Patent ID: 7375288

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a first layer of material having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface having a footprint of a ball-grid-array device thereon adapted to receive the ball-grid-array device; a second layer of material overlying said second surface of said first layer; and, a plurality of stiffening members positioned within said second layer at a position laterally proximate said footprint of said ball-grid-array device; and wherein the plurality of stiffening members are spaced apart from edges of footprint such that the stiffening members substantially surround edges of the footprint, wherein the stiffening members are spaced apart from each other such that gaps are defined between ends of the stiffening members, and the stiffening members each comprise a front facing surface such that the front facing surfaces of the stiffening members are disposed proximate to face edges of the footprint.