System and method for lowering contact resistance of the radio frequency (RF) shield to ground

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a substrate having a plurality of metal traces;

a die electrically attached to a first surface of the substrate;

a first plurality of segmented metal traces formed around a perimeter of the first surface of the substrate, wherein a side surface of the first plurality of segmented metal traces is exposed;

a mold compound for encapsulating the semiconductor device;

a first metal plating formed on a top surface end section of the first plurality of segmented metal traces, wherein the first metal plating also extends above and below the top surface end section along the side surface of the first plurality of segmented metal traces which is exposed, wherein the side surface is approximately perpendicular to the top surface;

a conductive coating conformally covering the mold compound, the exposed end sections of the first plurality of segmented metal traces and to the first metal plating.

2. A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first metal plating is formed of a noble metal.

3. A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a second plurality of segmented metal traces formed within an insulation layer of the substrate around a perimeter of the substrate, wherein an end section of the second plurality of segmented metal traces is exposed.

4. A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the conductive coating is applied to the mold compound, the exposed end sections of the first plurality of segmented metal traces, the first metal plating, and the exposed end sections of the second plurality of segmented metal traces.

5. A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 3 , further comprising a second metal plating formed on a top terminal end section of the second plurality of segmented metal traces, wherein the second metal plating is spread to at least one of the insulation layer or the exposed end sections of the second plurality of segmented metal traces.

6. A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the second metal plating is formed of a noble metal.

7. A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the conductive coating is applied to the mold compound, the exposed end sections of the first plurality of segmented metal traces, the first metal plating; the exposed end sections of the second plurality of segmented metal traces, and the second metal plating.

8. A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a non-conductive coating applied to the conductive coating.

9. A semiconductor device comprising:

a substrate having a plurality of metal traces; at least one die electrically attached to a first surface of the substrate;

a plurality of vias formed around a perimeter of the first surface of the substrate, the plurality of vias formed through the substrate, an interior of the plurality of vias being exposed along a side surface of the semiconductor device;

a mold compound for encapsulating the semiconductor device;

a metal plating formed on the interior of the plurality of vias, wherein the metal plating also extends onto one or more of the metal traces and an insulating layer adjacent to the plurality of vias;

a conductive coating conformally covering the mold compound and exposed metal traces.

10. A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the metal plating is formed of a noble metal.

11. A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 9 , further comprising a plug positioned in a top section of the plurality of vias.

12. A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the plug is formed of soldermask.

13. A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 9 , further comprising a non-conductive coating applied to the conductive coating.

14. A method of making a semiconductor device comprising:

providing a substrate having a plurality of metal traces, a first plurality of segmented metal traces formed around a perimeter of the first surface of the substrate, wherein a side surface of the first plurality of segmented metal traces is exposed;

attaching a die electrically to a first surface of the substrate;

applying a first metal plating on a top surface end section of the first plurality of segmented metal traces, wherein the top surface is approximately perpendicular to the side surface;

encapsulating the semiconductor device with a mold compound;

applying a conductive coating to the mold compound, the exposed side surface of the first plurality of segmented metal traces and to the first metal plating, wherein the first metal plating is spread to extend above and below the top surface end section along the exposed side surface of the first plurality of segmented metal traces.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein applying the first metal plating further comprises applying the first metal layer which is formed of a noble metal.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein providing the substrate further comprises providing a substrate having a second plurality of segmented metal traces formed within an insulation layer of the substrate around a perimeter of the substrate, wherein an end section of the second plurality of segmented metal traces is exposed.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein applying the conductive coating further comprises applying the conductive coating to the mold compound, the exposed end sections of the first plurality of segmented metal traces, the first metal plating, and the exposed end sections of the second plurality of segmented metal traces.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising applying a second metal plating formed on a top terminal end section of the second plurality of segmented metal traces, wherein the second metal plating is spread to at least one of the insulation layer or the exposed end sections of the second plurality of segmented metal traces.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein applying the conductive coating further comprises applying the conductive coating to the mold compound, the exposed end sections of the first plurality of segmented metal traces, the first metal plating; the exposed end sections of the second plurality of segmented metal traces, and the second metal plating.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising applying a non-conductive coating to the conductive coating.