Diode circuit for efficient operation

A method for reducing a reverse leakage current in a diode circuit, the method comprising:

• applying a reverse-bias voltage to terminals of the diode circuit, the reverse-bias voltage generating the reverse leakage current through a diode that is electrically coupled between a pair of depletion mode devices in the diode circuit;
• increasing the reverse-bias voltage applied to the diode circuit to a voltage at or above a threshold voltage to configure the pair of depletion mode devices in the diode circuit in an OFF state;
• and
• blocking the reverse leakage current using the depletion mode devices in the OFF state to reduce the reverse leakage current in the diode circuit.

A solar cell system comprising:

• a plurality of solar cells electrically coupled in series;
• and
• a diode circuit electrically coupled in parallel with each of the plurality of solar cells so that when the solar cell is illuminated the diode circuit is reverse biased and blocks current and when the solar cell is shaded the diode circuit is forward-biased and passes current to bypass the solar cell, the diode circuit including:
• a Schottky diode having an anode and a cathode;
• an N-channel depletion mode device electrically coupled between the cathode of the Schottky diode and an output terminal of the diode circuit;
• and
• a P-channel depletion mode device electrically coupled between the anode of the Schottky diode and an input terminal of the diode circuit.