Substrate barcode readability enhancement structures and method

A substrate, comprising:

• a metallic surface;
• a barcode laser etched into the metallic surface;
• and
• an optically transparent encapsulant covering a region of the metallic surface that includes the barcode,
• wherein the optically transparent encapsulant reduces oxidation of metallic debris produced by laser etching of the barcode and that remains on or near the barcode.

A substrate, comprising:

• an electrically insulative body;
• a metallic layer covering the electrically insulative body;
• a barcode laser etched into the metallic layer;
• and
• a trench formed in the metallic layer along a perimeter of the barcode and exposing the electrically insulative body,
• wherein metallic debris produced by laser etching of the barcode is disposed in the trench.

A substrate, comprising:

• an electrically insulative body;
• a metallic layer covering the electrically insulative body;
• a barcode laser etched into the metallic layer;
• and
• a trench formed in the metallic layer along a perimeter of the barcode and exposing the electrically insulative body,
• wherein the metallic layer is patterned into a plurality of islands, wherein the barcode is laser etched into a region of one of the islands,
• wherein the trench is formed in the same island as the barcode,
• wherein the region of the island with the barcode is electrically connected to the remainder of the island through one or more gaps in the trench filled by the metallic layer.