Patent ID: 6205656
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: H01L,H02S,H05K,Y02E,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of automatically applying photovoltaic cells to printed circuit boards for use with rechargeable batteries comprising the steps of:a. providing a pick and place machine, a plurality of photovoltaic cell pieces, and a LED; each of said pieces including a conductive side and a rear;b. providing a relatively rigid printed circuit board having a coating which imparts rigidity to the board and fabricating the board with a plurality of piece mounting pads, a plurality of spaced apart islands initially electrically isolated from one another, and which islands are connected to yet separated from said piece mounting pads, at least two LED mounting pads and a plurality of traces; said printed circuit board being designed for interconnecting a plurality of pieces in series with a LED and a connector for connecting to a rechargeable battery;c. fabricating a solder screen designed to apply solder dots to said piece mounting pads and said LED mounting pads;d. using said screen having holes to apply solder dots to said piece mounting pads and said LED mounting pads, said holes being arranged to permit a molten solder to be screened onto the respective piece mounting pads and LED mounting pads and where the solder provides the primary mounting force in absence of an adhesive for holding each piece on the pieces mounting pads and LED on the LED mounting pads;e. using said pick and place machine to automatically place said plurality of pieces, conductive side up, onto said piece mounting pads and said LED on said LED mounting pads;f. heating said assembled printed circuit board, pieces, and LED to cause soldering of said rears of said pieces to said piece mounting pads and said LED to said LED mounting pads and which serve to rigidly hold the cell pieces and LED on the piece mounting pads and LED mounting pads; andg. electrically connecting said conductive sides to said islands.