Patent ID: 7944032

Claim:
A lead frame panel suitable for use in semiconductor packaging, the lead frame panel comprising a matrix of tie bars that define a plurality of device areas, each device area being configured suitably to support an associated die and including: an array of contact posts, each contact post having a contact pad that is substantially co-planar with a bottom surface of the lead frame panel; a plurality of lead segments carried by associated tie bars, each lead segment being integrally formed with an associated contact post, wherein upper surfaces of the lead segments are substantially co-planar with an upper surface of the lead frame panel and bottom surfaces of the lead segments are recessed relative to the bottom surface of the lead frame panel, and wherein some of the lead segments extend between contact posts associated with other lead segments; and a plurality of elongated support segments located peripherally around the array of contact posts, each elongated support segment being integrally formed with an associated lead segment, wherein bottom surfaces of the elongated support segments are substantially co-planar with the bottom surface of the lead frame panel, and wherein each elongated support segment extends along a portion of an associated lead segment but does not extend to an associated contact post such that each elongated support segment is longer than it is wide.