Photoelectrical converter

A photoresponsive device comprising in combination a thermal absorbing member, a semiconductor body having a photoresponsive p-n junction parallel to the major surface thereof, a first electrode ohmically connected to a first conductivity type portion of said p-n junction, a second electrode ohmically connected to at least a portion of the second conductivity type portion of said p-n junction, an insulating region of said semiconductor body between said second conductivity type portion and said thermal absorbing member and operable to provide electrical isolation.

An array of photoresponsive devices comprising in combination a thermal absorbing member, a plurality of device bodies each having first and second major parallel opposed surfaces, a photoconversion active region parallel to a first major surface of each said device, a region of electrically insulating material in each said device body epitaxial with its said active region and separating its said active region from its said second major surface, means bonding said second major surface of each device body to said thermal absorbing member, means serially connecting groups of said photoconversion active regions to provide additive voltages and further means connecting serially-connected group pathways in parallel to provide additive currents.