Patent ID: 8766441

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a substrate having a front side surface and a back side surface; a first passivation layer disposed over at least one of the front side and back side surfaces; at least one via extending through respective openings formed in the first passivation layer; a conductor layer disposed over the first passivation layer, coupled to the at least one via and forming a conductive trace on the surface of the first passivation layer, the conductive layer being a continuous layer of conductive material and having a planar upper surface; a second passivation layer formed over the conductor layer; at least one slot opening formed in the second passivation layer and exposing a portion of the conductive trace for receiving a solder connector; a plating layer over and contacting the portion of the conductive trace exposed in the at least one slot opening, the plating layer not extending over the second passivation layer; and a solder connector over and contacting the plating layer in the at least one slot opening.