Patent ID: 8563849

Claim:
A solar system, comprising: a plurality of solar cells; a backsheet covering the plurality of solar cells, the backsheet having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the backsheet having a thickness defined at least by the top surface and the bottom surface; and a plurality of low profile, surface-mount diodes coupled to the plurality of solar cells, each low profile, surface-mount diode disposed above the top surface of the backsheet such that the top surface of the backsheet faces the low profile, surface-mount diode and the bottom surface of the backsheet faces away from the low profile, surface-mount diode, and for each low profile, surface-mount diode: a respective pair of ribbon interconnects, each ribbon interconnect coupled to the low profile, surface-mount diode and penetrating the backsheet through the thickness of the backsheet, each ribbon interconnect comprising a plurality of segments angled relative to one another such that at least one segment is disposed below the bottom surface of the backsheet and at least one segment is disposed above the low profile, surface-mount diode; and a respective heat spreader mounted directly above the low profile, surface-mount diode.