NOVELTY - Apparatus for converting solar energy to electricity comprises: (a) a substrate; (b) a solar cell (30) mounted on the substrate; (c) a diode (14) mounted on the substrate; (d) a coating (305) disposed over the top portion of the diode body and extending to the substrate; (e) an undercoating occupying substantially all of the space between the bottom portion of the diode body and the substrate; and (f) output terminals coupled to the solar cell and the diode.    USE - The apparatus is useful for converting solar energy to electricity (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The apparatus has an insulated bypass diode. It can be operated at a relatively low cost as the energy generated is received from the sun.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An apparatus for converting solar energy to electricity comprises: (a) a substrate; (b) a solar cell (30) mounted on the substrate and having a top surface and a bottom surface, where the solar cell comprises one or more III-V compound semiconductor layers, a first contact coupled to a p-polarity side of the cell and a second contact coupled to an n-polarity side of the cell; (c) a diode (14) mounted on the substrate and is laterally offset from the top surface and bottom surface of the solar cell, the diode comprising a body, an anode contact, and a cathode contact, the diode coupled in parallel with the first and second contacts of the solar cell so that a first conductive trace on the substrate couples the anode contact of the diode to the first contact of the solar cell, and a second conductive trace on the substrate couples the cathode contact of the diode to the second contact of the solar cell, where the diode body comprises a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion is disposed closer to the substrate than the top portion; (d) a coating (305) disposed over the top portion of the diode body and extending to the substrate and substantially encapsulating the diode body, anode contact, and cathode contact; (e) an undercoating occupying substantially all of the space between the bottom portion of the diode body and the substrate; and (f) output terminals coupled to the solar cell and the diode.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a perspective view of the apparatus for converting solar energy to electricity.    Diode (14)    Solar cell (30)    Coating (305)