Patent ID: 8198137

Claim:
A system for electrically isolating conductive members of a plurality of lead frames from one another, the system comprising: a stage configured to position the plurality of lead frames to receive laser radiation; a laser configured to emit laser radiation; a computer system comprising electro-optical components configured to sever conductive members from one another by laser ablation effected with programmable scanning of light from the laser; memory comprising instructions that when executed cause a system to effect ablation paths along a plurality of lines across an array of lead frames, so that the ablation occurs: in spaced-apart segments along lines oriented along a first direction to sever at least one lead associated with the lead frames while leaving the lead frames attached to one another, and in spaced-apart segments along lines oriented along a second direction not parallel with the first direction to sever other leads while still leaving the lead frames attached to one another so that the array can undergo electrical testing prior to singulation.