PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10037948-B2
Application Number: US-201615241665-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Invisible compartment shielding

Abstract:
A method for shielding a compartment in a module of an electronic device includes molding the module using a mold material that activates when a laser is applied. The method also includes cutting a trench on the mold of the module around a certain portion of the module using the laser. The method further includes plating the trench using a certain metal. The method also includes filling the trench with a filler material. The method further includes encapsulating the module, the mold, the trench, and the filler material.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for shielding a compartment in a module of an electronic device, comprising:
 molding the module using a mold material that activates when a laser is applied, wherein activation causes metal plating to adhere to the mold material when the laser is applied; 
 cutting a trench on the mold material of the module around a certain portion of the module using the laser; 
 plating the trench using the metal plating configured to reduce electromagnetic interference to or from the module; 
 filling the trench with a filler material; and 
 encapsulating the module, the mold material, the trench, and the filler material. 
 
     
     
       2. The method for shielding the compartment in the module of the electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein plating the trench using the metal plating comprises electroplating. 
     
     
       3. The method for shielding the compartment in the module of the electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein plating the trench using the metal plating comprises electroless plating. 
     
     
       4. The method for shielding the compartment in the module of the electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein plating the trench using the metal plating comprises Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD). 
     
     
       5. The method for shielding the compartment in the module of the electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein plating the trench using the metal plating comprises sputter deposition. 
     
     
       6. The method for shielding the compartment in the module of the electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein encapsulating the module, the mold material, the trench, and the filler material comprises electroplating. 
     
     
       7. The method for shielding the compartment in the module of the electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein encapsulating the module, the mold material, the trench, and the filler material comprises electroless plating. 
     
     
       8. The method for shielding the compartment in the module of the electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein encapsulating the module, the mold material, the trench, and the filler material comprises Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD). 
     
     
       9. An encapsulation for a module of an electronic device, comprising:
 a mold comprising:
 a mold material that activates when a laser is applied, wherein activation causes metal plating to adhere to the mold material when the laser is applied; 
 a plated trench around a certain portion of the module, comprising the metal plating configured to reduce electromagnetic interference to or from the module; and 
 filler material disposed in the plated trench; and 
 
 a protective layer encapsulating the mold material, the plated trench, and the filler material. 
 
     
     
       10. The encapsulation for the module of the electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the mold material comprises a Palladium seed layer. 
     
     
       11. The encapsulation for the module of the electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the mold material comprises Laser Direct Structuring (LDS)-grade resin. 
     
     
       12. The encapsulation for the module of the electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the mold material comprises a metal-plastic additive that is configured to be activated by a laser. 
     
     
       13. The encapsulation for the module of the electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the metal plating comprises copper. 
     
     
       14. The encapsulation for the module of the electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the metal plating comprises nickel. 
     
     
       15. A module of an electronic device, comprising:
 one or more integrated circuits coupled to a printed circuit board; 
 a mold encapsulating the one or more integrated circuits and the printed circuit board, comprising:
 a mold material that activates when a laser is applied, wherein activation causes metal plating to adhere to the mold material when the laser is applied; and 
 a trench around a certain portion of the module, comprising the metal plating configured to shield electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by the certain portion of the module; and 
 
 a protective layer encapsulating the mold material and the trench. 
 
     
     
       16. The module of the electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the protective layer encapsulating the mold material and the trench comprises a metal. 
     
     
       17. The module of the electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the certain portion of the module comprises the one or more integrated circuits coupled to the printed circuit board. 
     
     
       18. The module of the electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the protective layer encapsulating the mold material and the trench comprises nickel. 
     
     
       19. The module of the electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the trench comprises a width of approximately 250 microns.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to shielding a compartment in a module of an electronic device and, more particularly, to shielding a compartment that may generate electromagnetic interference (EMI) by plating a trench surrounding the compartment. 
     This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. 
     Some electronic devices include multiple integrated circuits enclosed in a single module or package. This is often the case with system-in-package (SiP) modules. An SiP module may enable a smaller, more portable, and quicker-to-manufacture electronic device that performs more functions. However, the electrical functions performed by the SiP module may generate EMI, which could affect the operation of other components of the electronic device and even other electronic devices. Before metallizing the SiP module surface via a sputtering process, a compartment-shielding trench may be cut around a portion of the SiP module that generates relatively high EMI. The compartment-shielding trench may be filled with a material (such as conductive epoxy) that reduces the EMI attempting to pass through the trench. In this manner, the compartment-shielding trench may shield the remainder of the SiP module from the EMI generated from the relatively high EMI-generating portion. However, after application, the material may include voids that leave noticeable marks after sputtering. The noticeable marks may be aesthetically undesirable and may reveal the design of the SiP module. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosed embodiments relate to systems, devices, and methods for shielding a compartment of a module in an electronic device, such as a system-in-package (SiP) or system-in-a-package module, in an aesthetically pleasing way. The compartment shielding may hide distinctions between separate compartments of the module, such as separate integrated circuits. Indeed, in some cases, the compartment shielding may even be considered substantially invisible. Thus, in some cases, the module may appear to be contiguous and without separate compartments. 
     The compartment shielding of this disclosure may shield one compartment from electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by another compartment in the same module of an electronic device. A mold may encapsulate the two compartments in the module. A trench may be cut into the mold between the two compartments or around one of the compartments. The trench may be plated and a shielding material, such as conductive epoxy or conductive polymer paste, may be installed onto the plating. The plating may increase the conductivity of the shielding and more effectively block EMI by reducing or eliminating voids in the shielding material. The plating process may also use a narrower trench (e.g., when compared to using conductive epoxy or conductive polymer paste alone), rendering the trench harder to detect and reducing the footprint of the trench on the module. The module and trench may be encapsulated (e.g., with metal) using a technique that leaves virtually no indication of the trench (e.g., when compared to sputtering over voids in the shielding material), decreasing visibility of the trench and more effectively hiding the design of the module. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a notebook computer representing an embodiment of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a handheld device representing another embodiment of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of another handheld device representing another embodiment of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a desktop computer representing another embodiment of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a wearable electronic device representing another embodiment of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a system in package (SiP) module of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a method for shielding a component of the SiP module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram of the SiP module of  FIG. 7  that has been molded with a mold material and includes a trench cut on the mold, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is block diagrams of the SiP module of  FIG. 9  that has been encapsulated with a protective layer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is block diagrams of the SiP module of  FIG. 9  that has been encapsulated with the protective layer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the trench of the SiP module of  FIGS. 9-11  upon which the method of  FIG. 8  has been applied, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. 
     A general description of suitable electronic devices that may include and use a module that includes a shielded compartment in accordance with the present disclosure, such as a system-in-package (SiP) or system-in-a-package module, is provided. Although this disclosure will refer to the SiP module in the description below, it should be appreciated that the systems, methods, and devices of the disclosure may employ any suitable modules having at least two compartments, at least one of which is shielded according to these techniques. With this in mind,  FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic device  10 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device  10  may include, among other things, one or more processor(s)  12 , memory  14 , storage or nonvolatile memory  16 , a display  18 , input structures  22 , an input/output (I/O) interface  24 , network interfaces  26 , and a power source  28 . The various functional blocks shown in  FIG. 1  may include hardware elements (including circuitry), software elements (including computer code stored on a computer-readable medium), or a combination of both hardware and software elements. It should be noted that  FIG. 1  is merely one example of a particular implementation and is intended to illustrate the types of components that may be present in electronic device  10 . 
     By way of example, the electronic device  10  may represent a block diagram of the notebook computer  30 A depicted in  FIG. 2 , the handheld devices  30 B,  30 C depicted in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the desktop computer  30 D depicted in  FIG. 5 , the wearable electronic device  30 E depicted in  FIG. 6 , or similar devices. It should be noted that the processor(s)  12  and/or other data processing circuitry may be generally referred to herein as “data processing circuitry.” Such data processing circuitry may be embodied wholly or in part as software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the data processing circuitry may be a single contained processing module or may be incorporated wholly or partially within any of the other elements within the electronic device  10 . 
     In the electronic device  10  of  FIG. 1 , the processor(s)  12  and/or other data processing circuitry may be operably coupled with the memory  14  and the nonvolatile storage  16  to perform various methods. Such programs or instructions executed by the processor(s)  12  may be stored in any suitable article of manufacture or computer program product that includes one or more tangible, computer-readable media at least collectively storing the instructions or routines, such as the memory  14  and the nonvolatile storage  16 . The memory  14  and the nonvolatile storage  16  may include any suitable articles of manufacture for storing data and executable instructions, such as random-access memory, read-only memory, rewritable flash memory, hard drives, and optical discs. Also, programs (e.g., an operating system) encoded on the memory  14  or the nonvolatile storage  16  may also include instructions that may be executed by the processor(s)  12  to enable the electronic device  10  to provide various functionalities. 
     The display  18  may be any suitable electronic display to enable users to view images generated on the electronic device  10 , such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a self-emissive display such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display. In some embodiments, the display  18  may include a touch screen, which may allow users to interact with a user interface of the electronic device  10 . The input structures  22  of the electronic device  10  may enable a user to interact with the electronic device  10  (e.g., pressing a button to increase or decrease a volume level). The I/O interface  24  may enable electronic device  10  to interface with various other electronic devices. The I/O interface  24  may include various communications interfaces, such as a universal serial bus (USB) port, a serial communication port (e.g., RS232), Apple&#39;s Lightning® connector, or other communications interfaces. 
     The network interfaces  26  may also enable electronic device  10  to interface with various other electronic devices and may include, for example, interfaces for a personal area network (e.g., PAN), such as a Bluetooth network, for a local area network (e.g., LAN) or wireless local area network (e.g., WLAN), such as an 802.11x Wi-Fi network, and/or for a wide area network (e.g., WAN), such as a 3 rd  generation (e.g., 3G) cellular network, 4 th generation (e.g., 4G) cellular network, or long term evolution (e.g., LTE) cellular network. The network interfaces  26  may include interfaces for, for example, broadband fixed wireless access networks (e.g., WiMAX), mobile broadband Wireless networks (e.g., mobile WiMAX), asynchronous digital subscriber lines (e.g., ADSL, VDSL), digital video broadcasting-terrestrial (DVB-T) and its extension DVB Handheld (DVB-H), ultra Wideband (UWB), alternating current (AC) power lines, and so forth. The power source  28  may include any suitable source of energy to power the electronic device  10 , such as a rechargeable lithium polymer (e.g., Li-poly) battery and/or an alternating current (e.g., AC) power converter. 
     The electronic device  10  may take the form of a computer, a portable electronic device, a wearable electronic device, or other type of electronic device. For example, the electronic device  10  may be a model of a MacBook®, MacBook® Pro, MacBook Air®, iMac®, Mac® mini, or Mac Pro® available from Apple Inc. In  FIG. 2 , the electronic device  10  takes the form of the notebook computer  30 A. The depicted computer  30 A may include a housing or enclosure  32 , a display  18 , input structures  22 , and ports of the I/O interface  24 . In one embodiment, the input structures  22  (e.g., such as a keyboard and/or touchpad) may be used to interact with the computer  30 A, such as to start, control, or operate a GUI or applications running on computer  30 A. For example, a keyboard and/or touchpad may allow a user to navigate a user interface or application interface displayed on display  18 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts a front view of a handheld device  30 B, which represents an embodiment of the electronic device  10 . The handheld device  30 B may represent, for example, a portable phone, a media player, a personal data organizer, a handheld game platform, or any combination of such devices. By way of example, the handheld device  30 B may be a model of an iPod® or iPhone® available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.  FIG. 4  depicts a front view of another handheld device  30 C, which represents another embodiment of the electronic device  10 . The handheld device  30 C may represent, for example, a tablet computer, or one of various portable computing devices. By way of example, the handheld device  30 C may be a tablet-sized embodiment of the electronic device  10 , which may be, for example, a model of an iPad® available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. 
     The handheld device  30 B or  30 C may include enclosures  36  to protect interior components from physical damage and to shield them from electromagnetic interference. The enclosures  36  may surround the displays  18 , which may display indicator icons  39 . The indicator icons  39  may indicate, among other things, a cellular signal strength, Bluetooth connection, and/or battery life. The I/O interfaces  24  may open through the enclosures  36  and may include, for example, an I/O port for a hard wired connection for charging and/or content manipulation using a connector and protocol, such as the Lightning connector provided by Apple Inc., a universal service bus (e.g., USB), one or more conducted radio frequency connectors, or other connectors and protocols. 
     User input structures  22 ,  40 , in combination with the display  18 , may allow a user to control the handheld device  30 B or  30 C. For example, the input structure  40  may activate or deactivate the handheld device  30 B or  30 C, one of the input structures  22  may navigate a user interface of the handheld device  30 B or  30 C to a home screen, a user-configurable application screen, and/or activate a voice-recognition feature of the handheld device  30 B or  30 C, while other of the input structures  22  may provide volume control, or may toggle between vibrate and ring modes. Additional input structures  22  may also include a microphone that may capture a user&#39;s voice for various voice-related features, and a speaker to allow for audio playback and/or certain phone capabilities. The input structures  22  may also include a headphone input to provide a connection to external speakers and/or headphones. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , a computer  30 D may represent another embodiment of the electronic device  10  of  FIG. 1 . The computer  30 D may be any suitable form of computer, such as a desktop computer, a server, or a notebook computer, but may also be a standalone media player or video gaming machine. By way of example, the computer  30 D may be an iMac®, a MacBook®, or other similar device by Apple Inc. It should be noted that the computer  30 D may also represent a personal computer (e.g., PC) by another manufacturer. A similar enclosure  36  may be provided to protect and enclose internal components of the computer  30 D such as a dual-layer display. In certain embodiments, a user of the computer  30 D may interact with the computer  30 D using various peripheral input devices, such as input structures  22  (e.g., a keyboard or a mouse  38 ), which may connect to the computer  30 D via a wired and/or wireless I/O interface  24 . 
     Similarly,  FIG. 6  depicts a wearable electronic device  30 E representing another embodiment of the electronic device  10  of  FIG. 1 . By way of example, the wearable electronic device  30 E, which may include a wristband  44 , may be an Apple Watch® by Apple, Inc. However, in other embodiments, the wearable electronic device  30 E may include any wearable electronic device such as, for example, a wearable exercise monitoring device (e.g., e.g., pedometer, accelerometer, heart rate monitor), or other device by another manufacturer. The display  18  of the wearable electronic device  30 E may include a touch screen (e.g., e.g., LCD, OLED display, active-matrix organic light emitting diode (e.g., AMOLED) display, and so forth), which may allow users to interact with a user interface of the wearable electronic device  30 E. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a system in package (SiP) or system-in-a-package module  50  of the electronic device  10  of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The SiP module  50  may include one or more components  52 , such as one or more integrated circuits, coupled to a printed circuit board  54 . The printed circuit board  54  may include a ground layer or plane to which traces are provided to access a ground signal. The components  52  may include the processor(s)  12 , the memory  14 , the storage  16 , the network interface  26 , a portion of circuitry of the SiP module  50 , and the like. One or more of the components  52  may generate electromagnetic noise interference (EMI)  56  when performing its respective function(s). The EMI  56  may affect the operation of the other components  52  of the electronic device  10 , and even other electronic devices. 
       FIGS. 8-11  will be discussed concurrently.  FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a method  60  for shielding a component  52  of the SiP module  50 , such that EMI  56  generated by the component  52  is reduced, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The SiP module  50  is molded (block  62 ) using a molding material that activates when a laser is applied. That is, the SiP module  50  is encapsulated with the mold material that activates such that, when the molding material is plated, the plating may only adhere to where the molding material has been activated by the laser. In some embodiments, the molding material may be a thermoplastic material, such as molded interconnect device (MID) molding material, that activates when the laser is applied. In particular, the molding material may be doped with a metal-plastic additive that is activated by the laser, such as Laser Direct Structuring (LDS)-grade resin. For example, the mold material may include a Palladium seed layer, such that when the mold material is electrolessly plated, conductor path layers arise where the laser was applied. 
     A trench is then cut (block  64 ) on the mold of the SiP module  50  (from block  62 ) around a desired portion of the SiP module  50  using the laser, as shown in  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  is a block diagram of the SiP module  50  of  FIG. 7  that has been molded with a mold material and includes a trench  58  cut on the mold  57 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The desired portion of the SiP module  50  may be the component  52  that generates undesirable EMI  56 . In some embodiments, the desired portion of the SiP module  50  may include multiple portions (e.g., multiple components  52 ), such that multiple trenches  58  may be cut on the mold  57  of the SiP module  50 . 
     The laser may be any suitable laser for cutting the trench  58  at desired dimensions. For example, the laser may cut the trench  58  having a width of between approximately 100 and 600 micrometers or microns (e.g., approximately 200 microns, 250 microns, 300 microns, 350 microns, 400 microns, 450 microns, 500 microns, or the like). The laser may cut the trench  58  such that a depth of the trench  58  is less than that of a thickness of the mold  57  of the SiP module  50  to avoid damaging the components  52  of the SiP module  50 . For example, the laser may cut the trench  58  at a depth of less than approximately 800 microns when the thickness of the mold  57  is approximately 800 microns. The laser may cut the trench  58  at a depth of between approximately 500 and 1200 microns (e.g., approximately 600 microns, 650 microns, 700 microns, 750 microns, 800 microns, 850 microns, 900 microns, or the like). In some embodiments, the laser may be configured for LDS. For example, the mold material of the SiP module  50  may include a Palladium seed layer that is approximately 800 microns deep. The laser may cut a trench  58  approximately 750 microns deep in the mold  57  of the SiP module  50 . When the laser cuts the trench  58 , the Palladium in the mold material may form a micro-rough track, wherein the Palladium of the track form nuclei for subsequent metallization when plated. 
     The trench  58  is then plated (block  66 ) using a desired metal. The plating may be performed by electroplating, electroless plating, Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) (e.g., sputter deposition), or any other suitable plating process. Electroplating includes applying an electrical current to reduce dissolved metal cations to form a metal coating on the trench  58 . Electroless plating includes producing a chemical reaction in an aqueous solution in which hydrogen is released by a reducing agent and oxidized, producing a negative charge on the trench  58 , and ultimately reacting with metal ions to deposit metal on the trench  58 . Electroless plating is performed without the use of external electrical power. PVD includes a vacuum deposition method that can be used to produce a thin film on the trench  58 . Sputter deposition is a PVD method that includes ejecting material (e.g., metal) onto the trench  58 . 
     The desired metal to be plated may be based at least in part on a range of frequencies of the EMI  56  generated by the component  52  that is to be shielded. For example, the desired metal may include copper, nickel, or the like. The plating may only adhere to where the laser was applied to the mold  57  of the SiP module  50  because of characteristics of the mold material. The depth of the plating may be any suitable depth that reduces the EMI  56  generated by the component  52 . For example, the depth of the plating may be between approximately 1 and 20 microns (e.g., 2 microns, 4 microns, 6 microns, 10 microns, 12 microns, or the like). For example, the mold  57  of the SiP module  50  may include a Palladium seed layer and a laser-cut trench  58  that is approximately 750 microns deep. The trench  58  may be electrolessly copper plated at a plating depth of 6 microns. The copper plating may only adhere to where the laser was applied to the mold  57  because of the Palladium forming nuclei for subsequent metallization. 
     The trench  58  is filled (block  68 ) with a filler material. The filler material may be any suitable filler material that does not impair the shielding effect of the plated trench  58  and fill the trench  58  to a level approximately even with uncut portions of the mold  57 . For example, the filler material may include, conductive epoxy, conductive polymer paste, hard encapsulant, etc. The filler material may be chosen such that, when encapsulated, there are virtually no noticeable marks on the resulting metal layer. In some embodiments, the filler material may be back filled such that the trench  58  may be virtually invisible after encapsulation. For example, the copper plated trench  58  of the SiP module  50  may be back-filled with conductive epoxy. 
     The SiP module  50  and the trench  58  are then encapsulated (block  70 ) using any suitable encapsulation process.  FIGS. 10 and 11  are block diagrams of the SiP module  50  of  FIG. 9  that has been encapsulated with a protective layer  59 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 10  illustrates a position of the trench  58  in the SiP module  50 , while  FIG. 11  illustrates that the trench  58  is substantially invisible after being encapsulated. The encapsulation process may create a protective layer that encapsulates the SIP module, the mold, and the trench. In some embodiments, the protective layer may be composed of any suitable metal, such as nickel. In some embodiments, the encapsulation process may include electroplating, electroless plating, Physical Vapor Deposition (e.g., sputter deposition), or any other suitable plating process. The depth of the encapsulation may be any desired depth to adequately cover and protect the SiP module  50 . In some embodiments, the depth of the encapsulation may be between approximately 1 and 20 microns (e.g., 1 micron, 2 microns, 5 microns, 10 microns, or the like). For example, the SiP module  50  and the copper plated trench may be encapsulated using an electroless nickel plating process, such that the nickel plating is approximately 1 micron deep. The metal layer, the mold, and any features in between the metal layer and the mold (e.g., the trench, the plating on the trench, the filler material, etc.) may be referred to as an encapsulation of the SiP module  50 . In some embodiments, the encapsulant may not be metal, but any suitable encapsulant that may effectively protect and/or obscure the design of the SiP module  50 . 
     The plating of the trench may provide increased conductivity and more effectively block EMI by reducing or eliminating voids in the shielding material that may be a result when using conductive epoxy or conductive polymer paste as the shielding material. The plating process may also use a narrower trench (e.g., when compared to using conductive epoxy or conductive polymer paste), rendering the trench harder to detect and reducing the footprint of the trench on the SiP module  50 . The SiP module  50  and trench may be encapsulated (e.g., with metal) using a technique that leaves virtually no indication of the trench (e.g., when compared to sputtering over voids in the shielding material), decreasing visibility of the trench and more effectively hiding the design of the SiP module  50 . 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the trench  58  of the SiP module  50  of  FIGS. 9-11  upon which the method  60  of  FIG. 8  has been applied, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the SiP module  50  includes the printed circuit board  54  which may be coupled to components  52  of the SiP module  50 . A mold  72  has been applied to the SiP module  50  using the mold material that activates when a laser is applied. For example, the mold  72  may include a Palladium seed layer and have a depth of approximately 600-1000 microns deep. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the depth of the mold  72  is approximately 800 microns deep. The trench  58  has been cut in the mold  72  using a laser. For example, the trench  58  may be approximately 550-950 microns deep. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the depth of the mold  72  is approximately 750 microns deep. A metal plating  74  has been applied to the trench  58  via a plating process. For example, the metal plating  74  may be applied electrolessly and have a depth of approximately 0.1-20 microns. As illustrated, the depth of the metal plating  74  is approximately 6 microns deep. The trench  58  has been filled with a filler material  76 . The SiP module  50 , the mold  72 , the trench  58  and the filler material  76  have been encapsulated (e.g., covered by a protective layer  59 ). For example, the SiP module  50 , the mold  72 , the trench  58 , and the filler material  76  may have been encapsulated using an electroless nickel plating process providing a nickel plating protective layer  59  that is approximately 0.1-20 microns deep. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the depth of the nickel plating protective layer  59  is approximately 1 micron deep. As illustrated, the metal layer  59 , the mold  72 , and any features in between the nickel plating protective layer  59  and the mold  72  (e.g., the trench  58 , the plating  74  on the trench  58 , the filler material  76 , etc.) may be referred to as an encapsulation  80  of the SiP module  50 . 
     The specific embodiments described above have been shown by way of example, and it should be understood that these embodiments may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms. It should be further understood that the claims are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but rather to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. 
     The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and applied to material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that demonstrably improve the present technical field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely theoretical. Further, if any claims appended to the end of this specification contain one or more elements designated as “means for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ” or “step for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ”, it is intended that such elements are to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claims containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f).

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20160819
Publication Date: 20180731
Grant Date: 20180731
Priority Date: 20160819
Inventors: SOMMER, PHILLIP R.
RENJAN, KISHORE N.
VADEENTAVIDA, MANOJ
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01L23/552", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/293", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L21/565", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L25/0655", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/3121", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/3025", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/1815", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/14", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/552", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L21/56", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0024", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/552", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/293", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L21/565", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0045", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0024", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L25/0655", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/1815", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/3025", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L21/56", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/3121", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/14", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2224/82103", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 61192141