Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of making a multiplicity of electronic component packages, each of the packages comprising (1) providing a selected metallic mounting pad having a prescribed thickness and having auxiliary regions that are bonded to respective auxiliary support fingers, and (2) providing a first plurality of conductive fingers, each of the conductive fingers having a thickness at an internal end portion thereof, the prescribed thickness of the mounting pad being less than the thickness of the internal end portion of any of the conductive fingers, the method including the steps of: (a) mechanically thinning an initial metallic sheet having an initial thickness that is more than the prescribed thickness whereby a metallic pad sheet is formed having the prescribed thickness, and having an area that is sufficient for dividing the sheet into a number of the mounting pads equal to at least the multiplicity; followed by (b) dividing the sheet into a second plurality of mounting pads or mounting pad regions, the second plurality being equal to or greater than the multiplicity; followed by (c) selecting one of the second plurality of the mounting pads for mounting pad regions, to provide a selected mounting pad; and followed by (d) bonding the auxiliary support fingers, respectively, to the auxiliary regions of the selected mounting pad.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of making a multiplicity of electronic component packages, each of the packages comprising (1) providing a selected metallic mounting pad having a prescribed thickness and having auxiliary regions that are bonded to respective auxiliary support fingers, and (2) providing a first plurality of conductive fingers, each of the conductive fingers having a thickness at an internal end portion thereof, the prescribed thickness of the mounting pad being less than the thickness of the internal end portion of any of the conductive fingers, the method including the steps of: (a) mechanically thinning an initial metallic sheet having an initial thickness that is more than the prescribed thickness whereby a metallic pad sheet is formed having the prescribed thickness, and having an area that is sufficient for dividing the sheet into a number of the mounting pads equal to at least the multiplicity; followed by (b) dividing the sheet into a second plurality of mounting pads or mounting pad regions, the second plurality being equal to or greater than the multiplicity; followed by (c) selecting one of the second plurality of the mounting pads for mounting pad regions, to provide a selected mounting pad; and followed by (d) bonding the auxiliary support fingers, respectively, to the auxiliary regions of the selected mounting pad.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 further including, subsequent to step (d), the step of: bonding a first major surface of an electronic component to the major surface of the selected mounting pad.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
116 words
The method of claim 2 further including the steps of: bonding one end of a wire segment to a bonding pad located on the component; bonding the other end of the wire segment to the internal end portion of at least one of the conductive fingers; and enclosing the selected mounting pad, the wire segment, the component, and the internal portion of each of the conductive fingers with the encapsulation layer, whereby the internal end portion of each of the conductive fingers is located inside the encapsulation layer and the external end portion of each of the conductive fingers is located outside the encapsulation layer, and whereby the wire segment is enclosed within the encapsulation layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 1, 2, or 3 in which each of the mounting pad regions has the same contour as that of a selected mounting pad except that adjacent mounting pad regions are attached to each other at localized support portions of their perimeters, and in which the selected one of the plurality of mounting pad regions is severed from its adjacent mounting pad region or regions between steps (b) and (d), whereby the selected mounting pad is formed from the selected mounting pad region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 4 further including the steps of: selecting and severing another of the second plurality of mounting pad regions, to provide another selected mounting pad; followed by bonding the auxiliary support fingers, respectively, to the auxiliary regions of the selected mounting pad.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 5 further including the steps of: bonding a first major surface of another electronic component to a major surface of said another selected mounting pad; followed by enclosing said another selected mounting pad, said another component, and an end portion of each of a third plurality of other conductive fingers with another encapsulation layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1, 2, or 3 further including the steps of: selecting another of the second plurality of mounting pads to provide another selected mounting pad; followed by bonding further ones of the auxiliary support fingers, respectively, to the auxiliary regions of said another selected mounting pad.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 7 further including the steps of: bonding a first major surface of another electronic component to a major surface of said another selected mounting pad; and followed by enclosing said another selected mounting pad, said another component, and an end portion of each of a third plurality of other conductive fingers with another encapsulation layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 in which the metallic pad sheet is provided by electrodeposition of a metallic sheet having the prescribed thickness immediately after the electrodeposition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 9 in which each of the mounting pad regions has the same contour as that of a selected mounting pad except that adjacent mounting pad regions are attached to each other at support portions of their perimeters, and in which the selected one of the plurality of mounting pad regions is severed from its adjacent mounting pad region or regions between steps (b) and (d), whereby the selected mounting pad is formed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 10 further including the steps of: selecting and severing another of the second plurality of mounting pad regions, to provide another selected mounting pad; followed by bonding further ones of the auxiliary support fingers, respectively, to the auxiliary support fingers of said another selected mounting pad.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 10 further including the steps of: bonding a first major surface of another electronic component to a major surface of said another selected mounting pad; followed by enclosing said another selected mounting pad, said another component, and an end portion of each of a third plurality of other conductive fingers with another encapsulation layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 9 further including the steps of: selecting another of the second plurality of mounting pads to provide another selected mounting pad; followed by bonding further ones of the auxiliary support fingers, respectively, to the auxiliary support fingers of said another selected mounting pad.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 13 further including the steps of: bonding a first major surface of another electronic component to a major surface of said another selected mounting pad; followed by enclosing said another selected mounting pad, said another component, and an end portion of each of a third plurality of other conductive fingers with another encapsulation layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9 further including, subsequent to step (d), the step of bonding a first major surface of an electronic component to the major surface of the selected mounting pad.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 15 further including the steps of: bonding one end of a wire segment to a bonding pad located on the component; and bonding the other end of the wire segment to the internal end portion of at least one of the conductive fingers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 16 in which each of the mounting pad regions has the same contour as that of a selected mounting pad except that adjacent mounting pad regions are attached to each other at support portions of their perimeters, and in which the selected one of the plurality of mounting pad regions is severed from its adjacent mounting pad regions or regions between steps (b) and (d), whereby the selected mounting pad is formed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 17 further including the steps of selecting and severing another of the second plurality of pad regions, to provide another selected mounting pad; followed by bonding further ones of the auxiliary support fingers, respectively, to the auxiliary support fingers of said another selected mounting pad.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 18 further including the steps of: bonding a first major surface of another electronic component to a major surface of said another selected mounting pad; followed by enclosing said another selected mounting pad, said another component, and an end portion of each of a third plurality of other conductive fingers with another encapsulation layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 15 further including the steps of: selecting another of the second plurality of mounting pads to provide another selected mounting pad; followed by bonding further ones of the auxiliary support fingers, respectively, to the auxiliary support fingers of said another selected mounting pad.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 20 further including the steps of: bonding a first major surface of another electronic component to a major surface of said another selected mounting pad; followed by enclosing said another selected mounting pad, said another component, and an end portion of each of a third plurality of other conductive fingers with another encapsulation layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 16 further including the step of: enclosing the selected mounting pad, the wire segment, the component, and the internal portion of each of the lead frame fingers with the encapsulation layer, whereby the internal end portion of each of the conductive fingers is located inside the encapsulation layer and the external end portion of each of the conductive fingers is located outside the encapsulation layer, and whereby the wire segment is enclosed within the encapsulation layer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 22 in which each of the mounting pad regions has the same contour as that of a selected mounting pad except that adjacent mounting pad regions are attached to each other at support portions of their perimeters, and in which the selected one of the plurality of mounting pad regions is severed from its adjacent mounting pad region or regions between steps (b) and (d), whereby the selected mounting pad is formed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 23 further including the steps of selecting and severing another of the second plurality of pad regions, to provide another selected mounting pad; followed by bonding further ones of the auxiliary support fingers, respectively, to the auxiliary support fingers of said another selected mounting pad.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 24 further including the steps of: bonding a first major surface of another electronic component to a major surface of said another selected mounting pad; and followed by enclosing said another selected mounting pad, said another component, and an end portion of each of a third plurality of other conductive fingers with another encapsulation layer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 22 further including the steps of: selecting another of the second plurality of mounting pads to provide another selected mounting pad; followed by bonding further ones of the auxiliary support fingers, respectively, to the auxiliary support fingers of said another selected mounting pad.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 26 further including the steps of: bonding a first major surface of another electronic component to a major surface of said another selected mounting pad; followed by enclosing said another selected mounting pad, said another component, and an end portion of each of a third plurality of other conductive fingers with another encapsulation layer.