Patent Description:
Electronic substrates are often used to support and connect electrical components and electronic modules. Laminate structures, such as printed circuit boards and the like, are commonly used as electronic substrates for electronic devices. A typical laminate structure may include a non-conductive body for support and one or more conductive features for connecting the electrical components or electronic modules. The conductive features may be any type of conductive structure exposed at a surface of the non-conductive body and may include contact pads, conductive traces, surface-exposed sections of vias, and the like. Electrical components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, resonators, bond wires, and integrated circuits (ICs) are mounted to one or more of the conductive features by a soldering process. For example, the conductive features may include one or more contact pads connected to one another by one or more conductive traces. Accordingly, one or more circuits can be formed on the laminate structure. One or more electrical components that are mounted on the laminate structure can be arranged to form an electronic device or module.

In typical fabrication processes, many electronic modules can be formed concurrently across a common laminate structure before individual electronic modules or groups of electronic modules are singulated. In this manner, common manufacturing steps and processes may be sequentially performed at high speeds to concurrently form large quantities of electronic modules. Electronic component placement tools may be utilized to place and mount electronic components across common laminate structures to form the electronic modules. After the electronic modules are formed, singulation may include separating the laminate structure along peripheral boundaries of individual electronic modules or around groups of electronic modules. Fiducials, or recognition marks, are typically employed to indicate the mounting locations of various electronic components on the laminate structure or to indicate the locations of singulation lines for the electronic modules.

The art continues to seek improved electronic devices and related fabrication techniques capable of overcoming challenges associated with conventional electronic devices. <CIT> relates to a method of forming quantum-mechanical memory and computational devices and devices obtained thereof. <CIT> relates to a method of producing a suspension board with a circuit. However, neither of these references disclose, at least, a device comprising a laminate structure and a solder mask on a surface of a topmost layer of the laminate structure, the solder mask forming a solder mask opening that is registered with a fiducial in the laminate structure.

The present invention relates to a device comprising a laminate structure according to claim <NUM>. Laminate structures as disclosed herein may include one or more metal layers and dielectric layers that form a support structure for one or more electronic components or modules that are mounted thereon. Fiducials are disclosed that are formed in the laminate structure to provide increased visibility and contrast, thereby improving detection of the fiducials with optical detection equipment of automated machines commonly used in the electronics industry. In certain embodiments, a fiducial is defined by an opening in the laminate structure that extends to a depth within the laminate structure that provides sufficient contrast. Openings for fiducials may be arranged to extend through multiple metal layers and dielectric layers of the laminate structure. In certain embodiments, the openings for the fiducials are formed by a subtractive process, such as laser drilling. In certain embodiments, the fiducial may be coated with additional layers or coatings, such as a metal coating that includes an
electromagnetic shield for electronic devices that are mounted on the laminate structure, and the fiducial is configured with sufficient visibility and contrast to be detectable through the additional layers or coatings.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to put the invention as claimed into practice.

The present disclosure relates to laminate structures for electronic devices and more particularly to configurations of fiducials for laminate structures. Laminate structures as disclosed herein may include one or more metal layers and dielectric layers that form a support structure for one or more electronic components or modules that are mounted thereon. Fiducials are disclosed that are formed in the laminate structure to provide increased visibility and contrast, thereby improving detection of the fiducials with optical detection equipment of automated machines commonly used in the electronics industry. In certain embodiments, a fiducial is defined by an opening in the laminate structure that extends to a depth within the laminate structure that provides sufficient contrast. Openings for fiducials may be arranged to extend through multiple metal layers and dielectric layers of the laminate structure. In certain embodiments, the openings for the fiducials are formed by a subtractive process, such as laser drilling. In certain embodiments, the fiducial may be coated with additional layers or coatings, such as a metal coating that includes an electromagnetic shield for electronic devices that are mounted on the laminate structure, and the fiducial is configured with sufficient visibility and contrast to be detectable through the additional layers or coatings.

Fiducials, or recognition marks, have many uses in the electronics industry, including the indication of mounting locations for various electronic components or to indicate the locations of singulation lines for electronic components or electronic modules during fabrication. Fiducials are typically placed in various locations across an electronic substrate and automated equipment is configured with optical detection equipment such as a camera to detect the locations of the fiducials and accordingly perform subsequent fabrication steps. For example, pick-and-place machines may be configured to detect various fiducials with a camera and accordingly place various electronic components at the various fiducial locations. In another example, dicing machines may be configured to detect fiducials with a camera and accordingly scribe, break, saw, or cut electronic devices along dicing lines or streets that are registered with the fiducials.

<FIG> is a top view of a laminate structure <NUM> as an example in which every feature of the independent claims is not explicitly recited but which is useful for understanding the invention, on which several fiducials <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> have been formed. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the section line A-A of <FIG>. The laminate structure <NUM> includes a plurality of metal layers <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> and a plurality of dielectric layers <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>. The laminate structure <NUM> may comprise a printed circuit board where the plurality of metal layers <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> are laminated in an alternating configuration with the plurality of dielectric layers <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>. While six metal layers <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> are illustrated, the laminate structure may be configured with any number of metal layers. Generally, increasing the number of laminated metal layers corresponds to an increased number of electronic components that may be mounted and electrically connected on a particular laminate structure. This allows electrical connections to various electronic components to be made at different horizontal planes within the laminate structure <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the plurality of metal layers <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> may include copper (Cu), copper foil, or the like while the plurality of dielectric layers <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> may include fiber materials, glass, epoxy, glass-reinforced epoxy, ceramic materials, polymer materials and combinations thereof. The fiducials <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> may be formed on the laminate structure <NUM> in locations that are spaced apart from mounting regions for various electronic components. Depending on the detection equipment utilized, the fiducials <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> may form any number of shapes including circles, crosses, squares, rectangles, and ovals, among others. As illustrated in <FIG>, the fiducial <NUM>-<NUM> is formed with a circular shape in a portion of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> where boundaries of the circular shape are defined by a pattern of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. A clearance section that is devoid of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> is formed adjacent to the boundaries of the fiducial <NUM>-<NUM>, and accordingly, the first dielectric layer <NUM>-<NUM> is visible in the clearance section. In another example, the fiducial <NUM>-<NUM> also forms a circular shape where boundaries of the circular shape are defined by a pattern of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>; however, the fiducial <NUM>-<NUM> is formed by an area of the laminate structure <NUM> that is devoid of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. In yet another example, the fiducial <NUM>-<NUM> forms a cross or plus symbol that is also defined by a pattern of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. Each of the fiducials <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> may be formed by selectively removing or selectively depositing the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. In this manner, the fiducials <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> are formed by patterns of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> and portions of the first dielectric layer <NUM>-<NUM> that are visible through the patterns of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. Accordingly, a depth of each of the fiducials <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> is defined by a thickness of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. Depending on the application, the laminate structure <NUM> may be subsequently coated with one or more additional layers (e.g., dielectrics, metals, etc.) in fabrication steps associated with various electronic components that are mounted to the laminate structure <NUM>. If the fiducials <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> are also coated with the one or more additional layers, the visibility and/or contrast of the fiducials <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> may be reduced, making it more difficult for automated machines to detect the precise location of the fiducials <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>.

<FIG> is a top view of a laminate structure <NUM> as an example in which every feature of the independent claims is not explicitly recited but which is useful for understanding the invention, where several fiducials <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> have been formed with increased depths into the laminate structure <NUM>. The first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> as previously described is visible from the top view. The fiducial <NUM>-<NUM> is formed with a circular shape in a portion of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> where an outer boundary of the circular shape is defined by a circular pattern of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. Within the outer boundary, a ring-shaped area is formed that is devoid of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. The ring-shaped area is configured to extend into the laminate structure <NUM> to a depth sufficient to provide improved visibility and contrast of the fiducial <NUM>-<NUM>. The fiducial <NUM>-<NUM> also forms a circular shape where an outer boundary of the circular shape is defined by a pattern of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>; however, the entire area within the outer boundary of the circular shape is devoid of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> and extends into the laminate structure <NUM> to a similar depth. The fiducial <NUM>-<NUM> forms a cross or plus symbol that is also defined by a pattern of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. In this manner, each of the fiducials <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> are formed in the laminate structure <NUM> and each of the fiducials <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> are defined by one or more openings of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate cross-sectional views taken at various stages of fabrication for fiducials as an example in which every feature of the independent claims is not explicitly recited but which is useful for understanding the invention. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a laminate structure <NUM> before any fiducials have been formed. The laminate structure <NUM> includes the plurality of metal layers <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> and the plurality of dielectric layers <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> as previously described. As illustrated, the second metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> is formed with an opening <NUM> such that the second metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> does not extend across the same area of the laminate structure <NUM> as the other metal layers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>. In this regard, the first dielectric layer <NUM>-<NUM> and the second dielectric layer <NUM>-<NUM> may be continuous within the opening <NUM>. The opening <NUM> of the second metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> is formed during fabrication of the laminate structure <NUM> and may include selectively depositing a pattern of the second metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> to form the opening <NUM> or blanket depositing the second metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> and selectively removing a portion of the second metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> to form the opening <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the laminate structure <NUM> of <FIG> after a resist layer <NUM> has been patterned on the laminate structure <NUM>. The resist layer <NUM> may be patterned by various methods, including lithography and photolithography. In <FIG>, the resist layer <NUM> is formed on the laminate structure <NUM> and is registered with the opening <NUM> of the second metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the laminate structure <NUM> of <FIG> after a thickness of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> has been increased in certain areas. As illustrated, additional material of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> may be formed on the laminate structure <NUM> around the resist layer <NUM>. In this regard, a thin portion of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> is formed that is between the resist layer <NUM> and the first dielectric layer <NUM>-<NUM>. In certain examples where the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> comprises Cu, the thickness of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> may be increased by depositing additional Cu material by a plating process or other deposition techniques around the resist layer <NUM>. In other examples and embodiments, a material that is different from the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> may be deposited around the resist layer <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the laminate structure <NUM> after the resist layer <NUM> of <FIG> has been removed. In particular, the resist layer <NUM> of <FIG> may be stripped off of the laminate structure <NUM>, and the thinner portion of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> that was directly under the resist layer <NUM> of <FIG> may be etched or otherwise removed to form an opening <NUM> that is defined by a pattern of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. In this manner, a fiducial <NUM> that is similar to the fiducial <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG> may be formed where boundaries of the fiducial <NUM> are defined by a pattern of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. Due to the increased thickness of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> in <FIG>, the fiducial <NUM> is formed with a greater depth into the laminate structure <NUM> than the fiducial <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>, thereby providing improved contrast when viewed from above the laminate structure <NUM>. As illustrated, the opening <NUM> is registered with the opening <NUM> of the second metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the laminate structure <NUM> of <FIG> after a depth of the fiducial <NUM> is increased even further into the laminate structure <NUM>. As illustrated, portions of the first and second dielectric layers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> that were registered with the opening <NUM> are removed such that the opening <NUM> is configured to extend to the third metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. In this regard, the shape of the opening <NUM> is defined by a pattern of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>, the first dielectric layer <NUM>-<NUM>, and the second dielectric layer <NUM>-<NUM>, and the fiducial <NUM> comprises a surface of the third metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> that is exposed by the opening <NUM>. Notably, the opening <NUM> is thereby configured to extend through the opening <NUM> of the second metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. Accordingly, the fiducial <NUM> is formed in the laminate structure <NUM> and the fiducial <NUM> is defined by the opening <NUM> that extends through the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>, the first dielectric layer <NUM>-<NUM>, and the second metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. In particular a width of the opening <NUM> may define a width of the fiducial <NUM>. In certain examples and embodiments, a sidewall <NUM>' of the opening <NUM> comprises a portion of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> and a portion of the first dielectric layer <NUM>-<NUM>. The sidewall <NUM>' may also comprise a portion of the second dielectric layer <NUM>-<NUM>. In this manner, the sidewall <NUM>' may also refer to a sidewall of the laminate structure <NUM> that is within the opening <NUM> and the sidewall <NUM>' may also be configured to define at least a portion of the fiducial <NUM>. In certain examples and embodiments, the opening <NUM> in the second metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> is configured with a larger width across the laminate structure <NUM> than a width of the opening <NUM>. In this regard, the sidewall <NUM>' may be devoid of the second metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. Accordingly, the fiducial <NUM> is configured to extend further into the laminate structure <NUM>, thereby providing even further improved visibility and contrast when viewed from above the laminate structure <NUM>. Additionally, at least some portions of the fiducial <NUM> are defined by edges of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> at the opening <NUM>, thereby forming a well-defined edge for optical detection equipment.

In order to remove portions of the first and second dielectric layers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> that were registered with the opening <NUM>, a selective removal process may be performed on the laminate structure <NUM> in certain examples and embodiments. The selective removal process may comprise laser drilling where pulsed laser energy from a laser source such as a carbon dioxide (CO<NUM>) laser is applied to the laminate structure <NUM> at the opening <NUM>. The laser energy may be configured to be absorbed by and promote ablation of the first and second dielectric layers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. Additionally, the laser energy may be configured to have reduced absorption by the metal layers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. In this regard, the laser energy may be applied over a wider area of the laminate structure <NUM> and the shape of the fiducial <NUM> will be defined by the pattern or opening <NUM> that extends through the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. Ablation of the first and second dielectric layers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> will occur and may thereby end at the exposed surface of the third metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. In this manner, different depths of fiducials <NUM> may be configured by initially arranging additional openings of various metal layers within the laminate structure <NUM>. For example, during fabrication of the laminate structure <NUM>, the third metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> may be formed with an opening similar to the opening <NUM> of the second metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. Accordingly, a laser drilling process may ablate portions of the first, second, and third dielectric layers <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> before stopping at the fourth metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>. Other subtractive removal steps are contemplated, including mechanical drilling or cutting, and etching, among others.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a laminate structure <NUM> as an example in which every feature of the independent claims is not explicitly recited but which is useful for understanding the invention, that includes a solder mask <NUM>. The laminate structure <NUM> is similar to the laminate structure <NUM> of <FIG> and accordingly includes the metal layers <NUM>-<NUM> - <NUM>-<NUM>, the dielectric layers <NUM>-<NUM> - <NUM>-<NUM>, the opening <NUM> that is defined by a pattern of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>, and the fiducial <NUM> as previously described. Depending on the application and the type of components intended to be mounted on other locations of the laminate structure <NUM>, the solder mask <NUM> may be configured to provide electrical isolation on the top of the laminate structure <NUM> as well as to provide oxidation protection. Notably, the solder mask <NUM> may be configured on the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> to form a solder mask opening <NUM> that is registered with the fiducial <NUM>. In certain examples and embodiments, the solder mask opening <NUM> is configured with a larger width across the laminate structure <NUM> than a width of the fiducial <NUM> across the laminate structure <NUM>. Accordingly, a portion of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> that is closest to the opening <NUM> may be devoid of the solder mask <NUM> to provide access to the opening <NUM> in subsequent processing steps as well as to provide increased visibility of the fiducial <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the laminate structure <NUM> of <FIG> after a depth of the fiducial <NUM> is increased. The depth of the fiducial <NUM> may be increased by a subtractive material process, such as the laser drilling as previously described for <FIG>. By configuring the width of the solder mask opening <NUM> to be larger than the width of the fiducial <NUM>, laser energy from a laser drilling process may be applied to the opening <NUM>, and the pattern of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> that defines the opening <NUM> may also define the portions of the first and second dielectric layers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> that are ablated.

In certain examples and embodiments, one or more additional layers or coatings may be applied to surfaces of laminate structures as disclosed herein. Depending on the desired application and the electrical components that may be accordingly mounted on a laminate structure, one or more additional layers may include additional dielectric coatings and/or additional metal coatings, among others. For example, electrical components or modules on a laminate structure may be coated with one or more metal coatings to form an electromagnetic shield for reducing electromagnetic interference or crosstalk between different ones of the electrical components or modules. An electromagnetic shield may include one or more thin metal layers sequentially deposited over a laminate structure to cover a particular electrical component or module. An electromagnetic shield may also include one or more metal particles or flecks suspended in a binder. During deposition, fiducials that are provided in the laminate structure may also be coated with the electromagnetic shield coatings. According to configurations of fiducials as disclosed herein, fiducials may be coated with additional layers or coatings and still maintain sufficient visibility and contrast to be viewed and detected with automated processing equipment.

<FIG> is cross-sectional view of a laminate structure <NUM> that includes a metal coating <NUM> on the laminate structure <NUM> as an example in which every feature of the independent claims is not explicitly recited but which is useful for understanding the invention. In certain examples and embodiments, the metal coating <NUM> may comprise one or more layers or sub-layers that form an electromagnetic shield for electrical components or modules that are mounted in other locations of the laminate structure <NUM>. The metal coating <NUM> may be deposited by one or more combinations of electroless plating, electrolytic plating, other plating processes, sputtering, dispensing, and spraying, among others. In certain examples and embodiments, the metal coating <NUM> comprises one or more layers of Cu, nickel (Ni), and combinations thereof. For example, the metal coating <NUM> may comprise a first layer of electroless Cu, a second layer of electrolytic Cu, and a third layer of electrolytic Ni to form an electromagnetic shield. In other examples and embodiments, the metal coating <NUM> comprises conductive metal particles or flecks that are suspended or filled in an epoxy material or binder to form an electromagnetic shield. In such examples and embodiments, the epoxy material may be filed with one or more combinations of conductive metal particles or flecks of Cu, silver (Ag), tin/zinc alloys (Sn/Zn), or other conductive materials. The laminate structure <NUM> in <FIG> is similar to the laminate structure <NUM> of <FIG> and accordingly includes the metal layers <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>, the dielectric layers <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>, the opening <NUM> that is defined by a pattern of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>, and the fiducial <NUM> as previously described. During deposition of the metal coating <NUM>, the opening <NUM> may also be covered by the metal coating <NUM>. In this regard, the metal coating <NUM> may be configured to extend into the opening <NUM> and to cover the sidewall <NUM>'. In certain examples and embodiments, the metal coating <NUM> may be configured to extend into the opening <NUM> to cover the surface of the third metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> that is exposed by the opening <NUM>. As illustrated, the fiducial <NUM> is defined by the opening <NUM> and the metal coating <NUM> is configured to cover one or more surfaces of the laminate structure <NUM> that are outside of the opening <NUM> (e.g., top surfaces of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>) as well as one or more surfaces of the laminate structure <NUM> that are within the opening <NUM> (e.g., the sidewall <NUM>' and a portion of the third metal layer <NUM>-<NUM>).

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the laminate structure <NUM> of <FIG> for embodiments that include the solder mask <NUM> as described for <FIG>. As illustrated, the solder mask <NUM> may be configured as previously described and the metal coating <NUM> may subsequently be formed on the laminate structure <NUM> to cover at least a portion of the solder mask <NUM>. In this regard, the metal coating <NUM> may also be configured to cover portions of the first metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> that are uncovered by the solder mask <NUM>, and the metal coating <NUM> may also be configured to extend into the opening <NUM> as previously described. In certain embodiments, the metal coating <NUM> covers the sidewall <NUM>' of the opening <NUM> as well as a portion of the third metal layer <NUM>-<NUM> within the opening <NUM>.

In the fabrication of electronic devices, a laminate structure as disclosed herein may be populated with arrays of one or more electronic components that form an array of electronic modules. The electronic components are mounted on and electrically connected to one or more of the metal layers of the laminate structure. After fabrication of the array of electronic modules, the laminate structure may be diced or singulated along dicing lines or streets that extend between individual ones or groups of electronic modules, thereby forming a plurality of separated electronic modules. Fiducials as described herein may be provided at various locations in the laminate structure. In certain embodiments, fiducials are placed to identify the location of the dicing lines for dicing equipment. In certain embodiments, fiducials may also be placed to identify the locations where individual electronic components are to be mounted for placement equipment.

<FIG> is a top view of a representative laminate structure <NUM> on which a plurality of electronic modules <NUM> have been mounted to form an array of the electronic modules <NUM>. Depending on the application, various combinations of one or more electrical components including resistors, capacitors, inductors, resonators, bond wires, and ICs may form each of the electronic modules <NUM>. Streets or dicing lines <NUM> are configured between rows and columns of the electronic modules <NUM>. For simplicity, only a few dicing lines <NUM> are shown, but it is understood dicing lines <NUM> can be formed between every column and every row of the electronic modules <NUM>. In certain embodiments, a plurality of fiducials <NUM> are arranged in the laminate structure <NUM> as previously described. As illustrated in <FIG>, the plurality of fiducials <NUM> are configured in areas of the laminate structure <NUM> that are spaced apart from where the electronic modules <NUM> are mounted. In particular, the fiducials <NUM> are arranged along the perimeter of the laminate structure <NUM> and the fiducials <NUM> are configured to be registered with or aligned with the dicing lines <NUM>. In this manner, an automated dicing machine may be configured to detect the location of each fiducial <NUM> and properly align the machine to cut, saw, break, or otherwise separate the laminate structure <NUM> along each of the dicing lines <NUM>. Accordingly, each of the fiducials <NUM> may comprise an alignment marker that indicates the location of each dicing line <NUM> for singulation. In certain embodiments, the dicing lines <NUM> or streets may comprise a width as measured by a distance between adjacent electronic modules <NUM> in a range of about <NUM> microns (µm) to about <NUM>. In order to provide alignment indication, the fiducials <NUM> are registered with the width of the dicing lines <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the fiducials <NUM> may comprise a longest dimension across the surface (e.g., diameter for circular fiducials) of the laminate structure <NUM> that is approximately the same as the width of the dicing lines <NUM>. In other embodiments, the fiducials <NUM> may comprise a longest dimension across the surface of the laminate structure <NUM> that is less than the width of the dicing lines <NUM>. In still further embodiments, the fiducials <NUM> may comprise a longest dimension across the surface of the laminate structure <NUM> that is greater than the width of the dicing lines <NUM>. In any of these embodiments, the fiducials <NUM> may be registered with the dicing lines <NUM> such that a center point of each fiducial <NUM> is aligned with at least one dicing line <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the longest dimension of the fiducials <NUM> across the surface of the laminate structure <NUM> may include a range from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, or in a range from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, or in a range from about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

In other embodiments, the fiducials <NUM> may be provided in locations that are adjacent to each of the electronic modules <NUM> to indicate a mounting location for each of the electronic modules <NUM>.

<FIG> is a top view of the laminate structure <NUM> of <FIG> after the metal coating <NUM> as described for <FIG> has been formed. In certain embodiments, the metal coating <NUM> is blanket deposited across the plurality of electronic modules <NUM> and surfaces of the laminate structure <NUM> that are uncovered by the plurality of electronic modules <NUM>. The metal coating <NUM> may comprise an electromagnetic shield as previously described. In this manner, each of the electronic modules <NUM> is coated with an electromagnetic shield that will remain on each of the electronic modules <NUM> after singulation along each of the dicing lines <NUM>. As illustrated, when the metal coating <NUM> is blanket deposited across the laminate structure <NUM>, the metal coating <NUM> may also be configured to coat the fiducials <NUM>. The fiducials <NUM> as disclosed herein are provided with increased visibility and contrast at least partly due to the increased depth in which the fiducials <NUM> are formed within the laminate structure <NUM>. In this manner, the metal coating <NUM> may not obscure the fiducials <NUM>, thereby allowing the fiducials <NUM> to remain visible from the top view with sufficient contrast to be detected by cameras or other detection equipment of automated dicing equipment.

Claim 1:
A device comprising:
a laminate structure (<NUM>) comprising:
a plurality of metal layers (<NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>) that are arranged in an alternating configuration with a plurality of dielectric layers (<NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>);
a fiducial (<NUM>) defined by an opening (<NUM>) in the laminate structure, wherein the opening extends through first and second metal layers (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) of the plurality of metal layers, wherein the first metal layer (<NUM>-<NUM>) is a topmost layer of the laminate structure (<NUM>); and
a solder mask (<NUM>) on a surface of the first metal layer, the solder mask forming a solder mask opening (<NUM>) that is registered with the fiducial;
wherein the device further comprises a metal coating (<NUM>) on the laminate structure, wherein the metal coating is distinct from the first and second metal layers, and the metal coating is arranged on at least one horizontal surface of the laminate structure that is outside the opening, on at least one horizontal surface of the laminate structure that covers a bottom of the opening, and on a sidewall (<NUM>') of the opening.