PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9179538-B2
Application Number: US-201213488382-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Electromagnetic shielding structures for selectively shielding components on a substrate

Abstract:
Electronic components on a substrate may be shielded using electromagnetic shielding structures. Insulating materials may be used to provide structural support and to help prevent electrical shorting between conductive materials and the components. The shielding structures may include compartments formed using metal fences that surround selected components or by injection molding plastic. The shielding structures may be formed using metal foil wrapped over the components and the substrate. Electronic components may be tested using test posts or traces to identify components that are faulty. The test posts or traces may be deposited on the substrate and may be used to convey test signals between test equipment and the components. After successful testing, the test posts may be permanently shielded. Alternatively, temporary shielding structures may be used to allow testing of individual components before an electronic device is fully assembled.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A printed circuit board, comprising:
 a substrate; 
 an electronic component mounted to the substrate; 
 an electromagnetic shielding structure formed from metal foil wrapped over at least the electronic component, wherein the metal foil is wrapped around the electronic component and the substrate, wherein the substrate includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of side walls, wherein the metal foil covers only the top surface of the substrate and the plurality of side walls, and wherein the metal foil curves directly over the electronic component; and 
 a spacer structure interposed between the electronic component and the metal foil, wherein the metal foil has first and second opposing surfaces, wherein the first surface is positioned above the substrate, and wherein the spacer structure contacts only a portion of the first surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The printed circuit board defined in  claim 1  wherein the substrate includes a conductive ground plane and wherein the metal foil is coupled to the conductive ground plane at each side wall of the plurality of side walls. 
     
     
       3. The printed circuit board defined in  claim 2  wherein the metal foil is attached to the conductive ground plane using solder. 
     
     
       4. The printed circuit board defined in  claim 1  wherein the metal foil has a top surface and a bottom surface, the printed circuit board further comprising:
 an insulating layer attached to the bottom surface of the metal foil. 
 
     
     
       5. The printed circuit board defined in  claim 4  further comprising:
 an additional insulating layer attached to the top surface of the metal foil. 
 
     
     
       6. The printed circuit board defined in  claim 1  wherein the substrate includes a conductive ground plane, the printed circuit board further comprising:
 at least one metal trace on the substrate, wherein the metal foil is coupled to the conductive ground plane through the metal trace. 
 
     
     
       7. Apparatus, comprising:
 a substrate having opposing top and bottom surfaces; 
 first and second electrical components mounted on the top surface of the substrate; 
 a third electrical component mounted on the bottom surface of the substrate; 
 a metal foil that is wrapped around the substrate and encloses the first, second, and third electrical components, wherein the metal foil has a non-planar surface that directly overlaps the first, second, and third electrical components; and 
 an insulating spacer block that is interposed between the first electrical component and the metal foil, wherein the second electrical component and the insulating spacer block are non-overlapping. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus defined in  claim 7  wherein the metal foil has first and second opposing surfaces that are each covered by an insulating layer.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/495,348, filed Jun. 9, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to mitigating radio-frequency interference and, more particularly, to electromagnetic shielding structures that help isolate radio-frequency circuitry from radio-frequency interference. 
     Electronic devices such as computers, cellular telephones, and other devices often contain circuitry that requires electromagnetic shielding. For example, some electronic devices include radio-frequency transceiver circuits that are susceptible to radio-frequency interference. Electronic devices may also include memory and other components that use clock signals during normal operation. If care is not taken, signals from one circuit may interfere with the proper operation of another circuit. For example, a clock signal or a clock signal harmonic that falls within the operating band of a radio-frequency receiver may cause undesirable interference for a radio-frequency transceiver. 
     To protect from electromagnetic interference, circuits such as radio-frequency transceivers are typically enclosed within metal radio-frequency (RF) shielding cans. The metal of the shielding cans blocks radio-frequency signals and helps shield the enclosed components from electromagnetic interference (EMI). In a typical configuration, integrated circuit components are covered by RF shielding cans after being mounted on a printed circuit board. 
     Conventional arrangements in which radio-frequency shielding cans are mounted to a printed circuit board can help to reduce electromagnetic interference, but may be undesirably bulky. This may limit the effectiveness of radio-frequency shielding can arrangements in situations such as those in which compact shielding is desired. 
     It would therefore be desirable to provide improved radio-frequency shielding structures. 
     SUMMARY 
     Electronic devices may include electrical components mounted on one or more substrates. The electrical components may sometimes be referred to herein as electronic components. The electrical components may include radio-frequency transceiver circuits, clock circuits, processors, application-specific integrated circuits, and other electrical components. The substrate on which the components are mounted may be a rigid printed circuit board, a flexible printed circuit board, a plastic carrier, or other printed circuit substrates. 
     The electrical components may be sensitive to electromagnetic interference and may have the potential to generate electromagnetic interference for other components. To help protect the components from electromagnetic interference, at least one of the components on a substrate may be electromagnetically shielded. Electromagnetic shielding structures may be formed from insulating materials and conductive materials. The shielding structures may isolate components that are sensitive to electromagnetic interference from components that generate electromagnetic interference or from external sources of electromagnetic interference. 
     Shielding structures may be formed using manufacturing tools such as molding tools, cutting tools, heating tools, and deposition tools. Shielding structures may, for example, be formed by using laser cutting tools or other cutting tools to form compartments around components. Injection molding tools may also be used to form compartments around selected components. Substrates may be formed with sacrificial regions to accommodate manufacturing variances and to allow manufacturing tools to grip the substrate. The sacrificial regions of a substrate may later be removed to help reduce the dimensions of the device. 
     Solder walls or metal fences may be formed around selected components. Conductive paint, foil, metals, metal alloys, or other conductive materials may be used to form a conductive layer that covers the components. Insulating materials (e.g., dielectric materials) may be used to provide structural support to the conductive layer and to help prevent electrical shorting between the conductive layer and underlying components that are being shielded. The insulating materials may include compartments that cover the components. 
     With one suitable arrangement, conductive foil may be wrapped around a substrate to provide an electromagnetic shield for multiple components on the substrate. The conductive foil may be wrapped over a top surface of the substrate and side walls of the substrate. Alternatively, the conductive foil may be wrapped to enclose the entire substrate (e.g., to provide electromagnetic shielding when components are formed on multiple surfaces of the substrate). 
     Insulating structures having compartments may be formed from heat-shrink material. The insulating structures may be placed over the components and heated so that the compartments shrink to fit the components. A conductive layer may then be deposited over the insulating structures so that the components are shielded from electromagnetic interference. 
     Electronic components may be tested during the formation of shielding structures for the electronic components (e.g., to identify components that are faulty). The electronic components may be mounted to metal traces on a substrate. Metal test traces formed on the substrate may be coupled to the electronic components and may be left exposed during testing operations. If desired, test posts may be formed on the test traces. Testing operations may be performed by conveying and receiving test signals through the test traces using test equipment (e.g., a tester). After successful testing, the test traces may be electromagnetically shielded using additional shielding structures formed from insulating materials and conductive materials. 
     Temporary shielding structures may be used during testing. The temporary shielding structures may be adjustable and allow testing of individual components before an electronic device is fully assembled and provided with permanent electromagnetic shielding structures. For example, the shielding structures may be temporarily positioned to shield selected components during test operations. The temporary shielding structures may be removed after completion of testing. 
     Further features of the present invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of illustrative packaged components including a printed circuit board and components on the printed circuit board that may be shielded with electromagnetic shielding structures in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of packaged components in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a manufacturing system in which manufacturing tools may be used to form shielding structures for selectively shielding packaged components in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of shielding structures formed for packaged components using a laser cutting tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of shielding structures formed for packaged components using injection molding in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an injection molding tool that may be used to form shielding structures for packaged components in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view of packaged components including a substrate having sacrificial regions in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of shielding structures formed by removing sacrificial regions of a substrate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart of illustrative steps that may be performed to form shielding structures by removing sacrificial regions of a substrate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of packaged components having shielding structures formed using conductive walls in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of packaged components having shielding structures formed using conductive fences in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11A  is a cross-sectional view of packaged components having shielding structures formed from wrapped foil in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11B  is a cross-sectional view of packaged components having shielding structures formed from wrapped foil that shields components formed on opposing surfaces of a substrate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11C  is a cross-sectional view of packaged components having shielding structures formed using wrapped foil on a single surface of a substrate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a flow chart of illustrative steps that may be performed to form shielding structures on a substrate using wrapped foil in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 13A and 13B  are cross-sectional views showing illustrative steps involved in forming a shielding structure by applying heat and/or pressure to an insulating structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a flow chart of illustrative steps that may be performed to form a shielding structure by applying heat and/or pressure to an insulating structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is an illustrative diagram of a test system in which temporary shields may be used to shield components during testing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in using temporary shields to shield components during testing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17A-17H  are cross-sectional side views showing illustrative steps involved in forming packaged components having test points and testing the packaged components using the test points in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in forming packaged components having test points and testing the packaged components using the test points in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 19A-19F  are cross-sectional side views showing illustrative steps involved in forming packaged components having test posts and testing the packaged components using the test posts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in forming packaged components having test posts and testing the packaged components using the test posts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 21  is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in selectively shielding components on a substrate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This relates to shielding structures for electrical components. The shielding structures may include radio-frequency shielding structures and/or magnetic shielding structures. The electrical components that are shielded by the shielding structures may be components such as integrated circuits that operate in radio-frequency bands (e.g., transceiver integrated circuits, memory circuits and other circuits with clocks that produce signals with fundamentals or harmonics in radio-frequency bands, etc.). Shielded components may also include circuitry formed from one or more discrete components such as inductors, capacitors, and resistors, switches, etc. The electrical components that are shielded may be aggressors (components that produce radio-frequency or magnetic signal interference) and/or victims (components that are sensitive to interference that is received from external sources). 
     The shielding structures may help to reduce interference from electromagnetic signals and may therefore sometimes be referred to as electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding structures. 
     Electronic components may be mounted on one or more printed circuit boards in an electronic device. As an example, the electronic components may be surface-mount technology (SMT) components that are mounted directly onto a printed circuit board. The printed circuit boards may be formed from rigid printed circuit board materials such as fiberglass-filled epoxy (e.g., FR4), flexible printed circuits (e.g., printed circuits formed from flexible sheets of polymer such as polyimide), and rigid flex circuits (e.g., printed circuits that contain both rigid portions and flexible tails). Printed circuit boards on which components such as integrated circuit components and discrete components are mounted may sometimes be referred to as main logic boards. The electronic components and the printed circuit board may sometimes be collectively referred to as packaged components. 
     Printed circuit boards having shielded components may be used in electronic devices such as desktop computers, laptop computers, computers built into computer monitors, tablet computers, cellular telephones, media players, gaming devices, television set top boxes, audio-video equipment, handheld devices, miniature devices such as pendant and wristwatch devices, or other electronic equipment. 
     An illustrative electronic device that may contain shielding structures is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , electronic device  10  may include housing  13 . Housing  13  may be formed from metal, plastic, fiber-composite materials such as carbon fiber materials, glass, ceramics, other materials, or combinations of these materials. Housing  13  may be formed from a single piece of machined metal (e.g., using a unibody-type construction) or may be formed from multiple structures that are attached together such as an internal housing frame, a bezel or band structure, housing sidewalls, planar housing wall members, etc. 
     Device  10  may include electronic components  12  mounted on a printed circuit board  14  within housing  13 . Electronic components  12  may include integrated circuits such as general purpose processing units, application-specific integrated circuits, radio-frequency components such as wireless transceivers, clock generation and distribution circuits, or other electronic components such as discrete components. Printed circuit board  14  may be a main logic board (MLB) or other types of logic boards. 
     Printed circuit board  14  and its associated components may sometimes be referred to herein as packaged components.  FIG. 2  is an illustrative block diagram of packaged components  20  that includes components  12 , substrate  14 , insulating materials  16 , and shielding materials  18 . Components  12  may be mounted on substrate  14  (e.g., a printed circuit board) using solder or other suitable mounting arrangements. 
     Some of electronic components  12  may be sensitive to electromagnetic interference. For example, a wireless transceiver component may be sensitive to radio-frequency harmonics from a system clock generation component. Some of electronic components  12  may produce radio-frequency signal interference (e.g., a cellular transceiver may emit radio-frequency signals that affect other components of device  10 ). Other components may generate magnetic interference (e.g., inductors in a power management system may generate magnetic fields). To ensure that the components of device  10  operate properly, it may be desirable to electromagnetically shield components  12  on printed circuit board  14  from each other (e.g., by covering components  12  of  FIG. 1  with shielding structures). 
     As an example, it may be desirable to shield a wireless communications integrated circuit to help ensure that system noise (e.g., from clocks or other noise sources) does not interfere with proper receiver operation. It may also be desirable to shield an audio circuit so that the audio circuit does not pick up noise from another circuit on device  10  or to shield memory circuits and processor components so that their clocks do not cause interference with other components. In some situations, it may be desirable to shield a group containing multiple components (e.g., when the components are sensitive to electromagnetic interference from external sources). 
     Shielding structures may be formed using shielding materials  18  and insulating materials  16 . The shielding structures may sometimes be referred to as electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding structures. Shielding materials  18  may include conductive materials such as silver paint, platinum paint, solder, metals such as copper or aluminum, metal alloys such as nickel-iron alloys, conductive adhesives, or other materials suitable for electromagnetic shielding. Shielding materials  18  may be formed in various configurations including walls, fences, sheets or layers, combinations of these configurations, or other desired configurations. 
     Insulating materials  16  may be used to help prevent electrical shorting between shielding materials  18  and conductive materials on substrate  14  (e.g., conductive portions of components  12 ). Insulating materials  16  may be formed from epoxy, over-molding materials, under-fill materials, heat-shrink jackets, acrylic materials, dielectric materials, thermoset materials, thermoplastics, rubbers, plastics, or other desirable materials that provide electrical insulation. Insulating materials  16  may be used to form configurations that include compartments for selected components on a substrate. If desired, insulating materials  16  may be used to form configurations that provide structural support for shielding materials  18 . 
     Insulating materials  16  may include materials that are electrically insulating and thermally conductive. For example, insulating materials  16  may include thermally conductive plastics, epoxy, or other thermally conductive materials. Insulating materials  16  that are thermally conductive may be used to draw heat away from components  12 . For example, a radio-frequency transceiver may become undesirably hot during normal operation. In this scenario, it may be desirable to form shielding structures from insulating materials that are thermally conductive to help protect the radio-frequency transceiver from overheating. 
     Insulating materials  16  and shielding materials  18  may be used to form shielding structures that selectively shield components  12  mounted on a substrate  14  (e.g., a printed circuit board).  FIG. 3  shows manufacturing tools  30  that may be used to form shielding structures from insulating materials  16  and shielding materials  18  in packaged components  20 . 
     Manufacturing tools  30  may include molding tools  32 , cutting tools  34 , heating tools  36 , deposition tools  38 , and other tools desirable for forming shielding structures for components  12 . For example, manufacturing tools  30  may include photolithography tools for applying photoresist masks and etching tools (e.g., chemical etching tools that use etchants to remove materials). As another example, manufacturing tools  30  may include screen printing tools for printing materials such as shielding materials  18  or insulating materials  16 . 
     Molding tools  32  may be used to mold insulating materials  16  to form shielding structures. Molding tools  32  may include injection molding tools, sintering tools, matrix molding tools, compression molding tools, transfer molding tools, extrusion molding tools, and other tools suitable for molding insulating materials  16  into a desired configuration. 
     Cutting tools  34  may include sawing tools, laser cutting tools, grinding tools, drilling tools, electrical discharge machining tools, or other machining or cutting tools suitable for cutting insulating materials  16  and shielding materials  18 . 
     Heating tools  36  may include oil-based heating tools, gas-based heating tools, electrical-based heating tools, or any other heating tools suitable for heating insulating materials  16  and/or shielding materials  18 . Heating tools  36  may, if desired, be used to apply pressure to materials  16  or  18 . 
     Deposition tools  38  may be used to deposit insulating materials  16  and/or shielding materials  18 . For example, deposition tools  38  may be used to form insulating structures by depositing insulating materials  16  at desired locations on substrate  14 . As another example, deposition tools  38  may include tools for injecting insulating materials  16  (e.g., epoxy) into injection molding tools to form shielding structures. Deposition tools  38  may also include thin-film deposition tools (e.g., chemical or physical deposition tools) or other tools desirable for forming shielding structures. 
     Manufacturing tools  30  may be used to form shielding structures that shield respective groups of components  12  that are susceptible to electromagnetic interference. Each group of components may include one or more components  12 . As shown in the illustrative arrangement of  FIG. 4 , compartments may be formed around selected components  12  using insulating materials  16 . To form compartments from insulating materials  16 , cutting tools  34  may be used to form channels  106  that separate selected components  12 . Deposition tools  38  may be used to form a layer of shielding materials  18  over insulating materials  16  that helps to protect components  12  from undesired electromagnetic interference. Insulating materials  16  may provide structural support for the layer of shielding materials. 
     As an example, to form the shielded compartments of  FIG. 4 , a layer of insulating material  16  may first be formed on substrate  14  (e.g., the insulating layer may be deposited using depositing tools  38 ). Channels  106  may be subsequently cut through insulating layer  16  using laser cutting tools  34 . Conductive traces  104  may reflect lasers emitted by laser cutting tools  34  (e.g., traces  104  may be formed from conductive materials that help protect substrate  14  from laser cutting tools  34 ). A conductive layer  18  such as a silver paint layer may be deposited (e.g., using depositing tools  38 ) over insulating layer  16  and channels  106 . Conductive layer  18  may be deposited using any suitable deposition technique such as spraying, painting, etc. Conductive layer  18  may electrically couple with metal traces  104  and conductive ground plane  102  to form a conductive structure that encloses each compartment and helps protect components  12  from electromagnetic interference (e.g., electromagnetic interference from external sources or between components of different compartments). 
       FIG. 5  is an illustrative cross-sectional diagram in which compartments  110  may be formed using a molding process (e.g., an injection molding or transfer molding process). Compartments  110  may include insulating materials  16  that enclose selected components  12  (e.g., components that are sensitive to electromagnetic interference). 
     Molding tools such as molding tools  32  may be used to form structures  112  that define the shape and location of compartments  110 . Structures  112  may be placed over conductive traces  104  that are coupled to ground plane  102 . Structures  112  may have holes  114  through which insulating materials  16  may be injected into the space inside molding structures  112 . After an injection process (e.g., after heated insulating materials  16  are injected and sufficiently cooled), molding structures  112  may be removed. One or more shielding layers (not shown) may be subsequently formed over insulating compartments  110  (e.g., using deposition tools  38 ). The shielding layer may contact traces  104  and, in combination with ground plane  102 , may form a shielding structure that helps protect components in compartments  110  from electromagnetic interference. 
       FIG. 6  is an illustrative diagram of manufacturing tools  30  that may be used to form the shielding compartments of  FIG. 5  via injection molding. As shown in  FIG. 6 , manufacturing tools  30  may include an upper clamp section  122  (sometimes referred to as a top chase), a lower clamp section  124  (sometimes referred to as a bottom chase), injecting tool  126  (sometimes referred to as a pot), heating elements  128 , support structure  130  (sometimes referred to as a gate insert). 
     Packaged components  20  may be placed on component support structure  130  and injecting tool  126  may be used to inject insulating materials (e.g., thermoplastic or thermoset material) into the region between top chase  122  and bottom chase  124  as shown by arrows  127 . Heating elements  128  may be used to melt the insulating materials by applying heat. Top chase  122  and bottom chase  124  may be clamped together to force insulating materials  16  to form desired compartments (e.g., compartments  110 ) on packaged components  20 . 
     Components may be placed at the edges of a substrate. In some scenarios, it may be necessary to place components at a minimum distance from the edge of the substrate. For example, a portion of the substrate at the edges of the substrate may be reserved for clamping tools that maintain stability of the substrate during manufacturing.  FIG. 7A  is an illustrative cross-sectional diagram of a substrate  14  having an edge region that is reserved. The edge region may be defined as the substrate region to the right of dashed line  142 . Substrate  14  may include a ground plane  102 . 
     A layer of insulating material  16  may be deposited over component  12  and substrate  14  to form shielding structures. In some scenarios, manufacturing tools such as deposition tools  38  that are used to deposit insulating layer  16  may have associated manufacturing tolerances. Consider the scenario in which it is desired to form packaged components having substrate  14  and insulating materials  16  that extend from component  12  to dashed line  140 . In this scenario, it may be difficult to precisely and accurately deposit insulating material  16  due to manufacturing tolerances associated with deposition tools (e.g., insufficient insulating material or excess region  141  may be formed). 
     As shown in  FIG. 7A , substrate  14  may be formed with an excess region  143  (e.g., a region  143  on which no components may be formed so that manufacturing variances and space reserved for clamping tools are accommodated). Excess region  143  may sometimes be referred to herein as a sacrificial region, because region  143  is not necessary to form packaged components  20  and can be removed to help reduce the overall dimensions of packaged components  20 . To accommodate manufacturing tolerances, deposition tools may be configured to deposit insulating material  16  extending to dashed line  142 . Dashed line  142  may be determined based on tolerance levels of the deposition tools to help ensure that deposition tools do not deposit insufficient insulating material (e.g., such as when insulating layer  16  fails to extend to dashed line  140 ). Excess insulating regions beyond desired boundary  140  may be removed along with the sacrificial board region  143 . Sacrificial board region  143  may be removed using cutting tools  34  such as laser cutting tools or sawing tools. 
       FIG. 7B  is an illustrative cross-sectional diagram of packaged components  20  after removal of excess substrate  143  and insulating materials  141 . A layer of shielding materials  18  may be deposited or wrapped to form a shielding structure that helps to protect component  12  that is located at the periphery of packaged components  20  from electromagnetic interference. Shielding layer  18  may extend over the edge of substrate  14  and cover the side of substrate  14  to contact ground plane  102 , thereby forming enclosing component  12  in a shielding structure. 
     Manufacturing tools such as tools  30  may be used to form shielding structures using sacrificial regions of a substrate such as region  143  of  FIG. 7A .  FIG. 8  is a flowchart of illustrative steps that may be performed to form shielding structures at the periphery of a substrate (e.g., at the periphery of a main logic board). If desired, the steps of  FIG. 8  may be performed in combination with steps for forming compartments for selectively shielding components on the substrate. 
     In step  144 , a substrate having sacrificial regions along the periphery of the substrate may be formed. For example, substrate  14  may be formed with sacrificial region  143  located at the edges of substrate  14 . 
     In step  145 , components may be placed on the substrate. The components may include components mounted using surface mount technology and may include integrated circuits (e.g., integrated circuits formed on respective substrates), resistors, capacitors, inductors, or other components suitable for mounting on substrate  14 . One or more of the components may be mounted adjacent to the sacrificial regions. 
     In step  146 , deposition tools such as tools  38  may be used to deposit insulating material over the substrate. The deposition tools may be configured to deposit the insulating material in a layer that sufficiently extends into sacrificial regions of the substrate (e.g., to accommodate variances of the boundary of the layer of insulating material). The insulating layer may be formed to enclose the components. If desired, the insulating layer may be formed having compartments such as compartment  108  of  FIG. 4  or compartment  110  of  FIG. 5  (e.g., using cutting tools such as laser tools or using molding tools). 
     In step  147 , the sacrificial regions of the substrate may be removed. The sacrificial regions may be removed using cutting tools  34 . For example, laser cutting tools may be used to cut through insulating materials  16  and substrate  14  along dashed line  140  of  FIG. 7A  to remove sacrificial region  143 . By removing the sacrificial regions, an edge of the substrate may be exposed (e.g., a side wall of the substrate may be exposed). 
     In step  148 , a shielding layer may be formed over the insulating layer to shield the underlying components from electromagnetic interference. The shielding layer may be deposited using deposition tools  38 . As an example, shielding layer  18  may be formed from conductive materials deposited on the top and side of insulating layer  16  as shown in  FIG. 7B . In this scenario, the conductive materials may extend to cover exposed portions of substrate (e.g., a side wall of substrate  14  exposed by the removal of sacrificial regions). 
     Shielding compartments for components may be formed using conductive walls. The conductive walls may be formed between components  12  (e.g., walls may be formed between components  12  that are sensitive to radio-frequency interference or produce electromagnetic interference). In the example of  FIG. 9 , compartments may be formed by separating components  12  with conductive walls  150  (e.g., walls formed from solder, metals, metal alloys, or other conductive materials) that are electrically coupled to conductive traces  104  and conductive ground plane  102 . Insulating materials  16  (e.g., over-molding materials) may be subsequently deposited to enclose components  12  and a conductive layer  152  (e.g., silver paint) may then be deposited over insulating materials  16  and conductive walls  150 . 
     Shielding compartments may be formed by depositing conductive fences around selected components  12 . In the example of  FIG. 10 , conductive fences  160  may be formed on conductive traces  104  to surround a given component  12  (e.g., without surrounding component  12  that is to the right of the shielded component). Traces  104  may be electrically coupled to ground plane  102  (e.g., through conductive vias formed in substrate  14 ). Conductive fences  160  may extend into the page to isolate components  12  from each other. Conductive fences  160  may partially or completely surround selected components that require electromagnetic shielding. A conductive layer  166  (e.g., a metal foil, conductive plate, etc.) may be attached over fences  160  using conductive adhesive  162  (e.g., a conductive adhesive layer formed from anisotropic conductive film or paste). Conductive layer  166  may serve as a radio-frequency shielding layer. 
     If desired, optional insulating layer  164  may be formed underneath conductive layer  166  (e.g., insulating layer  164  may be attached to the bottom surface of conductive layer  166 ). Insulating layer  164  may help ensure that components  12  are not electrically shorted to conductive layer  166 . 
     In one suitable embodiment, a magnetic shielding layer  168  may be formed (e.g., deposited) over radio-frequency shielding layer  166 . Magnetic shielding layer  168  may be formed from materials that help to redirect magnetic fields away from component  12 . Shielding layer  168  may, as an example, be formed from metal alloys such as nickel-iron alloys that tend to absorb magnetic fields. 
     The example of  FIG. 10  in which magnetic shielding layer  168  is formed over radio-frequency shielding layer  166  is merely illustrative. In another suitable embodiment, radio-frequency shielding layer  166  may be formed over magnetic shielding layer  168  (e.g., the two layers may be interchanged). If desired, only one of shielding layers  166  and  168  may be formed. For example, in scenarios in which only magnetic shielding is desired, radio-frequency shielding layer  166  may be omitted. Alternatively, if only radio-frequency shielding is desired, magnetic shielding layer  168  may be omitted. 
     A shielding structure for components may be formed by wrapping a shielding layer around packaged components.  FIG. 11A  is an illustrative cross-sectional diagram in which a shielding layer  171  may be wrapped around components  12  on a substrate  14 . As shown in  FIG. 11A , shielding layer  171  may be coupled to side walls of substrate  14  via solder joints  172  that are electrically coupled to ground plane  102 . Components  12  may be placed on substrate  14 . 
     A shielding structure formed from insulating layers  173 A and  173 B and shielding layer  171  may be wrapped over components  12  and substrate  14 . Shielding layer  171  may be interposed between insulating layers  173 A and  173 B. Shielding layer  171  may be formed from a radio-frequency shielding layer, a magnetic shielding layer, or both (e.g., a radio-frequency shielding layer formed over a magnetic shielding layer). As an example, shielding layer  171  may be formed from a flexible conductive foil such as a metal foil (e.g., copper foil, aluminum foil, etc.). 
     Shielding layer  171  and insulating layers  173 A and  173 B may be wrapped separately over components  12  and substrate  14  or may be formed a wrap structure that is wrapped over components  12  and substrate  14 . As an example, shielding layer  171  may be attached to insulating layers  173 A and  173 B via adhesives to form a single wrap structure. 
     Insulating layers  173 A and  173 B may serve to electrically isolate shielding layer  171  (e.g., from components  12  or external objects). Shielding layer  171  may be electrically coupled to ground plane  102  via solder joints  172  to form a shielding structure that encloses components  12 . The example of  FIG. 11A  in which shielding layer  171  is coupled to ground plane  102  via solder joints  172  is merely illustrative. If desired, shielding layer  171  may be coupled to ground plane  102  via solder or conductive adhesives such as anisotropic conductive adhesives (e.g., conductive film or paste). The shielding structure may include ground plane  102  and shielding layer  171 . 
     In some scenarios, it may be desirable to maintain a minimum distance between components  12  and shielding layer  171 . For example, the presence of a shielding layer such as layer  171  near some of components  12  may affect operation of those components. Spacers such as spacer block  174  may be interposed between components  12  and shielding layer  171  to ensure that a sufficient distance is maintained between components  12  and shielding layer  171  so that the presence of shielding layer  171  does not interfere with normal operation of components  12 . Spacers  174  may be formed from insulating materials (e.g., insulating materials  16 ) and may be formed having any desired shape and dimensions. Shielding layer  171  and insulating layers  173 A and  173 B may be structurally supported by components  12  and/or spacers  174 . 
     If desired, region  170  between shielding layer  171  and substrate  14  may be filled with insulating materials. The insulating materials may be used in combination with or in place of insulating layer  173 A. As an example, the insulating materials may include over-molding or under-fill materials (e.g., materials associated with injection molding). The insulating materials may serve to insulate components  12  from shielding layer  171  and may be used in place of or in addition to insulating layer  173 A. The insulating materials may serve as a structural support for shielding layer  171 . In one suitable embodiment, the insulating materials may include thermally conductive materials that conduct heat away from components  12  (e.g., the insulating materials may be electrically insulating and thermally conductive). 
     In some scenarios, components may be placed on opposing surfaces of a substrate.  FIG. 11B  is an illustrative cross-sectional diagram in which components  12  are formed on top and bottom opposing surfaces of substrate  14 . In the example of  FIG. 11B , a shielding structure formed from layers  171 ,  173 A, and  173 B may be wrapped around components  12  and the top and bottom surfaces of substrate  14  so that the shielding structure forms a first compartment that shields the components on the top surface of substrate  14  and a second compartment that shields the components on the bottom surface of substrate  14 . If desired, spacers  174  may be used to help ensure sufficient distance between components  12  and the shielding structure. 
     It is not necessary to wrap the shielding structure of  FIG. 11A  around the sides of substrate  14 .  FIG. 11C  is an illustrative cross-sectional diagram in which a shielding structure may be formed that includes shielding layer  171 , contacts  175 , and ground plane  102 . Contacts  175  may be formed on the surface of substrate  14 . Contacts  175  may be formed from metal traces or other conductive materials. For example, metal traces may be deposited on substrate  14 . In this scenario, some of the metal traces may form contacts for components, whereas other metal traces may form contacts  175 . Shielding layer  171  may be coupled to contacts  175  via solder or conductive adhesive (not shown). Contacts  175  may be coupled through substrate  14  to ground plane  102  so that components  12  are enclosed by shielding layer  171  and ground plane  14 . 
       FIG. 12  is a flow chart of illustrative steps that may be performed using manufacturing tools such as tools  30  to form a wrapped shielding structure that shields components on a substrate (e.g., from magnetic and/or radio-frequency interference). 
     In step  176 , packaged components may be formed. The packaged components may include components placed on a substrate (e.g., integrated circuit components formed on respective substrates or discrete components such as resistors, capacitors, etc.). The components may be placed on a single surface of the substrate or on opposing surfaces of the substrate. The substrate may include a ground plane that serves as an electrical grounding path for the components on the substrate. If desired, the substrate may be formed with contacts such as contacts  175  that are coupled to the ground plane through the substrate. 
     In step  177 , spacers may be formed on selected components. For example, spacers  174  may be placed on components as shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B . The spacers may be formed to help ensure sufficient spacing between selected components and a shielding structure formed during step  178 . 
     In step  178 , a shielding structure may be wrapped around the packaged components so that the components on the substrate are shielded from radio-frequency and/or magnetic interference. As an example, the shielding structure may be a metal foil that is wrapped around the packaged components and coupled to side walls of the substrate via solder or conductive adhesives (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 11A  or  FIG. 11B ). As another example, the shielding structure may be coupled to contacts on the surface of the substrate via solder or conductive adhesives (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 11C ). 
     Insulating structures for components  12  may be formed before attaching insulating structures to packaged components  20 . As shown in  FIG. 13A , insulating materials  16  may be pre-formed and then placed on substrate  14  over components  12 . As an example, pre-mold materials may be heated and partially cured in a desired shape that forms compartments around components  20 . As another example, heat-shrink material formed from polymeric heat-shrink materials (e.g., heat-shrink materials formed from polymers) may be used to form compartments around components  20 . Examples of heat-shrink materials include nylon, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rubber, or other thermoplastic materials. 
     The insulating materials may be formed having compartments that are somewhat larger than what is necessary to enclose components  12 . In other words, gaps  182  may separate insulating materials  16  and components  12 . As shown in  FIG. 13B , insulating materials  16  may be reformed to fill gaps  182  (e.g., by applying heat and/or pressure to reform portions of insulating materials  16 ). A shielding layer (not shown) may be subsequently formed over insulating materials  16  to shield components  12  from electromagnetic interference. For example, a metal foil may be wrapped around insulating materials  16  or a metallic paint may be deposited over insulating materials  16 . 
     In one suitable embodiment, compartments may be formed around selected components without covering other components. In the example of  FIG. 13B , an insulating structure may be formed that covers first and second components while leaving a third component exposed. In this scenario, the first and second components may be electromagnetically shielded without shielding the third component (e.g., by depositing a layer of conductive material over the insulating structure without depositing conductive material over the exposed component). 
       FIG. 14  is a flowchart of illustrative steps that may be performed using manufacturing tools to shield components on a substrate by reforming an insulating structure. 
     In step  183 , an insulating structure having compartments may be formed from insulating materials (e.g., using molding tools  32  or other manufacturing tools). The insulating materials may be formed from materials that can be reformed via heat and/or pressure (e.g., thermoplastic materials). The compartments may be formed based on the location and dimensions of components on a substrate. Each compartment may be formed somewhat larger than a corresponding component that is to be enclosed by that compartment. 
     In step  184 , the insulating structure may be placed on the substrate so that the components on the substrate are enclosed by corresponding compartments (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 13A ). 
     In step  185 , heat and/or pressure may be applied to the insulating structure so that the insulating structure is reformed to fill gaps between the compartment walls and the components (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 13B ). For example, heating tools  36  may be used to apply heat to the insulating structure. In one suitable embodiment, the insulating structure may be formed from a heat-shrink material that shrinks to fit the components in response to being heated. The heat-shrink material may be reconfigured via heating into a heat-shrunk material having reduced dimensions. 
     In step  186 , a shielding layer may be formed over the insulating structure to shield the components from electromagnetic interference (e.g., radio-frequency and/or magnetic interference). The shielding layer may be formed using deposition tools  38 , by wrapping the substrate with a shielding structure, etc. 
     During manufacturing, it may be desirable to test components such as radio-frequency components before the components have been permanently covered with shielding structures. For example, it may be desirable to perform tests on integrated circuits that have been soldered to a printed circuit board before the components are covered with insulating and shielding materials. By testing the components before the process of fabricating the shielding structures is complete, the ability to rework or scrap defective components may be preserved. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , substrate  14  may be placed on a support structure  189  for testing of components  12 . Support structure  189  may serve to hold substrate  14  in a stable position during testing. For example, support structure  189  may include clamps for holding substrate  14  in place during testing. Temporary shields  18  (e.g., formed from electromagnetic shielding materials) may be placed over components  12  that require testing using adjustable positioning structures  187 . For example, adjustable positioning structures  187  may include motors and/or actuators that can be controlled to adjust the position of temporary shields  18  in three dimensional space. Adjustable positioning structures  187  may be controlled using test equipment (e.g., computing equipment). If desired, an insulating layer (not shown) formed from an easily removable insulating material may be interposed between temporary shields  18  and components  12  and may help prevent electrical shorting between temporary shield  18  and components  12 . 
     Temporary shields  18  may include compressible members  190  formed from compressible materials such as steel wool, conductive polymers, or other conductive and compressible materials. Substrate  14  may include contacts  175  to which compressible members  190  may be coupled during testing. Compressible members  190  may help protect contacts  175  from being damaged during testing. During testing, a shielding structure formed from temporary shields  18 , contacts  175 , and ground plane  102  may help protect selected components  12  on substrate  14  from electromagnetic interference. 
     During testing, test equipment  188  (e.g., a tester) may be used to communicate with components  12  via paths  191 . Paths  191  may include cables and probes for conveying test signals between test equipment  188  and components  12 . For example, probes may be used to contact test points at the surface of substrate  14 . In this scenario, the substrate may include paths that couple the test points to components  12  to convey the test signals between the test points and the components. 
     Test equipment  188  may perform testing on components by sending and receiving test signals from components  12  via paths  191 . Testing may be performed to determine whether components  12  are operating properly. Adjustable positioning structures may be used to adjust the positioning of shields  18  to shield selected components from electromagnetic interference during test operations. For example, during a first test operation, components C 1 , C 3 , and C 4  may be shielded. During subsequent test operations, adjustable positioning structures may be used to reposition shields  18  to shield other components such as component C 2 . 
       FIG. 16  is a flow chart of illustrative steps that may be performed to temporarily shield components on a substrate. 
     In step  192 , a device under test (e.g., a substrate  14  on which components  12  have been placed) may be placed on support structure such as support structure  189 . 
     In step  193 , adjustable positioning structures may be used to position temporary shielding structures to enclose selected components on the device under test. For example, adjustable positioning structures  187  of  FIG. 15  may be used to adjust the positioning of temporary shields  18  so that compressible members  190  are coupled to contacts  175  of substrate  14 . 
     In step  194 , test equipment such as test equipment  188  may be used to perform testing of the device under test. For example, test equipment  188  may be used to test components to determine whether the device under test is operating properly (e.g., to determine whether components  12  on substrate  14  are operating properly). During testing, the temporary shielding structures may serve as radio-frequency and/or magnetic shielding for selected components of the device under test. If desired, the temporary shielding structures may be configured to shield all of the components or selected groups of the components. 
     Subsequent tests that require different configurations of the temporary shielding structures may be performed by returning to step  193  via path  195 . For example, temporary shielding structures may be repositioned to shield different components during subsequent tests. If testing is complete, the operations of step  196  may be performed. 
     In step  196 , the temporary shielding structures may be removed from the device under test. For example, adjustable positioning structures  187  may be used to reposition temporary shields  18  away from components  12 . 
     In step  197 , the device under test may be removed from the support structure. If testing was successful, the operations of step  198  may be performed to form permanent shielding structures that serve as radio-frequency and/or magnetic shielding for components on the device under test. In the event that testing fails (e.g., if one or more components of the device under test are identified as defective), the operations of step  199  may be performed. 
     In step  199 , the device under test may be reworked or scrapped. As an example, the device under test may be reworked to replace defective components or rework routing paths or connections on the substrate (e.g., by re-soldering connections between the components and the substrate). In this scenario, the process may return to step  192  via optional path  200  to test the reworked device under test. 
     It may be desirable to test components on a substrate during the formation of shielding structures for the components (e.g., to test for faults in the components or the connections between the components and the substrate during the formation of permanent shielding structures).  FIGS. 17A-17H  are illustrative diagrams of steps that may be performed to form shielding structures for packaged components  20  and to test components during the formation of the shielding structures. 
     As shown in  FIG. 17A , packaged components  20  may include components  12  placed on a substrate  14 . Test point  201  may be formed on substrate  14  (e.g., by depositing copper or other conductive materials using tools such as deposition tools  38  to form a contact). Test point  201  may be electrically coupled to a respective component  12  via path  204  in substrate  14 . 
     An insulating layer  16  may be deposited to cover components  12 , test point  201 , and substrate  14  as shown in  FIG. 17B . Insulating layer  16  may include any desired insulating materials (e.g., as described in connection with  FIG. 2 ). Tools such as deposition tools  38  or molding tools  32  may be used to form insulating layer  16 . 
     In a subsequent step, a layer of conductive materials  18  may be deposited over insulating layer  16  as shown in  FIG. 17C . Conductive layer  18  may be deposited using deposition tools  38 . 
     A portion of conductive layer  18  over test point  201  may then be removed as shown by arrows  206  of  FIG. 17D . The portion of conductive layer  18  that is removed may be somewhat larger in area than the area of underlying test point  201 . The portion of conductive layer  18  may be removed using tools such as cutting tools  34 . For example, a laser cutting tool may be used to remove the portion of conductive layer  18 . As another example, an etching tool may be used to remove the portion of conductive layer  18  via etching. 
     As shown by  FIG. 17E , a portion of insulating layer  16  may be removed to expose test point  201  as shown by arrows  208 . The portion of insulating layer  16  may be removed via laser cutting, etching, drilling, etc. 
     In a subsequent step, testing of packaged components  20  may be performed using a test probe  210  as shown in  FIG. 17F . Test probe  210  may be positioned to contact test point  201 . By removing a portion of conductive layer  18  that is somewhat larger than the area of test point  201  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 17D ), test probes may be inserted to contact test point  201  without electrically shorting to conductive layer  18 . Test probe  210  may be used to transmit and receive test signals from component  12  via test point  201  and path  204 . Test equipment (not shown) may be coupled to test probe  210  and may process the test signals. 
     The example of  FIG. 17F  in which a component  12  is tested using a single test point  201  is merely illustrative. In one suitable embodiment, a single component may be coupled to multiple test points via respective paths  204  (e.g., each test point may be used to receive and transmit different test signals for the component). In this scenario, one or more test probes may be used to test the component using the test points. In another suitable embodiment, multiple components  12  may be coupled to different test points  201 . In this scenario, the components may be tested separately or in parallel (e.g., using multiple test probes to send and receive test signals to the components via respective test points  201 ). In the event that one or more components fail testing, the device may be scrapped. 
     After testing of packaged components  20  is complete (e.g., in response to determining that components  20  are operating properly), the previously removed regions of conductive layer  18  and insulating layer  16  may be filled with an insulating material  212  as shown in  FIG. 17H . Insulating material  212  may include any desired insulating material such as those used to form insulating layer  16  and may be deposited using depositing tools  38 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 17H , a conductive layer  214  may be deposited over insulating material  212 . Conductive layer  214  may be coupled to conductive layer  18  that surrounds test point  201 . Conductive layer  214  may serve as an electromagnetic shield for test point  201 . For example, during normal operation, components  12  may radiate radio-frequency signals from test point  201 . The radiated radio-frequency signals may be blocked by conductive layer  214 . Insulating materials  212  may serve to isolate layer  214  from test point  201  (e.g., so that test point  201  is not electrically shorted to conductive layer  214 ). 
     As an example, test point  201  may be a substantially circular contact formed on the surface of substrate  14 . In this scenario, insulating material  212  may form a cylindrical insulating structure that covers test point  201 . If desired, insulating material  212  may overlap with insulating layer  16  and/or conductive layer  18 . Conductive layer  214  may be deposited to cover a substantially circular area over test point  201  and insulating material  212 . Conductive layer  214  and conductive layer  18  may, in combination, serve to form a continuous layer of conductive material over components  12 . 
     The example of  FIG. 17H  in which layers  18  and  214  are formed from a conductive material is merely illustrative. If desired, layers  18  and  212  may be formed from any desired radio-frequency and/or magnetic shielding materials for shielding components  12  from interference. 
       FIG. 18  is a flow chart of illustrative steps that may be performed to test components on a substrate during the formation of shielding structures for components on a substrate. 
     In step  222 , packaged components may be formed having components on a substrate. The substrate may include test points that are coupled to the components (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 17A ). 
     In step  224 , an insulating layer may be deposited on the substrate (e.g., insulating layer  16  of  FIG. 17B ). The insulating layer may be formed from any desired insulating materials and may be deposited using deposition tools  38 . 
     In step  226 , a conductive layer may be deposited over the substrate (e.g., conductive layer  18  of  FIG. 17C ). The conductive layer may be formed by depositing conductive materials using deposition tools  38 . 
     In step  228 , portions of the conductive layer over the test points may be removed to expose underlying portions of insulating layer  16  (e.g., using etching tools or cutting tools  34  such as laser cutting tools). 
     In step  230 , portions of insulating layer  16  that were exposed during step  228  may be removed so that the test points are exposed (e.g., using cutting tools  34 ). 
     In step  232 , the exposed test points may be used to test components that are coupled to the test points. For example, test equipment may be used to send and receive test signals to the components using probes that contact the test points (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 17F ). In response to successful completion of testing, the operations of step  234  may be performed. In response to identifying failures during testing, the device may be scrapped during step  238 . 
     In step  234 , the test points may be covered with insulating material. For example, deposition tools  38  may be used to fill regions of insulating layer  16  and conductive region  18  that were removed during steps  226  and  228  with an insulating material  212  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 17G ). 
     In step  236 , the insulating material over the test points may be covered with a layer of conductive materials for shielding the test points (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 17H ). The layer of conductive materials may be deposited using deposition tools  38  to form substantially circular patches that cover the test points. 
     In one suitable embodiment, packaged components may be formed with test posts for testing of components.  FIGS. 19A-19F  are illustrative diagrams of steps that may be performed to form packaged components having test posts and to test the packaged components using the test posts. 
     As shown in  FIG. 19A , packaged components  20  may be formed with components  12  and test post  242  on a substrate  14 . Substrate  14  may include test point  201  (e.g., a contact formed from copper or other conductive materials) that is coupled to a respective component  12  via path  204 . Test post  242  may be formed from a conductive material and may be coupled to test point  201 . Test post  242  may be coupled to test point  201  via solder or conductive adhesives (not shown). Test post  242  may be substantially cylindrical or any other desired shape. 
     In a subsequent step, a layer of insulating material  16  may be deposited on substrate  14  as shown in  FIG. 19B . Insulating layer  16  may surround test post  242  without covering test post  242 . In other words, tip portion  243  of test post  242  may remain exposed. 
     A removable cap  244  may then be placed over test post  242  as shown in  FIG. 19C . Removable cap  244  may be formed in the shape of the exposed area of test post  242  (e.g., substantially circular from a top-down perspective). Removable cap  244  may contact insulating layer  16  so that removable cap  244  encloses the exposed portion of test post  242 . Removable cap  244  may be formed from any desired materials (e.g., insulating materials). 
     A layer of conductive material  18  may then be deposited over insulating layer  18  and removable cap  244  as shown in  FIG. 19D  (e.g., using deposition tools  38 ). 
     Removable cap  244  may be subsequently removed along with portions of conductive layer  18  that covers removable cap  244  as shown in  FIG. 19E . Regions  246  of insulating layer  16  may be exposed by the removal of cap  244 . The use of removable cap  244  may help ensure sufficient separation between conductive test post  242  and conductive layer  18  so that test post  242  is not electrically shorted to conductive layer  18 . 
     Test post  242  may be used to perform testing of a respective component  12  that is coupled to test post  242  via contact  201  and path  204 . For example, a probe may be positioned to contact test post  242  and used to transmit and receive test signals through test post  242  to the respective component  12 . If desired, multiple test posts that are coupled to components on substrate  14  may be formed and used for testing of the components. 
     In a subsequent step, a shielding structure may be formed that shields test post  242  as shown in  FIG. 19F . The shielding structure may include an insulating layer  250  that overlaps test post  242  and neighboring regions of conductive layer  18 . A conductive layer  248  that overlaps insulating layer  250  may be coupled to regions of conductive layer  18  that are adjacent to insulating layer  250 . Conductive layer  248  may be coupled to insulating layers  250  and conductive layer  18  via a layer  252  formed from a conductive adhesive material such as anisotropic conductive adhesives. Conductive layer  248  may be formed from any desired shielding material such as shielding material  18 . 
       FIG. 20  is a flow chart of illustrative steps that may be performed to form packaged components having test posts and using the test posts to test the packaged components. 
     In step  262 , the packaged components may be formed having test points at the surface of a substrate (e.g., test points such as test point  201  of  FIG. 19A ). The test points may be coupled to components on the substrate. 
     In step  264 , test posts may be attached to the test points (e.g., test posts such as test post  242  of FIG.  19 A that are coupled to components). The test posts may extend vertically above the substrate and may be attached to the test points via solder or other forms of conductive coupling (e.g., conductive adhesive, etc.). 
     In step  266 , a layer of insulating material may be formed over the substrate (e.g., insulating layer  16  of  FIG. 19B ). The insulating layer may surround the test posts without covering the test posts. 
     In step  268 , removable caps may be placed over the test posts. Each removable cap may, for example, be formed and placed over a respective test post as shown in  FIG. 19C . 
     In step  270 , a shielding layer may be deposited using deposition tools  38  as shown in  FIG. 19D . The shielding layer may be deposited over the substrate and the removable caps. The shielding layer may include one or more layers of radio-frequency shielding materials and/or magnetic shielding materials. 
     In step  272 , the removable caps may be removed along with portions of the shielding layer that cover the removable caps (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 19E ). Portions of insulating layer  16  that are adjacent to each test post may be exposed by the removal of the caps. 
     In step  274 , testing of components may be performed using the test posts (e.g., using test equipment to transmit and receive test signals from the components via the test posts). In response to successful testing, the test posts may be covered with shielding structures during step  276  (e.g., shielding structures each formed from an insulating layer  250  and a conductive layer  248  as shown in  FIG. 19F ). In response to failure of one or more components during testing, the packaged components may be scrapped or, if desired, reworked. 
     Electronic components on a substrate may be selectively shielded using any desired electromagnetic shielding structures (e.g., some components may be shielded without shielding other components).  FIG. 21  is a flow chart of illustrative steps that may be performed to selectively shield electronic components on a substrate. 
     In step  282 , components such as components  12  may be mounted on a substrate (e.g., substrate  14  or other printed circuit board substrates). 
     In step  284 , shielding structures may be formed using insulating materials and shielding materials around selected components. For example, metal fences may be used to selectively shield a component as shown in  FIG. 10 . As another example, injection molding may be used to injection mold plastic material over selected components as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20120604
Publication Date: 20151103
Grant Date: 20151103
Priority Date: 20110609
Inventors: FOSTER JAMES H.
BILANSKI JAMES W.
SALEHI AMIR
CHANDHRASEKHAR RAMAMURTHY
WEBB NICHOLAS UNGER
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H05K1/0218", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0026", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/4913", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/14", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49004", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/552", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0043", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/1815", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/19043", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L25/0655", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/19105", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/15192", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/19041", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0033", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/0002", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49146", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0037", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/003", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/3025", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/003", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0033", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0218", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/19043", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/4913", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0026", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/19105", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/02", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0218", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49004", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/1815", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L25/0655", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/19105", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/15192", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/3025", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/14", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0037", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0043", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0043", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49146", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/15192", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L25/0655", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/0002", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0026", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/552", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L23/552", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/19041", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/19043", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49146", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/19041", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49004", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/4913", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/0002", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/1815", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2924/14", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0024", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K9/0031", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 46298701