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US5095187A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Weakening wire supplied through a wire bonder

Assignee: Tyco International Ltd Bermuda
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Filing: 1989-12-20
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Granted: 1992-03-10
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Expires: 2009-12-20
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Abstract

Abstract A technique for weakening an interconnection wire provided on a contact on an electronic component, in which the wire is weakened by means of an arc which is created between the wire and an electrode provided in an aperture in the wall of the bonding head of the wire bonder through which the wire is supplied, the arc being generated by an electric field between the wire and the electrode. The electric field has a second portion in which its polarity is reversed, for controlling the dispersion of charged particles emitted from the wire. The electric field may be created by an arc generator which includes a capacitor which discharges through a transformer.

Inventors

  • 👤 Alexandru S. Gliga

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 16:39
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/013; B23K20/00; B23K20/002; B23K20/004; B23K20/005; B23K20/007; H; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/01; H10W72/015; H10W72/01551; H10W72/071; H10W72/0711; H10W72/07141; H10W72/07163; H10W72/075; H10W72/07511; H10W72/07531; H10W72/07532; H10W72/07533; H10W72/50; H10W72/531; H10W72/536; H10W72/551; H10W72/552; H10W72/5522; H10W72/5524; H10W72/5525

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim 201 words
A bonding head for a wire bonder, having a tubular passage extending through it through which wire can be supplied for bonding to a contact on an electronic component, which includes: (a) an electrode from which an electric field can be generated to wire supplied through the bonding head; and (b) an arc generator which is electrically connected to the electrode, and which generates an electric field between the electrode and the wire having a wave shape which comprises (i) a first portion of a first polarity, wherein the potential difference between the electrode and the wire is such that an arc is created between the electrode and the wire which causes the wire to be weakened, and (ii) a second portion of reverse polarity for controlling dispersion of charged particles emitted from the wire, wherein the potential difference between the electrode and the wire is less than the potential difference in the first portion and insufficient to generate an arc between the electrode and the wire; the electrode being so arranged so that the wire is weakened at a point within the bonding head by having the electric field extending from the electrode at a point within the bonding head.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 201 words
A bonding head for a wire bonder, having a tubular passage extending through it through which wire can be supplied for bonding to a contact on an electronic component, which includes: (a) an electrode from which an electric field can be generated to wire supplied through the bonding head; and (b) an arc generator which is electrically connected to the electrode, and which generates an electric field between the electrode and the wire having a wave shape which comprises (i) a first portion of a first polarity, wherein the potential difference between the electrode and the wire is such that an arc is created between the electrode and the wire which causes the wire to be weakened, and (ii) a second portion of reverse polarity for controlling dispersion of charged particles emitted from the wire, wherein the potential difference between the electrode and the wire is less than the potential difference in the first portion and insufficient to generate an arc between the electrode and the wire; the electrode being so arranged so that the wire is weakened at a point within the bonding head by having the electric field extending from the electrode at a point within the bonding head.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
A bonding head as claimed in claim 1, in which the arc generator includes a capacitor which is discharged through a transformer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
A bonding head as claimed in claim 1, in which, in the first portion of the wave, the electrode is at a positive potential relative to the wire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
A bonding head as claimed in claim 1, in which the peak potential difference between the electrode and the wire in the second portion of the wave is less than that in the first portion thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
A bonding head as claimed in claim 4, in which the peak potential difference between the electrode and the wire in the second portion of the wave is less than about half that in the first portion thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 33 words
A bonding head as claimed in claim 1, in which the peak potential difference between the electrode and the wire in the first portion of the wave is at least about 1000 volts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 33 words
A bonding head as claimed in claim 1, in which the peak potential difference between the electrode and the wire in the second portion of the wave is less than about 600 volts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
A bonding head as claimed in claim 1, in which the duration of the second portion of the wave is greater than that of the first portion thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 31 words
A bonding head as claimed in claim 8, in which the duration of the second portion of the wave is at least about four times that of the first portion thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 31 words
A bonding head as claimed in claim 1, which includes a second electrode from which an electric field can be generated to the wire at a point outside the tubular passage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 37 words
A bonding head as claimed in claim 10, in which the wave shape of the field between the second electrode and the wire is such that the electrode is at a positive potential relative to the wire.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 34 words
A bonding head according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is located in an aperture in the wall of the bonding head which communicates with the tubular passage through which the wire is supplied.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 189 words
A method of weakening an interconnection wire which is suitable for forming a connection to a contact on an electronic component, which comprises: (a) supplying wire through a bonding head on a wire bonder, the bonding head having a tubular passage extending through it, and being provided with an electrode from which an electric arc can be generated extending from the electrode at a point within the bonding head to the wire to weaken the wire at a point within the bonding head; and (b) generating an electric field between the electrode and the wire having a wave shape which comprises (i) a first portion of a first polarity, wherein the potential difference between the electrode and the wire is such that an arc is created between the electrode and the wire which causes the wire to be weakened, and (ii) a second portion of reverse polarity for controlling dispersion of charged particles emitted from the wire, wherein the potential difference between the electrode and the wire is less than the potential difference in the first portion and insufficient to generate an arc between the electrode and the wire.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 189 words
A method of weakening an interconnection wire which is suitable for forming a connection to a contact on an electronic component, which comprises: (a) supplying wire through a bonding head on a wire bonder, the bonding head having a tubular passage extending through it, and being provided with an electrode from which an electric arc can be generated extending from the electrode at a point within the bonding head to the wire to weaken the wire at a point within the bonding head; and (b) generating an electric field between the electrode and the wire having a wave shape which comprises (i) a first portion of a first polarity, wherein the potential difference between the electrode and the wire is such that an arc is created between the electrode and the wire which causes the wire to be weakened, and (ii) a second portion of reverse polarity for controlling dispersion of charged particles emitted from the wire, wherein the potential difference between the electrode and the wire is less than the potential difference in the first portion and insufficient to generate an arc between the electrode and the wire.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, in which, in the first portion of the wave, the electrode is at a positive potential relative to the wire.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 35 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, in which the peak potential difference between the electrode and the wire in the second portion of the wave is less than that in the first portion thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 37 words
A method as claimed in claim 15, in which the peak potential difference between the electrode and the wire in the second portion of the wave is less than about half that in the first portion thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, in which the duration of the second portion of the wave is greater than that of the first portion thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method as claimed in claim 17, in which the duration of the second portion of the wave is at least about four times that of the first portion thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 42 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, which includes the steps of extending the end of the wire beyond the end of the tubular passage after the wire has been severed, and forming a broadened portion on the end of the wire.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 61 words
A method as claimed in claim 19, in which the bonding head includes a second electrode from which an electric field can be generated to the wire at a point outside the tubular passage, and which includes the step of forming the broadened portion on the end of the wire by creating an arc between the wire and the second electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, which includes the step of bonding the wire to a contact on an electronic component.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method as claimed in claim 21, in which the wire is bonded to the contact without the use of a material other than the materials of the contact and the wire.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method as claimed in claim 21, which includes the step of applying force to the wire in a direction away from the contact.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 35 words
A method as claimed in claim 23, in which the wire is severed, at the point at which it is weakened by the arc, as a result of the application of force to the wire.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 37 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein in the bonding head the electrode is located in an aperture in the wall of the bonding head which communicates with the tubular passage through which the wire is supplied.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3431384A Cited
US3950631A Cited
GB1468974A Cited
JPS53123663A Cited
US4417392A Cited
JPS5764944A Cited
US4705204A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-03-10 1995-09-09 1996-03-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-03-10 1999-09-09 2000-03-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-03-10 2003-09-09 2004-03-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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