An electromagnetic interference (EMI) and/or electromagnetic radiation shield
is formed by forming a conductive layer (42, 64) over a mold encapsulant
(35, 62). The conductive layer (42, 64) may be electrically coupled
using a wire to the leadframe (10, 52) of the semiconductor package (2,
50). The electrical coupling can be performed by wire bonding two device portions
(2, 4, 6, 8) of a leadframe (10) together and then cutting the wire
bond (32) by forming a groove (40) in the overlying mold encapsulant
(35) to form two wires (33). The conductive layer (42) is
then electrically coupled to each of the two wires (33). In another embodiment,
a looped wire bond (61) is formed on top of a semiconductor die (57).
After mold encapsulation, portions of the mold encapsulant (62) are removed
to expose portions of the looped wire bond (61). The conductive layer (64)
is then formed over the mold encapsulant (62) and the exposed portion of
the looped wire bond (61) so that the conductive layer (64) is electrically
coupled to the looped wire bond (61).