Leadless Package Shielding With Ground-Lead Bumps for Full EM Enclosure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing leadless semiconductor packages face challenges in achieving complete electromagnetic (EM) shielding, particularly for high-sensitivity applications, with current solutions providing only partial shielding and high costs.

Innovation Solution

A full-enclosure EM shielding is achieved by combining a plated shield with a modified leadframe and grounding arrangement, where ground leads are stamped to form bumps, overmolded, and connected to an EM shielding enclosure, ensuring complete coverage without contacting signal leads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If metal plates and casings are used for EM shielding, then shielding effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveEM shielding effectivenessVSAvoidshielding structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the EM shielding function with the package encapsulation structure by integrating the shielding enclosure as part of the molding compound assembly, eliminating the need for separate shielding plates and casings. The shielding is achieved through the grounded conductive enclosure formed by the molding compound, which merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The molding compound serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical protection, environmental sealing, and electromagnetic shielding. By making the molding compound conductive and grounding it, the same material that protects physically also protects electromagnetically, eliminating the need for dedicated shielding materials and simplifying the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If custom shielding solutions are designed for specific PCB layouts, then shielding effectiveness is improved, but reproducibility decreases and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveEM shielding effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing reproducibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding solution is made universal and layout-independent by integrating the shielding function into the package itself rather than designing custom shields for specific PCB positions. The conductive molding compound enclosure provides omnidirectional shielding that works regardless of PCB placement or orientation, enabling high-volume standardized manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The EM shielding is built into the package structure during the molding process itself, before the package is mounted on the PCB. This preliminary integration of shielding functionality eliminates the need for subsequent customization or adjustment based on specific PCB layouts, ensuring consistent reproducibility across all manufactured units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If existing shielding methods are used, then partial shielding is achieved, but complete shielding of all internal components is not realized

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveEM shielding effectivenessVSAvoidcomplete shielding coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the shielding approach by creating multiple grounded conductive elements within the package structure, including conductive leads extending from different sides and a conductive enclosure, ensuring that all internal components are surrounded by shielding material rather than relying on a single shielding point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding structure is nested within the package itself, with the conductive molding compound enclosure containing the semiconductor die and leads, which are themselves surrounded by the conductive material. This nested arrangement ensures complete coverage of all internal components with multiple layers of shielding protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach provides significantly improved EM shielding performance, especially for high-frequency and high-speed applications, ensuring internal components are fully protected from electromagnetic interference.

Implementation Method 1

Properly positioned, these materials absorb or reflect unwanted EM energy, preventing the energy from reaching the sensitive parts of the device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

Properly positioned, these materials absorb or reflect unwanted EM energy, preventing the energy from reaching the sensitive parts of the device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

metal plating, metal (or other EM shielding material) deposition (e.g., sputtering, evaporation)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMetal plating: Electroplating

Implementation Method 4

metal plating, metal (or other EM shielding material) deposition (e.g., sputtering, evaporation)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSputtering: Sputtering

Implementation Method 5

metal plating, metal (or other EM shielding material) deposition (e.g., sputtering, evaporation)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP4579735A1Electromagnetic shielding for leadless semiconductor package
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 NXP USA INC
  • EP4579735A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4579735A1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D
  • EP4579735A1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

Structures and methods for electromagnetic shielding of leadless semiconductor packages provide complete module-level electromagnetic shielding by combining plated shielding with proposed modified ground lead arrangement and ground pad grounding. A package including a leadframe, ground leads, and signal leads is stamped to form a "bump" in the ground leads around the perimeter of the package. After overmolding, the package is cut to expose the bumps; then, a full shielding enclosure is formed over the top of the package into contact with the exposed ground leads. Components of the leadframe that extend to the perimeter of the device, such as corner bars connecting to the center flag, can also be stamped and brought into contact with the shield. The ground leads may further be connected to a center flag of the leadframe for full-enclosure shielding. The signal leads remain electrically isolated from the leadframe and the shielding enclosure.