US Patent 10515880 Lead frame with bendable leads

A lead frame for a packaged integrated circuit (IC) device has a die receiving area and leads that extend outwardly from the die receiving area. The leads have an inner lead area proximate the die receiving area and an outer lead area distant from the die receiving area. Notches are formed in a surface of alternate ones of the leads, in the inner lead area proximate to the outer lead area. The notches facilitate bending of the alternate leads when the leads are subjected to a downward force by a mold tool, such that one set of leads lies in a first plane and another set lies in a second plane spaced from the first plane. The leads in the first plane can be formed into Gull Wing leads and the other set of leads into J-leads.