# US 2019/0172955 A1 · Laminar airfoil and the assembly and mounting of solar cell arrays on such airfoils > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0172955 A1 - Document ID: US20190172955A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/833,601 - Filed: 2017-12-06 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-05 - Assignees: SolAero Technologies Corp. - Applicants: SolAero Technologies Corp. - Inventors: Matthew Kruse; Fadel Hernandez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190172955A1 ## CPC - B64D 41/00: Power installations for auxiliary purposes - H02S 20/30: Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment - H10F 19/00: Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one photovoltaic cell covered by group H10F10/00, e.g. photovoltaic modules - H10F 71/121: {The active layers comprising only Group IV materials} - H10F 71/137: {Batch treatment of the devices} - H10F 71/139: {using temporary substrates} - H10F 77/50: Encapsulations or containers (for photovoltaic modules H10F19/80) - B64D 27/353: using solar cells - Y02E 10/547: Monocrystalline silicon PV cells - Y02T 50/50: On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract Methods of fabricating a solar cell assembly for streamlined bodies are provided. The solar cell assembly may be prepared on an assembly fixture. The solar cell assembly may then be removed from the assembly fixture and positioned on a top surface of the streamlined body. In examples, the solar cell assembly comprises a first film, an array of solar cells on top of the first film, and a second silicone film deposited over the solar cells. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of fabricating a solar cell array for a substantially streamlined body comprising: providing an assembly fixture having a substantially smooth planar surface; and constructing a solar cell assembly on the smooth planar surface, wherein constructing the solar cell assembly comprises: depositing a first silicone film directly on the planar surface of the fixture; mounting an array of interconnected solar cells having a front light receiving side and a back side, with the back side disposed directly over the first silicone film depositing a second silicone film comprising a first portion tapering in thickness and comprising a second portion directly over the front side of the solar cells so as to encapsulate the solar cells and provide a smooth surface allowing laminar flow there over. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising removing the solar cell assembly from the assembly fixture and attaching the solar cell assembly on a top surface of the streamlined body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the streamlined body comprises an airfoil body, and at least a portion of the solar cell assembly is attached to a suction surface of the airfoil body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the first portion is disposed adjacent to a leading edge of the airfoil body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the first portion is adhered to the airfoil body prior to mounting the second portion on the airfoil. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first portion tapers from 0.000 to 0.0020 inches. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the first portion of the second silicone film begins at an edge of the first portion at a thickness of between 0.003 and 0.005 inches and tapers in a direction away from the edge to a thickness between 0.020 and 0.040 inches. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the tapering of the second silicone film is no more than a gradation of two degrees in the steepness. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising adhering a film of ETFE material of between 0.001 and 0.020 inches in thickness over the second silicone film. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the step of adhering a ETFE film utilizes a pressure sensitive adhesive film, optionally of 0.001 inches in thickness. ### Claim 11 A vehicle comprising a streamlined body having a top surface, a double sided adhesive film positioned on the top surface of the streamlined body, and a solar cell assembly bonded to the top surface by the double sided adhesive film, wherein the solar cell assembly comprises a first silicone film; an array of interconnected solar cells having a front light receiving side and a back side, with the back side disposed directly over the first film ; a second silicone film comprising a first portion tapering in thickness and comprising a second portion of the second film over the front side of the solar cells so as to encapsulate the solar cells and provide a smooth surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the array of interconnected solar cells are III-V compound semiconductor multijunction solar cells. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the double sided adhesive film comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the double sided adhesive film comprises one or more release liners. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the first silicone film is bonded to a polyimide film. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the solar cell assembly further includes an ETFE film on top of the second silicone film. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the solar cell assembly has a substantially constant thickness in an area where the array of solar cells is arranged. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft. ### Claim 19 An airfoil comprising: a carbon fiber composite face sheet forming the skin of the airfoil; a double sided adhesive film positioning on the top surface of the face sheet; and a silicone film including an array of solar cells encapsulated therein and positioned over the top surface of the adhesive film so that the film is bonded to a predefined region on the top surface of the face sheet and spaced apart from the leading edge of the airfoil wherein the film is designed to permit laminar flow over the surface of the skin of the airfoil. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The airfoil according to claim 19, wherein the silicone extends between an upstream end point spaced apart from the leading edge and proceeding towards a downstream end point spaced apart from the trailing edge.