Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A wire bonder comprising: a clamper for clamping a bonding wire in the vicinity of where the bonding wire is engaged by a bonding tool, said clamper having a pair of clamping arms for clamping said bonding wire therebetween during a clamping operation; a bonding wire disconnection detecting menas for detecting a disconnection of said bonding wire from said clamper during said clamping operation, said disconnection detecting means including a pair of detecting units fixed on said pair of clamping arms, respectively, said pair of detecting units being spaced apart from each other with a predetermined gap when said bonding wire exists between said pair of clamping arms during said clamping operation, while said pair of detecting units come closer to each other than said predetermined gap when no said bonding wire exists between said clamping arms; and a detecting circuit for deriving an electrical signal from said pair of detecting units in response to the fact that said pair of detecting units have come closer to each other than said predetermined gap during said clamping operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A wire bonder comprising: a clamper for clamping a bonding wire in the vicinity of where the bonding wire is engaged by a bonding tool, said clamper having a pair of clamping arms for clamping said bonding wire therebetween during a clamping operation; a bonding wire disconnection detecting menas for detecting a disconnection of said bonding wire from said clamper during said clamping operation, said disconnection detecting means including a pair of detecting units fixed on said pair of clamping arms, respectively, said pair of detecting units being spaced apart from each other with a predetermined gap when said bonding wire exists between said pair of clamping arms during said clamping operation, while said pair of detecting units come closer to each other than said predetermined gap when no said bonding wire exists between said clamping arms; and a detecting circuit for deriving an electrical signal from said pair of detecting units in response to the fact that said pair of detecting units have come closer to each other than said predetermined gap during said clamping operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A wire bonder as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pair of detecting units are composed of a pair of electrically conductive elements, and said pair of electrically conductive elements are contacted with each other when no bonding wire exists between said pair of clamping arms during said clamping operation, so as to form a closed circuit said detecting circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A wire bonder as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said pair of detecting units is composed of a pressure sensor element fixed on at least one of said pair of clamping arms, and said pressure sensor element generates an electrical signal when said pair of detecting units come closer to each other than said predetermined gap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A wire bonder as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said pair of detecting units is composed of a light emitting element, while the other of said pair of detecting units is composed of a light receiving element for generating an electrical signal upon reception of the light of said light emitting element when said light emitting element and said light receiving element come closer to each other than said predetermined gap during said clamping operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
A wire bonder as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detecting units are positioned on tips of respective clamping arms so as to be spaced apart by a distance that is less than the distance between said tips, whereby a disconnection can be indicated even if a wire is clamped, thereby preventing bonding of a wire that has a diameter less than that corresponding to said predetermined gap.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A wire bonder as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detection circuit, during a bonding operation, is connected to a control means for automatically stopping the wire bonder in a manner such that said detection circuit is inoperative for actuating said control means until commencement of the clamping operation of said clamping arms.