Patent ID: 9590126
Date: 2017-03-07
CPC Classifications: H01L,Y02E

Claim:
1. A method of forming a solar cell array including two or more solar cell assemblies operatively coupled together, the method comprising: forming at least two solar cell assemblies, wherein forming each solar cell assembly of the at least two solar cell assemblies comprises: providing a solar cell having an upper front side and a lower back side; providing a bonding pad separate from the solar cell and also having an upper front side and a lower back side, the bonding pad consisting essentially of a metal or metal alloy; forming a plating of a noble or non-noble metal on a portion of the upper front side of the bonding pad, providing a contact surface for the bonding pad, wherein a surface area of the bonding pad is larger than a surface area of the solar cell; after forming the plating of the noble or non-noble metal on the portion of the upper front side of the bonding pad, attaching the lower back side of the solar cell to the contact surface by a first adhesive; providing a device on a portion of the bonding pad located laterally beside the solar cell, providing a cooling substrate comprising a single continuous structure, the cooling substrate also consisting essentially of the metal or metal alloy; after attaching the lower back side of the solar cell to the contact surface and providing the device on the portion of the bonding pad located laterally beside the solar cell, bonding the lower back side of the bonding pad to a cooling substrate by a second adhesive comprising a thermally conductive, electrically non-conductive adhesive or adhesive member, wherein the bonding pad is in thermal communication with the cooling substrate through the second adhesive; after bonding the lower back side of the bonding pad to the cooling substrate, physically connecting at least one bonding wire to the bonding pad and to the cooling substrate to electrically connect the lower back side of the solar cell to the cooling substrate, wherein the bonding pad is in electrical communication with the cooling substrate through the at least one bonding wire located laterally beside and separate from the second adhesive; extending at least one additional bonding wire electrical connecting the device and the upper front side of the solar cell; and establishing electrical contact between the device of a first solar cell assembly of the at least two solar cell assemblies and the cooling substrate of a second solar cell assembly of the at least two solar cell assemblies using a conductive member extending therebetween.