A leadframe includes a leadframe finger support for supporting elongate leadframe fingers. These elongate leadframe fingers are subject to damage prior to or during the assembly process. Through the provision of the leadframe finger support, the leadframe fingers may be supported at an intermediate position along their length as necessary to prevent bending. The support may be severed from the dam bar in the course of singulation.
A semiconductor lead frame, and a semiconductor package fabricated using the lead frame, are provided. The lead frame includes side rails; patterns of lead fingers; and multiple die mounting paddles. Each die mounting paddle is configured to mount a semiconductor die for wire bonding to an associated pattern of lead fingers. In addition, each die mounting paddle includes support members on opposing sides, each having at least two downset segments. The downset segments of the support members offset the die mounting paddles from the lead fingers. In a first lead frame embodiment, the support members include downset segments oriented at opposing angles with respect to a longitudinal axes of the mounting paddles. In a second embodiment, the support members include two or more downset segments oriented along axes that are generally parallel to the die mounting paddles.
An improved TAB circuit is provided for use with ink jet printer cartridges, which carries electrical signals to an array of nozzles on a heater chip. The TAB circuit eliminates bent or broken electrical circuit traces before being bonded to the heater chip by creating a chip window that partially overlaps the edges of the heater chip, and by bringing the electrical circuit traces to the chip window and terminating these circuit traces at a PI (polyimide) edge, which defines the inner perimeter of the chip window. The circuit traces thus are not unsupported at their ends before being assembled to the heater chip, and are automatically correctly positioned to make contact with bond pads of the heater chip when the overall TAB circuit is in correct registration therewith. The TAB circuit also provides an improved tolerance for a covercoat placement that will tend to prevent corrosive ink from coming into contact with these metal traces. The chip window of the TAB circuit also allows for a separate nozzle plate to be assembled to the heater chip.
A semiconductor lead frame, and a semiconductor package fabricated using the lead frame, are provided. The lead frame includes side rails; patterns of lead fingers; and multiple die mounting paddles. Each die mounting paddle is configured to mount a semiconductor die for wire bonding to an associated pattern of lead fingers. In addition, each die mounting paddle includes support members on opposing sides, each having at least two downset segments. The downset segments of the support members offset the die mounting paddles from the lead fingers. In a first lead frame embodiment, the support members include downset segments oriented at opposing angles with respect to a longitudinal axes of the mounting paddles. In a second embodiment, the support members include two or more downset segments oriented along axes that are generally parallel to the die mounting paddles.
