Patent ID: 6872599

Claim:
A method of packaging semiconductor devices comprising: providing a lead frame panel patterned to define a plurality of device areas and a matrix of tie bars having tie bar axes, each device area including a multiplicity of conductive contacts that are attached to an associated tie bar; positioning a plurality of dice within the lead frame, each die being positioned within an associated device area; electrically connecting each die to the contacts of its associated device area using connectors; forming at least one casing over the device areas, thereby encapsulating the connectors and providing mechanical support for the contacts while leaving the bottom surfaces of the contacts exposed; undercutting portions of the contacts adjacent the tie bars thereby exposing at least some side and underside surfaces of the contacts; and solder plating the lead frame after the undercutting such that the exposed conductive contacts including the exposed side and underside surfaces are solder-plated.