Panel for solar energy cells

Claim 1

A panel for mounting solar energy cells for exposure to light in a terrestrial environment while mitigating impairment of cell efficiency due to excessive heat generated by the light, comprising a. a housing for retaining the cells, said housing comprising side and end walls and a wall intersecting said side and end walls and forming an upwardly open recessed top to said housing, said intersecting wall being formed from a good conductor of heat, b. a sheet of resilient resinous cushion material that is thermally conductive but has electrically insulating properties, said sheet overlaying said intersecting wall and being in heat-transfer position therewith, and having an outwardly facing surface, and c. a plurality of solar energy cells, each of which has a top surface adapted to absorb light impinging thereon and a bottom surface, said cells being secured to said outwardly facing surface of said cushion at their bottom surfaces and, as so secured, being in a position whereby light impinging on the junctions of said cells will generate a flow of electricity that will not be dissipated by said cushion, but heat generated by said light will be carried by said cushion from the immediate vicinity of said cells and transferred to said heat-conductive intersecting wall.