Conductor fabrication for optical element

Abstract

A system may provide an optical element including conductive material deposited on the optical element using a thick film process, dielectric material disposed on the conductive material and defining an aperture created using photolithography, the aperture exposing a portion of the conductive material, and a solar cell comprising an electrical contact coupled to the exposed portion of the conductive material. Some aspects provide deposition of conductive material on an optical element using a thick film process, deposition of dielectric material on the conductive material, creation of an aperture in the dielectric material using photolithography to expose a portion of the conductive material, and coupling of an electrical contact of a solar cell to the exposed portion of the conductive material.

1 . A method comprising:
 depositing conductive material on an optical element using a thick film process;   depositing dielectric material on the conductive material;   creating an aperture in the dielectric material using photolithography to expose a portion of the conductive material; and   coupling an electrical contact of a solar cell to the exposed portion of the conductive material.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric material comprises thick photoresist, and wherein creating the aperture comprises:
 masking the thick photoresist in accordance with a location of the aperture;   exposing the masked photoresist; and   removing portions of the thick photoresist corresponding to the location of the aperture.   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein creating the aperture comprises:
 depositing thin photoresist on the dielectric material;   masking the thin photoresist in accordance with a location of the aperture;   exposing the masked photoresist;   removing portions of the thin photoresist corresponding to the location of the aperture; and   etching away portions of the dielectric material corresponding to the location of the aperture.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein creating the aperture comprises:
 depositing thin photoresist on the conductive material;   masking the thin photoresist in accordance with a location of the aperture;   exposing the masked photoresist; and   removing portions of the thin photoresist corresponding to the location of the aperture,   wherein depositing the dielectric material comprises depositing the dielectric material on the thin photoresist.   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive material deposited on the optical element defines a window from which light may pass out of the optical element, and
 wherein the electrical contact of the solar cell is coupled to the exposed portion of the conductive material such that an optically-active area of the solar cell is aligned with the window.   
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein depositing the conductive material on the optical element comprises:
 placing a stencil on the optical element; and   spraying molten conductive material on the stencil and the optical element.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein depositing the conductive material on the optical element comprises:
 placing a stencil on the optical element; and   depositing a paste of conductive material onto the stencil and the optical element.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 depositing a reflective material on the optical element; and   depositing an electrical isolator on the reflective material,   wherein the conductive material is deposited on the electrical isolator.   
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the conductive material deposited on the optical element defines a window from which light may pass out of the optical element, and
 wherein the electrical contact of the solar cell is coupled to the exposed portion of the conductive material such that an optically-active area of the solar cell is aligned with the window.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 an optical element comprising conductive material deposited on the optical element using a thick film process;   dielectric material disposed on the conductive material and defining an aperture created using photolithography, the aperture exposing a portion of the conductive material; and   a solar cell comprising an electrical contact coupled to the exposed portion of the conductive material.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the dielectric material comprises thick photoresist, and wherein creating the aperture was created by masking the thick photoresist in accordance with a location of the aperture, exposing the masked photoresist, and removing portions of the thick photoresist corresponding to the location of the aperture. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the aperture was created by depositing thin photoresist on the dielectric material, masking the thin photoresist in accordance with a location of the aperture, exposing the masked photoresist, removing portions of the thin photoresist corresponding to the location of the aperture, and etching away portions of the dielectric material corresponding to the location of the aperture. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the aperture was created by depositing thin photoresist on the conductive material, masking the thin photoresist in accordance with a location of the aperture, exposing the masked photoresist, and removing portions of the thin photoresist corresponding to the location of the aperture, and
 wherein depositing the dielectric material comprises depositing the dielectric material on the thin photoresist.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the conductive material deposited on the optical element defines a window from which light may pass out of the optical element, and
 wherein the electrical contact of the solar cell is coupled to the exposed portion of the conductive material such that an optically-active area of the solar cell is aligned with the window.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the conductive material was deposited on the optical element by placing a stencil on the optical element, and spraying molten conductive material on the stencil and the optical element. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the conductive material was deposited on the optical element by placing a stencil on the optical element, and rolling a paste of conductive material onto the stencil and the optical element. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a reflective material deposited on the optical element; and   an electrical isolator deposited on the reflective material,   wherein the conductive material is deposited on the electrical isolator.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the conductive material deposited on the optical element defines a window from which light may pass out of the optical element, and
 wherein the electrical contact of the solar cell is coupled to the exposed portion of the conductive material such that an optically-active area of the solar cell is aligned with the window.