Patent ID: 7943431

Claim:
A method for the manufacture of a package to encase a semiconductor package, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an electrically conductive frame having a first side and an opposing second side and having a plurality of leadframes arranged in a matrix, each leadframe having a plurality of spaced leads extending outwardly from a central aperture, said electrically conductive frame further having a plurality of connecting bars joining outer end portions of adjacent ones of said leadframes; (b) forming a groove in at least one of said connecting bars to form a reduced thickness portion therein between adjacent leads at the first side of the frame, the reduced thickness portion of the connecting bar disposed between full thickness portions of the connecting bar intersecting the outer end portions; (c) forming a profile in the leads, wherein each lead has a full thickness portion and a reduced thickness portion at the first side of the frame, the reduced thickness portion extending beyond the full thickness portion in a first direction along the connecting bar and in a second direction transverse thereto, the full thickness portion including the outer end portion, said full thickness portions of the connecting bar connecting opposing outer end portions of leads of adjacent leadframes in the second direction, the profile in the leads providing an undercut with respect to the first side of the frame; (d) electrically coupling a semiconductor device to inner portions of said leads at the first side of the frame; (e) encapsulating said frame and semiconductor devices with a molding compound; and (f) cutting said molding compound and frame along said connecting bar and along a path through alternating reduced thickness portions and full thickness portions of the connecting bar, the path being substantially equidistant between adjacent apertures, to form singulated semiconductor packages having outer lead portions with a height greater than the height of said reduced thickness portion.