NOVELTY - A stiffening apparatus comprises an arrangement of devices; a first brace hingedly connected to a first device; and a second brace hingedly connected to a second deice and to the first brace.    USE - For stiffening or supporting foldable arrays of electrochemical devices including thin-film electrochemical devices, electronic devices, electro-mechanical devices, bio-electric devices, bio-chemical devices, bio-mechanical devices, mechanical-chemical devices, inactive substrates, solar energy cells comprising copper-indium-gallium-selenide thin-film photovoltaic cells, direct conversion light antennae, or radio-frequency identification tags (claimed) for use in e.g. space applications.    ADVANTAGE - The invention provides a low cost and high specific power solar array for use in e.g. space applications. It meets spacecraft requirements without bulky, massive, complex, or expensive additional structure.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (a) an integrated passive deployment apparatus comprising an arrangement of devices, a pair of hingedly connected braces attached to a pair of foldably connected devices and an edge stiffener or a carpenter hinge for situating a pair of devices in an open position attached to the devices; an integrated cabling apparatus comprising an arrangement of devices, and a pair of hingedly connected braces attached to a pair of foldably attached devices; and    (b) a method for manufacturing a deployable array of devices by providing an arrangement of devices foldably attached to one another; attaching at least a pair of hingedly connected braces to at least a pair of foldably attached devices; and collapsing the arrangement of devices and the pair of hingedly connected braces.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a perspective view of an array of 36 electrochemical devices on a single substrate employing braces.    Outside fold pair of braces (110)    Inside fold without rib pair of braces (120)    Inside fold with rib pair of braces (130)    Rib-like components (140)    Restraint and release hardware (150)