US3593906A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conductor handling and bonding system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1969-02-20
•
Granted: 1971-07-20
•
Expires: 1989-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A system for positioning and attaching small conductors to precise locations on a densely packed circuit board utilizes an ultrasonic-bonding element, within the tip of which are incorporated elements of very small mass for manipulating and controlling the conductor without affecting the bonding operation. Such elements comprise a pair of slidable grippers and a pair of slidable wedge elements disposed within an elongated recess extending along one side of the bonding element. Dependent upon the relative positions of the gripper elements and the wedge members to each other in the bonding tip, as externally controlled, the gripper members may be extended outwardly to secure a conductor, retract the conductor for bonding, and then release the conductor.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Hug
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 13:30
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K20/00; B23K20/002; B23K20/004; B23K20/005; B23K20/10; H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/06; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/071; H10W72/0711; H10W72/07141; H10W72/07178; H10W72/075; H10W72/07531; H10W72/07532; H10W72/07533; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/4913; Y10T29/49133; Y10T29/49155
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A vibratory-bonding system for bonding conductors to miniature circuit boards including: vibratory energy-transmitting means including a bonding tip having an elongated recess therein; gripper means disposed within and slidably movable along the elongated recess in said bonding tip; and means disposed in frictional contact with said gripper means for slidably moving said gripper means relative to said bonding tip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A vibratory-bonding system for bonding conductors to miniature circuit boards including: vibratory energy-transmitting means including a bonding tip having an elongated recess therein; gripper means disposed within and slidably movable along the elongated recess in said bonding tip; and means disposed in frictional contact with said gripper means for slidably moving said gripper means relative to said bonding tip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said gripper means comprise elongated, generally planar elements disposed in contact with one another along a substantial portion of the lengths thereof and having adjacent resilient tip portions which tend to curve outwardly from each other, and said means in frictional contact comprise elongated, generally planar wedge elements disposed witHin the recess on opposite sides of the gripper means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said bonding tip has a pair of recesses therein for positioning the different ones of a pair of conductors adjacent a circuit board, and further including means for rocking the bonding tip relative to the circuit board between first and second positions, one of the pair of recesses in the bonding tip holding one of the pair of conductors in contact with the circuit board to bond said one conductor to the board when the bonding tip is in said first position, and the other one of the pair of recesses in the bonding tip holding the other one of the pair of conductors in contact with the circuit board to bond said other conductor to the board when the bonding tip is in said second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
132 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said bonding tip has a pair of recesses therein one of which is configured to hold a conductor in relatively tight contact with a circuit board and the other recess of which is larger than said one recess and is configured to hold a conductor in relatively loose contact with the circuit board, means for initially positioning first and second conductors between the circuit board and the one and the other recess in the bonding tip respectively to tightly bond the first conductor to the board while substantially simultaneously lightly bonding the second conductor to the board, and means for thereafter positioning the bonding tip with said other recess over the second conductor to tightly bond the second conductor to the board.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
142 words
A device for bonding electrical conductors to minute circuit pads on a circuit board comprising: an elongated ultrasonic energy-transmitting horn having a first end positionable at selected positions relative to the circuit board; transducer means coupled and transmitting ultrasonic energy to said horn; a conductor-gripping device mounted at said first end of said horn and extending normally thereto toward the circuit board, said device including a pair of elongated gripper members movable in a direction substantially normal to the circuit board and having a pair of internal recessed gripping surfaces for receiving a conductor therein, said device further including a pair of elongated wedging members disposed adjacent said gripper members and movable in a direction substantially normal to the circuit board; means for sliding said gripper members relative to said horn; and means for sliding said wedging members relative to said horn.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
142 words
A device for bonding electrical conductors to minute circuit pads on a circuit board comprising: an elongated ultrasonic energy-transmitting horn having a first end positionable at selected positions relative to the circuit board; transducer means coupled and transmitting ultrasonic energy to said horn; a conductor-gripping device mounted at said first end of said horn and extending normally thereto toward the circuit board, said device including a pair of elongated gripper members movable in a direction substantially normal to the circuit board and having a pair of internal recessed gripping surfaces for receiving a conductor therein, said device further including a pair of elongated wedging members disposed adjacent said gripper members and movable in a direction substantially normal to the circuit board; means for sliding said gripper members relative to said horn; and means for sliding said wedging members relative to said horn.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
207 words
A device for bonding electrical conductors to minute circuit pads on a circuit board comprising: an elongated ultrasonic energy-transmitting horn having a first end positionable at selected positions relative to the circuit board; transducer means coupled and transmitting ultrasonic energy to said horn at a region spaced apart from said first end; an energy-transmitting tip coupled to said first end of said horn and extending in a direction substantially normal to the circuit board, said tip including a longitudinal recess therealong on one side thereof; a pair of elongated gripper members disposed within the recess in said tip, said gripper members being of resilient material, curving outwardly at the ends thereof closest to the circuit board, and including internal conductor receiving notches disposed in facing relation adjacent the ends thereof closest to the circuit board and means for limiting the longitudinal movement thereof within said recess; a pair of elongated wedge members disposed within the recess in said tip, said pair of wedge members being disposed on opposite sides of said gripper members within said recess and in frictional engagement therewith, said wedge members and gripper members being longitudinally slidable within said recess with a sliding fit; and means for reciprocating said wedge members along said recess.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
207 words
A device for bonding electrical conductors to minute circuit pads on a circuit board comprising: an elongated ultrasonic energy-transmitting horn having a first end positionable at selected positions relative to the circuit board; transducer means coupled and transmitting ultrasonic energy to said horn at a region spaced apart from said first end; an energy-transmitting tip coupled to said first end of said horn and extending in a direction substantially normal to the circuit board, said tip including a longitudinal recess therealong on one side thereof; a pair of elongated gripper members disposed within the recess in said tip, said gripper members being of resilient material, curving outwardly at the ends thereof closest to the circuit board, and including internal conductor receiving notches disposed in facing relation adjacent the ends thereof closest to the circuit board and means for limiting the longitudinal movement thereof within said recess; a pair of elongated wedge members disposed within the recess in said tip, said pair of wedge members being disposed on opposite sides of said gripper members within said recess and in frictional engagement therewith, said wedge members and gripper members being longitudinally slidable within said recess with a sliding fit; and means for reciprocating said wedge members along said recess.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
144 words
The invention as set forth in claim 6 above, wherein saId means for reciprocating said wedge members along said recess includes tab elements extending from said wedge members, and control means engaging said tab elements for establishing a first position in which said gripper members are extended outwardly from said recess with said wedge members retracted within said recess, a second position with said wedge members extended from said recess to force the curved ends of said gripper members together, thereby to grip a conductor within the notches in said gripper members, a third position with both said wedge members and said gripper members retracted into said recess, with said wedge members maintaining said gripper members in locked relation relative to the conductor, and a fourth position with said wedge members further retracted into said recess to free said conductor from said gripper members.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
201 words
A system for attaching a conductor to a miniature circuit board comprising: a positioning system controllable in two coordinates relative to the circuit board; an ultrasonic-bonding system controlled by said positioning system, said ultrasonic-bonding system including an extended horn substantially parallel to the circuit board, and a bonding tip directed substantially normal toward said circuit board; means coupled to said extended horn for maintaining said bonding tip in one or the other of two positions at a selected coordinate relative to said circuit board, including a first position in which said bonding tip is out of engagement with said circuit board and a second position in which said bonding tip is mechanically in engagement with said circuit board; means disposed substantially within said bonding tip for drawing a conductor against said bonding tip, said means having a relatively small mass, being capable of releasing said conductor when said bonding tip is in said second position and including a pair of gripper members slidably disposed within a slot in said bonding tip and a pair of wedge members slidably disposed within the slot in said bonding tip; and means out of engagement with said bonding horn for controlling said last mentioned means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
201 words
A system for attaching a conductor to a miniature circuit board comprising: a positioning system controllable in two coordinates relative to the circuit board; an ultrasonic-bonding system controlled by said positioning system, said ultrasonic-bonding system including an extended horn substantially parallel to the circuit board, and a bonding tip directed substantially normal toward said circuit board; means coupled to said extended horn for maintaining said bonding tip in one or the other of two positions at a selected coordinate relative to said circuit board, including a first position in which said bonding tip is out of engagement with said circuit board and a second position in which said bonding tip is mechanically in engagement with said circuit board; means disposed substantially within said bonding tip for drawing a conductor against said bonding tip, said means having a relatively small mass, being capable of releasing said conductor when said bonding tip is in said second position and including a pair of gripper members slidably disposed within a slot in said bonding tip and a pair of wedge members slidably disposed within the slot in said bonding tip; and means out of engagement with said bonding horn for controlling said last mentioned means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
166 words
A device for bonding electrical conductors to minute circuit pads comprising: an elongated ultrasonic energy-transmitting horn having a first end positionable at selected positions relative to the circuit board; transducer means coupled and transmitting ultrasonic energy to said horn at a region spaced apart from said first end; a conductor-gripping device mounted at said first end of said horn and extending normally thereto toward an associated circuit board, said gripping device comprising a fixed hollow sleeve member, a pair of movable elongated gripper members disposed within said sleeve member centrally thereof, said gripper members initially extending outwardly from said sleeve member in the direction of the circuit board and including a pair of internal recessed gripping surfaces for receiving a conductor therein, and a pair of elongated restraint members slidably mounted in said sleeve member between said gripper members and said sleeve member; means for sliding said gripper members relative to said sleeve member; and means for sliding said restraint members relative to said sleeve member.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
166 words
A device for bonding electrical conductors to minute circuit pads comprising: an elongated ultrasonic energy-transmitting horn having a first end positionable at selected positions relative to the circuit board; transducer means coupled and transmitting ultrasonic energy to said horn at a region spaced apart from said first end; a conductor-gripping device mounted at said first end of said horn and extending normally thereto toward an associated circuit board, said gripping device comprising a fixed hollow sleeve member, a pair of movable elongated gripper members disposed within said sleeve member centrally thereof, said gripper members initially extending outwardly from said sleeve member in the direction of the circuit board and including a pair of internal recessed gripping surfaces for receiving a conductor therein, and a pair of elongated restraint members slidably mounted in said sleeve member between said gripper members and said sleeve member; means for sliding said gripper members relative to said sleeve member; and means for sliding said restraint members relative to said sleeve member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3053124A
Cited
US3437093A
Cited
US3477119A
Cited
US3436006A
Cited
US3382564A
Cited
US3464102A
Cited
US3430834A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-19 | 1975-01-18 | 1975-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-19 | 1979-01-18 | 1979-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-19 | 1983-01-18 | 1983-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |