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(11)

EP 2 659 518 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 22.11.2012 (43) Date of publication: 06.11.2013 Bulletin 2013/45 (21) Application number: 11853473.4 (22) Date of filing: 30.12.2011

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  H01L 31/042(2006.01) B23K 26/36(2006.01) H01L 31/18(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2011/068037 (87) International publication number: WO 2012/092537 (05.07.2012 Gazette 2012/27)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR (30) Priority: 31.12.2010 US 201061428957 P 11.10.2011 US 201113271212 31.12.2010 US 201061428953 P 30.12.2010 US 201061428600 P 23.11.2011 US 201113303488 01.02.2011 US 201113057104 27.05.2011 US 201113118295 (71) Applicant: Solexel, Inc. Milpitas, CA 95035-7405 (US)

(72) Inventors: MOSLEHI, Mehrdad M. Los Altos CA 94024 (US) RANA, Virendra V. Los Gatos CA 95032 (US) ANBALAGAN, Pranav San Jose CA 95126 (US) SARASWAT, Vivek Milpitas CA 95035 (US) (74) Representative: Richardt Patentanwälte GbR  Wilhelmstraße 7 65185 Wiesbaden 65185 Wiesbaden (DE)