Patent ID: 7183485

Claim:
A microelectronic component assembly comprising: a first lead frame member; a second lead frame member, the second lead frame member being spaced from the first lead frame member; and a packaged element disposed between the first and second lead frame members and attached to the first and second lead frame members only by a plurality of elongate, flexible links that permit the packaged element to accommodate thermally induced stresses by floating with respect to the first and second lead frame members, the packaged element comprising: a microelectronic component carrying a terminal; a plurality of leads having an inner length and an exposed length, the inner length of one of the leads being electrically coupled to the terminal of the microelectronic component; a mold compound covering the terminal and the inner lengths of the individual leads; and a dam bar extending between and interconnecting the exposed lengths of the leads, the dam bar being attached to the first lead frame member by a flexible first dam connector and attached to the second lead frame member by a flexible second dam connector, at least one of the first and second dam connectors including a flexible transverse length and permitting the dam bar to move laterally with respect to the first and second lead frame members.