Abstract: One or more solar cells are connected to a flex circuit, wherein: the flex circuit is single sheet; the flex circuit is comprised of a flexible substrate having one or more conducting layers for making electrical connections to the solar cells; and the flex circuit includes one or more flat sections where the solar cells are attached to the flex circuit that remain flat when the flex circuit is folded and one or more folding sections between the flat sections where the flex circuit is folded.

Abstract: At least one solar cell is mounted to a flexible substrate using an adhesive, wherein: the flexible substrate includes at least one insulating layer and at least one conductive layer patterned on the insulating layer as one or more traces for making electrical connections with the solar cell; the traces on the flexible substrate are unencapsulated and at least some of the traces remain exposed after the solar cell is mounted to the flexible substrate; the solar cell is positioned above the traces on the flexible substrate; and a backside metal layer of the solar cell does not make contact to the traces on the flexible substrate when the solar cell is mounted on the flexible substrate. The result is a rollable solar array or panel having a reduced stress energy and a reduced minimum rolling radius as compared to a baseline solar cell mounted to a baseline flexible substrate.

Abstract: A solar cell structure is disclosed. The solar cell structure comprises a carrier having a front side and a P-N junction, a solar cell electrically coupled to the front side of the carrier, and an adhesive layer. The adhesive layer bonds the front side of the carrier to the solar cell. The adhesive layer includes conductive particles that electrically couple the carrier to the solar cell.

Abstract: At least first and second solar panels are provided, wherein: each of the first and second solar panels is comprised of a substrate having one or more solar cells bonded thereto, and a frame for supporting the substrate and the solar cells; the frame has a cutout or opening in a center of the frame under the solar cells and, when deployed, the cutout or opening enables cooling of the solar cells through the substrate by exposing a back side of the substrate for transferring or radiating heat directly through the cutout or opening of the frame; and the frame of the first solar panel is configured to be nested inside the cutout or opening of the frame of the second solar panel when the first and second solar panels are stowed in a stacked configuration.

Abstract: A solar array including at least one solar panel comprised of a substrate having one or more solar cells bonded thereto, and a frame for supporting the substrate and the solar cells, wherein the substrate is attached to the frame at a perimeter of the frame along one or more edges of the substrate, the frame has a cutout or opening in a center of the frame under the solar cells, and the cutout or opening enables direct cooling of the solar cells through the substrate by exposing a back side of the substrate for transferring or radiating heat directly through the cutout or opening of the frame.

Abstract: At least first and second solar panels are provided, wherein: each of the first and second solar panels is comprised of a substrate having one or more solar cells bonded thereto, and a frame for supporting the substrate and the solar cells; the frame has a cutout or opening in a center of the frame under the solar cells and, when deployed, the cutout or opening enables cooling of the solar cells through the substrate by exposing a back side of the substrate for transferring or radiating heat directly through the cutout or opening of the frame; and the frame of the first solar panel is configured to be nested inside the cutout or opening of the frame of the second solar panel when the first and second solar panels are stowed in a stacked configuration.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a Germanium wafer having a first side and a second side. The first side has properties consistent with a grinding operation, and edges of the Germanium wafer have properties consistent with a diamond-coated saw blade cut. The Germanium wafer has a thickness of approximately two-hundred five micrometers. The solar cell also includes a Gallium Arsenide-based triple junction solar cell coupled to the second side of the Germanium wafer. The solar cell also includes a fused silica cover coupled to the Gallium Arsenide-based triple junction solar cell via a silicone-based adhesive.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a portion of a Germanium layer having a first side and a second side. The second side has properties consistent with a grinding and etching operation to thin a Germanium wafer to form the Germanium layer. Edges of the portion of the Germanium layer may have properties consistent with dicing using a diamond-coated saw. The portion of the Germanium layer may have a thickness of less than 150 micrometers. Compound semiconductor materials and circuitry are coupled to the first side of the portion of the Germanium layer to define a multijunction solar cell. A fused silica cover glass is coupled to the multijunction solar cell via a silicone-based adhesive.

Abstract: A feedthrough for feeding signals through a panel having opposite sides includes first and second parts. The first part can include a first body configured to be disposed in a first portion of an opening in a panel, a first lumen disposed within the first body, and a first engagement area comprising a first contact area. The second part can include a second body configured to be disposed in a second portion of the opening in the panel, a second lumen disposed within the second body, and a second engagement area configured to engage the first contact area, wherein engaging the first contact area with the second engagement area causes deformation of the first part, the second part, or both to hold the first part and the second part within the opening such that the first lumen and the second lumen are disposed generally concentrically with each other. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A feedthrough for feeding signals through a panel having opposite sides includes first and second parts. The first part can include a first body configured to be disposed in a first portion of an opening in a panel, a first lumen disposed within the first body, and a first engagement area comprising a first contact area. The second part can include a second body configured to be disposed in a second portion of the opening in the panel, a second lumen disposed within the second body, and a second engagement area configured to engage the first contact area, wherein engaging the first contact area with the second engagement area causes deformation of the first part, the second part, or both to hold the first part and the second part within the opening such that the first lumen and the second lumen are disposed generally concentrically with each other.

Abstract: A feedthrough for feeding signals through a panel having opposite sides includes first and second parts. The first part can include a first body configured to be disposed in a first portion of an opening in a panel, a first lumen disposed within the first body, and a first engagement area comprising a first contact area. The second part can include a second body configured to be disposed in a second portion of the opening in the panel, a second lumen disposed within the second body, and a second engagement area configured to engage the first contact area, wherein engaging the first contact area with the second engagement area causes deformation of the first part, the second part, or both to hold the first part and the second part within the opening such that the first lumen and the second lumen are disposed generally concentrically with each other. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: One or more solar cells are connected to a flex circuit, wherein: the flex circuit is comprised of a flexible substrate having one or more conducting layers for making electrical connections to the solar cells; the flex circuit is attached to a panel; and the solar cells are attached to the panel. The flex circuit can be attached to the panel so that the conducting layers are adjacent the solar cells, or the flex circuit can be attached to the panel so that the conducting layers run underneath the solar cells. The conducting layers can be deposited on the flexible substrate and/or the conducting layers can be embedded in the flex circuit, wherein the conducting layers are sandwiched between insulating layers of the flex circuit.

Abstract: One or more solar cells are connected to a flex circuit, wherein: the flex circuit is single sheet; the flex circuit is comprised of a flexible substrate having one or more conducting layers for making electrical connections to the solar cells; and the flex circuit includes one or more flat sections where the solar cells are attached to the flex circuit that remain flat when the flex circuit is folded and one or more folding sections between the flat sections where the flex circuit is folded.

Abstract: An anisotropic conducting adhesive is improved in conductivity without increasing the density of admixed conductive particles by inducing metallic fusion between the surfaces of the conducting particles and the surfaces being bonded. The metallic fusion may be promoted by physical/chemical interaction characteristic of certain materials at a compressed interface; by compression sufficient to deform the conductive particles in a manner that increases the mechanical contact area; by heating (with or without melting of a material), which may also serve to cure the adhesive matrix; or by acoustic vibration, e.g., ultrasonic vibration. The resulting metallic-fusion joint is stronger, as well as more conductive, than a joint in which the particles and surfaces are held in unfused mechanical contact.

Abstract: An anisotropic conducting adhesive is improved in conductivity without increasing the density of admixed conductive particles by inducing metallic fusion between the surfaces of the conducting particles and the surfaces being bonded. The metallic fusion may be promoted by physical/chemical interaction characteristic of certain materials at a compressed interface; by compression sufficient to deform the conductive particles in a manner that increases the mechanical contact area; by heating (with or without melting of a material), which may also serve to cure the adhesive matrix; or by acoustic vibration, e.g., ultrasonic vibration. The resulting metallic-fusion joint is stronger, as well as more conductive, than a joint in which the particles and surfaces are held in unfused mechanical contact.

Abstract: A feedthrough for feeding signals through a panel having opposite sides includes first and second parts. The first part can include a first body configured to be disposed in a first portion of an opening in a panel, a first lumen disposed within the first body, and a first engagement area comprising a first contact area. The second part can include a second body configured to be disposed in a second portion of the opening in the panel, a second lumen disposed within the second body, and a second engagement area configured to engage the first contact area, wherein engaging the first contact area with the second engagement area causes deformation of the first part, the second part, or both to hold the first part and the second part within the opening such that the first lumen and the second lumen are disposed generally concentrically with each other. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A feedthrough for feeding signals through a panel having opposite sides includes first and second parts. The first part can include a first body configured to be disposed in a first portion of an opening in a panel, a first lumen disposed within the first body, and a first engagement area comprising a first contact area. The second part can include a second body configured to be disposed in a second portion of the opening in the panel, a second lumen disposed within the second body, and a second engagement area configured to engage the first contact area, wherein engaging the first contact area with the second engagement area causes deformation of the first part, the second part, or both to hold the first part and the second part within the opening such that the first lumen and the second lumen are disposed generally concentrically with each other. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An anisotropic conducting adhesive is improved in conductivity without increasing the density of admixed conductive particles by inducing metallic fusion between the surfaces of the conducting particles and the surfaces being bonded. The metallic fusion may be promoted by physical/chemical interaction characteristic of certain materials at a compressed interface; by compression sufficient to deform the conductive particles in a manner that increases the mechanical contact area; by heating (with or without melting of a material), which may also serve to cure the adhesive matrix; or by acoustic vibration, e.g., ultrasonic vibration. The resulting metallic-fusion joint is stronger, as well as more conductive, than a joint in which the particles and surfaces are held in unfused mechanical contact.

Abstract: A feedthrough for feeding signals through a panel having opposite sides includes first and second parts. The first part can include a first body configured to be disposed in a first portion of an opening in a panel, a first lumen disposed within the first body, and a first engagement area comprising a first contact area. The second part can include a second body configured to be disposed in a second portion of the opening in the panel, a second lumen disposed within the second body, and a second engagement area configured to engage the first contact area, wherein engaging the first contact area with the second engagement area causes deformation of the first part, the second part, or both to hold the first part and the second part within the opening such that the first lumen and the second lumen are disposed generally concentrically with each other. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A feedthrough for feeding signals through a panel having opposite sides includes first and second parts. The first part can include a first body configured to be disposed in a first portion of an opening in a panel, a first lumen disposed within the first body, and a first engagement area comprising a first contact area. The second part can include a second body configured to be disposed in a second portion of the opening in the panel, a second lumen disposed within the second body, and a second engagement area configured to engage the first contact area, wherein engaging the first contact area with the second engagement area causes deformation of the first part, the second part, or both to hold the first part and the second part within the opening such that the first lumen and the second lumen are disposed generally concentrically with each other.