Patent ID: 7148085

Claim:
A method for fabricating a leadframe comprising the steps of: providing a copper leadframe having a mount pad for an integrated circuit chip and a plurality of lead segments having their first end near said mount pad and their second end remote from said mount pad; cleaning said leadframe in alkaline soak cleaning and alkaline electro cleaning; activating said leadframe by immersing said leadframe into an acid solution, thereby dissolving any copper oxide; immersing said leadframe into an electrolytic nickel plating solution and depositing a first layer of nickel onto said copper; electroplating a layer comprising an alloy of nickel and palladium; electroplating a second layer of nickel, thereby adapting said lead segments for mechanical bending; electroplating a layer of palladium; selectively masking said chip pad and said first segment ends, thereby leaving said second segment ends exposed; and plating a layer of gold on said exposed segment ends in a thickness suitable to optimize solder attachment, thereby creating a visual distinction between the gold-plated and unplated leadframe areas.