Patent ID: 8093492

Claim:
A solar cell module for converting solar energy to electricity comprising: a housing comprising a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; an integral array of Fresnel lenses coupled to the first side of the housing, each lens having a focal length between about 15 inches and about 20 inches; a plurality of solar cell receivers disposed on the second side of the housing, each solar cell receiver comprising: a solar cell comprising one or more III-V compound semiconductor layers wherein the solar cell has dimensions of about 1 centimeter by about 1 centimeter; a diode having a body, an anode terminal and cathode terminal, the diode coupled in parallel with the solar cell; a substrate for supporting the solar cell and diode, wherein the diode body comprises a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion being disposed closer to the substrate than the top portion; a coating disposed over the top portion of the diode body and extending to the substrate, the coating substantially encapsulating the diode body, anode terminal and cathode terminal; an undercoating occupying substantially all of the space between the bottom portion of the diode body and the substrate; and first and second electrical terminals coupled in parallel with the solar cell and the diode and adapted to provide electrical connection to one or more spaced apart solar cell receivers; and a plurality of secondary optical elements disposed in the optical path of each respective lens, each secondary optical element defining a respective tapered optical channel having a plurality of reflective walls; each solar cell being disposed in an optical path of a respective lens and a respective optical channel, wherein the lens is operable to concentrate the solar energy onto the respective solar cell by a factor of 400 or more and generate in excess of 14 watts of peak power.