NOVELTY - The method involves totally separating a cell level integrated bypass diode (44A) from a selected parent solar cell. A p-type semiconducting material of a photovoltaic junction layer of the diode is connected with an n-type semiconducting material of a selected thin film solar cell among a set of thin film solar cells (40A, 40B) e.g. thin-film silicon photovoltaic cells. An n-type semiconducting material of the layer is connected with a p-type semiconducting material of another selected thin film solar cell, where the diode is connected in parallel and opposition to the selected cells.    USE - Method for producing a thin-film solar cell e.g. thin-film silicon photovoltaic cell, for converting solar radiant energy or sunlight into electrical energy by utilizing photovoltaic effect in a solar panel i.e. photovoltaic panel. Uses include but are not limited to single junction silicon cell, unit cell type silicon cell, tandem cell, tandem junction solar cell and multi-junction amorphous silicon solar cell.    ADVANTAGE - The method enables efficiently and inexpensively producing a solar panel with the cell-level integrated bypass diode by reducing the number of additional semiconductor steps required to incorporate the diode into a substrate.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The selected solar cells are different from the selected parent solar cell or one of the selected solar cells is the selected parent solar cell. The method enables using an etchant material including an acid selected from a group of nitric acid, hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a method for making a solar panel having a set of thin-film solar cells with a cell level integrated bypass diode.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a partial exploded perspective view of a structure of a pair of solar cells and a pair of bypass diodes after removal of an etchant.    Electrically isolated strips (16A-16B)    Thin film solar cells (40A, 40B)    Cell level integrated bypass diode (44A)    Separate electrical connection (48)    External diode (62)