Semiconductor rectifier cell unit and method of utilizing the same

Claim 1

A SELF-PROTECTED SEMICONDUCTOR RECTIFIER CELL UNIT OF MINUTE SIZE AND STANDARD PHYSICAL CONFIGURATION ADAPTED TO BE RADILY ASSEMBLED INTO A COMPLETE RECRIFIER STRUCTURE OF SPECIFIED PHYSICAL CONFIGURATION, SAID CELL UNIT COMPRISING: A LONGITUDINALLY THIN SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER HAVING A TRANSVERSE PN JUNCTION THEREIN AND SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR A TRANSVERSE END SURFACES; A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY SHORT STUDS OF GOLD METAL SO AS TO BE ETCH-RESISTANT EACH HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR SURFACE AT EACH TRANSVERSE END THEREOF, ONE SUCH TRANSVERSE SURFACE OF EACH STUD BEING BONDED TO AND COMPLETELY COVERING RESPECTIVE ONES OF THE TRANSVERSE SURFACES OF SAID WAFER, AND AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE LONGITUDINAL PERIPHERY OF EACH STUD OVERHANGING THE LONGITUDINAL PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF THE WAFER SO THAT BOTH STUDS TOGETHER FORM A CHANNEL THERE-BETEEN TRANSVERSELY ENCOMPASSING SAID PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID WAFER; ONE OF SAID STUDS INCLUDING A RECESSED LONGITUDINAL PERIPHERY, SAID RECESS FOR POLARITY IDENTIFICATION OF SAID SEMICONDUCTOR RECTIFIER CELL UNIT; AND A MOISTURE-RESISTANT COHESIVE PROTECTIVE COATING CONTAINED IN SAID CHANNEL BETEEN SAID STUDS SO AS TO SEAL THE LONGITUDINAL PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID WAFER AGAINST EXTERNAL CONTAMINATION, THE CHANNEL SERVING TO SUPPORT AND RETAIN SAID COATING INTACT AND IN CONTACT WITH THAT SURFACE.