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  • Patent number: 10026857
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a solar cell array on the surface of a support by providing an assembly fixture having a smooth, concave surface; mounting a film composed of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) directly on the surface of the fixture; mounting a film composed of a non-crosslinked silicone pressure sensitive adhesive directly over the ETFE film; mounting an array of interconnected solar cells directly over the adhesive film. An uncured supporting film composed of a composite material is mounted directly on the back side of the solar cells; and the film of composite material is co-cured so that the array of interconnected solar cells is bonded to the supporting film. The bonded and cured film of composite material and an array of interconnected solar cells with the ETFE film is then removed from the assembly fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Vanguard Space Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Wrosch, Eric McNaul, Theodore Stern, Fadel Hernandez