V when the cells receive sunlight with a light intensity of 100 mW/cm2, the maximum electromotive force of the cord-form solar cell 23 is approximately 0.6 V. Since this cord-form cylindrical is covered by a transparent light-transmitting covering material 22, most of the light that is incident inside the covering material 22 reaches the solar cells 3; accordingly, the light utilization rate is high, so that the power generating efficiency is high. [0070] A thin flexible light-weight solar cell that generates a photo-electromotive force with a desired voltage and current can be constructed by lining up a plurality of these cord-form solar cells 23, and connecting these cells in a series connection, parallel connection or series-parallel connection. Such a thin flexible light-weight solar cell can be used as a power supply in various types of mobile electronic devices and the like. [0071] In the manufacturing process of this solar cell 23, a plurality of solar cells 3 are respectively incorporated in the plurality of retaining holes 8 of the retaining plate 2; moreover, intermediate portions in the direction of height of the solar cells 3 are held, and the electrodes 15, 16 of the respective solar cells 3 are connected to the wire members 4 a, 4 b so that conduction is possible. Accordingly, the disposition and positioning of the numerous solar cells 3, and the electrical connection of these cells to the wire members 4 a and 4 b, can be accomplished easily and efficiently. [0072] Next, various examples in which the abovementioned embodiment is partially modified will be described. [0073] In addition to cylindrical shape, the shape of the cord-form solar cell 23 may also be an angular column type shape, an oval cylindrical shape, or some other cross-sectional shape. Furthermore, in cases where the cord-form solar cell 23 is used “as is” in rod form, the covering material 22 may be formed as a non-flexible structure using a hard synthetic resin (e. g., a phenol type or epoxy type synthetic resin or the like). [0074] Alternatively, as is shown in FIG. 12, a plurality of cord-form solar cells 23 (e. g., two cells) may be lined up in close proximity to each other, and constructed as a solar cell 23A in which the covering materials 22A are formed into an integral unit. In this solar cell 23, the solar cells 3 of the respective columns are connected in parallel by the wire members 4 a and 4 b, and two columns of solar cells 3 are connected in series via the positive pole wire members 4 a and negative pole wire members 4 b, so that the photo-electromotive force is approximately 1.2 V as shown in the equivalent circuit in FIG. 13. [0075] Next, a solar cell panel constituting another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 through 22. This embodiment is one example of a case in which the present invention is applied to a planar or flat-plate-form solar cell panel used as a light receiving device. The method of manufacture and structure of this solar cell panel will be described. Here, parts that are the same as in the abovementioned embodiment are labeled with the same or similar numerals, and a description of such parts is omitted. Furthermore, a description is also omitted in the case of manufacturing steps that are the same as steps in the abovementioned embodiment. [0076] First, in a first step, a temporary fastening plate 1A, a retaining plate 2A and a plurality of solar cells 3 (e. g., 1200 solar cells) are prepared in the same manner as in the abovementioned embodiment. [0077] As is shown in FIG. 14, the temporary fastening plate 1A is similar to the abovementioned temporary fastening plate 1; an opening part 5 and an a pair of projecting strips 6 are formed in this temporary fastening plate 1A. Since this temporary fastening plate 1A is integrated with the covering material 33 (see FIG. 19) that covers the solar cell panel 30 in a subsequent step, this temporary fastening plate 1A is constructed from the same hard synthetic resin as the covering material 33. [0078] A plurality of positive pole wire members 31 a and a plurality of negative pole wire members 31 b are provided as conductive wire members 31 that have flexibility and conductivity. As in the case of the abovementioned wire members 4 a and 4 b, these wire members 31 are temporarily fastened in the grooves of the pair of projecting strips 6, and are arranged as shown in the figures. [0079] The positive pole wire members 31 a of each column and the positive pole wire members 31 b of the adjacent columns are connected by connecting parts 31 c. One end portion of each of the plurality of wire members 31 a and 31 b is temporarily fastened by means of a temporary fastening tape 7. Positive terminals 34 a connected to the positive wire members 31 a on the left side and negative terminals 34 b connected to the negative wire members 31 b on the right side are temporarily fastened by means of the temporary fastening tape 7, respectively. [0080] The retaining plate 2A is substantially similar to the abovementioned retaining plate 2; however, 1200 hexagonal retaining holes 8 are formed in this retaining plate 2A in the form of a matrix with 10 rows and 12 columns. The retaining holes 8 of each column are positioned between the respective corresponding sets of wire members 31 a and 31 b. The solar cells 3 are the same as the solar cells of the abovementioned embodiment; accordingly, a description of these solar cells is omitted. [0081] Next, in a second step, as is shown in FIG. 14, the retaining plate 2A is fitted into the opening part 5 of the temporary fastening plate 1A; next, as is shown in FIG. 15, the solar cells 3 are placed in the respective retaining holes 8 of the retaining plate 2A in a state in which the direction of conduction is uniformly arranged, so that the electrodes 15 of the respective solar cells 3 are caused to adhere tightly to the wire members 31 a, and so that the electrodes 16 are caused to adhere tightly to the wire members 31 b. [0082] Next, in a third step, the solder coating films of the electrodes 15 and 16 of the solar cells 3 of each column are electrically connected to the positive and negative wire members 31 a and 31 b by irradiation with a heating beam in the same manner as in the abovementioned embodiment. [0083] Next, in a fourth step, as is shown in FIGS. 16 through 18, the retaining plate 2A is removed from the temporary fastening plate 1A. Next, as is shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the upper and lower surfaces of the numerous solar cells 3 that are positioned and held on the temporary fastening plate 1A via the wire members 31 a and 31 b are coated with a semi-molten liquid of a transparent soft synthetic resin (e. g., an EVA resin, silicone resin or the like) to a thickness of approximately 500 to 700 μm. Then, these parts are set in a specified metal mold of a molding machine, and a covering material 33 that covers the wire members 31 and all of the solar cells 3 in embedded form is formed by compression molding using an appropriate pressing force. In this case, the positive and negative terminals 34 a, 34 b are not covered by the covering material 33. Subsequently, when cutting is performed in the position of the outer silhouette line of the covering material 33 without cutting the positive and negative terminals 34 a and 34 b, a thin plate-form or sheet-form solar cell panel 30 such as that shown in FIG. 21 is completed. [0084] In order to heighten the light receiving performance with respect to sunlight, partially cylindrical lens parts 35 (see FIG. 19) are formed on the surface of the covering material 33 so that these lens parts correspond to the respective columns. [0085] These lens parts 35 focus the incident sunlight, and cause this light to be incident on the solar cells 3. However, in cases where this solar cell panel 30 is incorporated in a specified location and used, the lens parts 35 may be formed on one side only. Moreover, hemispherical lens parts may be formed instead of partially cylindrical lens parts so that these lens parts correspond to the respective solar cells 3. Since this solar cell panel 30 is constructed so that the panel receives sunlight that is incident from above and generates power, the upper surface of the solar cell panel 30 is the surface on the light receiving side, while the undersurface is the surface on the anti-light receiving side. In this solar cell panel 30, since the covering material 33 is formed from a soft synthetic resin, the panel has flexibility. [0086] If the solar cells 3 of this solar cell panel 30 are indicated by diode symbols in the figures, then the equivalent circuit 36 of this solar cell panel 30 is as shown in FIG. 22. The solar cells 3 of each column are connected in parallel by the wire members 31 a and 31 b, and the solar cells 3 of the respective columns are connected in series with the solar cells 3 of adjacent columns by the connecting parts 31 c. [0087] Next, the functions and advantages of this solar cell panel 30 will be described. [0088] Each solar cell 3 generates a photo-electromotive force of approximately 0.6 V when the cell receives sunlight; accordingly, the solar cells 3 of the respective columns also generate a photo-electromotive force of approximately 0.6 V. In this solar cell panel 30, since 12 columns of solar cells 3 are connected in series, the maximum photo-electromotive force is approximately 7.2 V. Furthermore, in cases where a photo-electromotive force exceeding 7.2 V is required, such a photo-electromotive force can be obtained by connecting a plurality of solar cell panels 30 in series via the respective terminals 34 a and 34 b. Furthermore, in cases where it is desired to increase the current of the photo-electromotive force, this can be accomplished by connecting a plurality of solar cell panels 30 in parallel, and in cases where it is desired to increase both the voltage and the current, this can be accomplished by connecting a plurality of solar cell panels 30 both in parallel and series. [0089] This solar cell panel 30 can be used in household solar power generating systems, various types of solar power generating systems used in mobile entities such as automobiles, electric trains, boats and the like, solar power generating systems used as compact power supplies in electronic equipment or electrical equipment, and other types of solar power generating systems such as chargers or the like. Since the covering material is formed as a flexible structure using a soft synthetic resin, the solar cell panel 30 can be incorporated on curved surfaces, and can be disposed in the form of a cylinder. Accordingly, the solar cell panel 30 can also be disposed and used in a state that conforms to the curved surfaces of various types of objects such as buildings, mobile entities or the like. For example, the solar cell panel can also be used in a state in which this panel is bonded to the surface of an automobile body or to the housing of a notebook computer. Furthermore, since the wire members 31 are also flexible, the solar cell panel 30 can also be molded into a curved shape at the time of molding. [0090] In this solar cell panel 30, solar cells 30 are disposed in the retaining holes 8 formed in the retaining plate 2A, intermediate portions in the direction of height of the solar cells 30 are held in the retaining holes 8, and the electrodes 15 and 16 of the respective solar cells 3 are joined with the wire members 31 a and 31 b by means of a heating beam. Accordingly, the disposition and positioning of the numerous solar cells 3 can be accomplished easily and efficiently. [0091] The numerous solar cells 3 are connected in series and parallel by means of the wire members 31 a and 31 b; accordingly, even in cases where solar cells 3 that do not operate normally are present as a result of shade or some trouble, the current generated by normal solar cells 3 bypasses the solar cells 3 that are not operating normally, so that the drop in output can be minimized, and so that the system is superior in terms of reliability. Furthermore, since a plurality of lens parts 35 are formed on the solar cell panel 30, even if the angle of incidence of the sunlight should vary, reflection at the surface can be suppressed, and the sunlight can be focused and directed onto the solar cells 3; accordingly, the utilization rate of the sunlight can be increased. [0092] However, in cases where the solar cell panel 30 is used in planar disposition, the covering material 33 may also be constructed from a transparent hard synthetic resin material (e. g., an acrylic type resin, epoxy type resin, polyethylene type resin, polycarbonate or the like). [0093] Next, examples in which the structure and method of manufacture of the abovementioned solar cell panel 30 are partially modified will be described. [0094] 1) As is shown in FIG. 23, a protective film 37 made of a hard synthetic resin is formed on the surface of the solar cell panel 30A. The covering material 33 can be protected by the protective film 37, so that durability can be ensured, and a drop in performance can be prevented. Furthermore, in cases where the solar cell panel 30A is used in a fixed disposition, light that was not received by the solar cells 3 can be reflected toward the solar cells 3 by installing a reflective film 38 or reflective plate on the surface located on the opposite side from the surface on which sunlight is incident; accordingly, the efficiency of power generation can be increased. [0095] 2) In the solar cell panel 30B shown in FIG. 24, both the upper surface and undersurface are constructed as flat surfaces, and a protective film 37A made of a hard synthetic resin or a protective plate made of glass is disposed on both the upper surface and undersurface. [0096] 3) In the solar cell panel 30C shown in FIG. 25, both the upper surface and undersurface are constructed as flat surfaces; a protective film 37A made of a hard synthetic resin is disposed on the upper surface, and a reflective film 38A made of a metal film or metal plate is disposed on the undersurface. Since the upper surface on which the protective film 37A is formed is caused to face the side on which the sunlight is incident, the sunlight that passes through the solar cell panel 30C is also reflected by the reflective film 38A and reused; accordingly, the efficiency of power generation is improved. [0097] 4) The cylindrical solar cell 40 shown in FIG. 26 is constructed from an inner tube 41 that is made of a transparent or opaque synthetic resin or metal, a flexible solar cell panel 42 which is bent into a cylindrical shape and bonded to the surface of this inner tube 41, and an outer tube 43 used as a surface protecting body which is made of glass or a transparent synthetic resin, and which is fit over the abovementioned solar cell panel 42. [0098] In this solar cell panel 42, as in the abovementioned solar cell panel 30, solar cells 3 are disposed in the form of a matrix with a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. A positive pole terminal 45 a and negative pole terminal 45 b are also provided, as is shown in the equivalent circuit (see FIG. 27) of this solar cell panel 40. [0099] Here, however, instead of the abovementioned inner tube 41, it would also be possible to use a semi-cylindrical body, partially cylindrical body, hollow spherical body, semi-hollow spherical body, partially hollow spherical body or curved-surface body with a curved surface consisting of the same material as that described above, and to use a construction in which a light emitting panel is bonded to the surface of one of these bodies, and a surface protecting body made of glass or a transparent synthetic resin is bonded to the surface of this light emitting panel. [0100] 5) Various types of transparent synthetic resin materials (e. g., epoxy type synthetic resins, acrylic type synthetic resins, silicone resins, polyethylene type synthetic resins, polycarbonates, polyimides, methacrylic resins and the like) can be used as the synthetic resin material that forms the covering material in the abovementioned solar cell panel. Alternatively, both the abovementioned temporary fastening plate 1A and covering material 33 can be constructed from a flexible synthetic resin, so that the solar cell panel is made easily deformable. [0101] 6) In the abovementioned embodiments, solid solar cells 3 were described as an example. However, hollow solar cells (not shown in the figures) that have a light-to-electricity transducing function may also be used. Such hollow solar cells are cells in which the element main body 11 consisting of p type (or n type) silicon is hollow. In cases where such hollow element main bodies are manufactured, p type silicon melted in a quartz crucible is dropped as liquid droplets containing gas bubbles inside a dropping tube from the tip end of a quartz nozzle, and these liquid droplets are solidified into a spherical shape while being dropped. In this case, liquid droplets containing gas bubbles can be formed by filling the interiors of the liquid droplets of molten silicon with a specified amount of an inert gas such as argon or the like immediately prior to the dropping of the molten p type silicon inside the dropping tube from the tip end of the quartz nozzle. [0102] 7) In regard to the solar cells 3 of the abovementioned solar cell panels, a case in which silicon was used as the semiconductor was described as an example; however, p type or n type Ge can also be used as the semiconductor that forms the element main bodies of the solar cells 3, and various types of compound semiconductors (e. g., GaAs, GaSb, InSb, InP, InAs or the like) can also be used. [0103] 8) An inverter circuit that converts the direct-current power generated by the solar cell panel into alternating-current power, and various types of switches, wiring and the like, can be incorporated in the extra space on the outer circumferential side of the solar cell panel. [0104] 9) In the abovementioned embodiments, a solar cell panel used as a light receiving panel, which used solar cells 3 as particulate semiconductor elements, was described as an example. However, particulate light-emitting diodes that have an electricity-to-light transducing function can be used instead of solar cells 3. If a construction is used in which such light-emitting diodes are connected in series in a plurality of stages, and a substantially specified direct-current voltage is applied to the light-emitting diodes of the respective stages, a light-emitting panel or display that shows surface light emission can be constructed. [0105] The method used to manufacture such particulate light-emitting diodes (spherical light-emitting diodes) is similar to the method proposed by the inventor of the present application in WO 98/15983; accordingly, the structure of these spherical light-emitting diodes will be briefly described here. [0106] As is shown in FIG. 28, a spherical light-emitting diode 50 comprises an element main body 51 consisting of n type GaAs with a diameter of 1.0 to 1.5 mm, a substantially spherical-surface form p type diffusion layer 52 that is formed in the vicinity of the surface of the element main body 51, a substantially spherical-surface form pn junction 53, an anode 54 and cathode 55, a fluorescent coating film 56 and the like. The element main body 51 is constructed from n type GaAs to which Si is added so that the peak wavelength of the infrared light generated by the pn junction 53 is 940 to 980 nm. The p type diffusion layer 52 is formed by thermally diffusing a p type impurity such as Zn; the impurity concentration at the surface of the p type diffusion layer is 2˜8�1019/cm3. [0107] The fluorescent coating film 56 uses different fluorescent substances according to the color of the light that is emitted. [0108] Y0.74Yb0.25Er0.01OCl is used as a fluorescent substance that generates red light, [0109] Y0.84Yb0.15Er0.01F3 is used as a fluorescent substance that generates green light, and [0110] Y0.65Yb0.35Tm0.001F3 is used as a fluorescent substance that generates blue light. [0000] The abovementioned anode 54 (thickness 1 μm) is constructed from Au to which 1% Zn is added, and the cathode 55 (thickness 1 μm) is constructed from Au to which small amounts of Ge and Ni are added. [0111] In such a particulate light-emitting diode 50, when a voltage of approximately 1.4 V is applied to the cathode 55 from the anode 54, infrared light with a wavelength of approximately 940 to 980 nm is generated from the pn junction of the GaAs, and the fluorescent substance of the fluorescent coating film 56 is excited by this infrared light so that the infrared light is converted into visible light (red light, green light or blue light) that corresponds to the fluorescent substance, and this visible light is output to the outside from the entire surface of the fluorescent coating film. [0112] For example, if all of the solar cells 3 of the abovementioned solar cell panel 30 are caused to mount light-emitting diodes that emit red light, and a direct-current voltage of approximately 1.4 V is applied to the cathode side terminal from the anode side terminal, a light emitting panel is obtained in which red light is emitted by surface light emission from 120 light-emitting diodes. A light emitting panel that generates green light and a light emitting panel that generates blue light can be similarly constructed. [0113] Furthermore, a light emitting panel that can be used as a display for displaying characters, symbols and images in a single color or a plurality of colors can also be constructed. A color display or color television in which light-emitting diodes for the abovementioned R, G and B (red, green and blue) are incorporated can also be constructed as proposed in the abovementioned WO 98/15983. Here, the types and combinations of light-emitting diodes that are incorporated in the light emitting panel, and the disposition configuration of the plurality of light-emitting diodes, are set in accordance with the size and function of the display or television. Furthermore, the diameter of the element main bodies 51 of the particulate light-emitting diodes 50 is not limited to the value described above; this diameter may also be set at a value that is less than 1.0 mm, or a value that is greater than 1.5 mm. [0114] Furthermore, hollow element main bodies can also be used as the element main bodies 51 of the abovementioned spherical light-emitting diodes 50; alternatively, element main bodies in which insulating spherical bodies consisting of an insulating material are incorporated instead of hollow parts may also be used. [0115] Furthermore, not only planar panels, but also light emitting devices formed in a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 26, can be formed. Furthermore, instead of the GaAs used as the semiconductor forming the abovementioned element main bodies, GaP, GaN or various other types of semiconductors can be utilized as the semiconductor used in the abovementioned light-emitting diodes. Moreover, the shape is not necessarily limited to spherical; this shape may also be cylindrical or the like. 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