Patent ID: 8173910

Claim:
A printed circuit board (PCB) ball grid array (BGA) system, comprising: a PCB; a PCB BGA pad formed on the PCB; a plated through-hole via disposed at least partially through the PCB proximate the PCB BGA pad; a soldermask disposed over the PCB, the soldermask comprising: a BGA pad opening through which the PCB BGA pad is exposed; and a via opening through which a central portion of the plated through-hole via is exposed, the via opening having an inner diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the plated through-hole via such that an outer portion of the upper surface of the plated-through hole via is covered by the soldermask while a central portion of the upper surface of the plated-through hole via is exposed through the soldermask; an electronic component having a component BGA pad thereon; and a reflowed solder ball contacting and electrically coupling the component BGA pad and the PCB BGA pad, the reflowed solder ball disposed over and circumferentially adhered to the PCB BGA pad.