Abstract: Disclosed is a method of measuring a free air ball size during a wire bonding process of a wire bonder, which comprises a position sensor and a bonding tool for forming an electrical connection between a semiconductor device and a substrate using a bonding wire. Specifically, the method comprises the steps of: forming a free air ball from a wire tail of the bonding wire; using the position sensor to determine a positional difference between a first and a second position of the bonding tool with respect to a reference position, wherein the first position of the bonding tool is a position of the bonding tool with respect to the reference position when the free air ball contacts a conductive surface; and measuring the free air ball size based on the positional difference of the bonding tool as determined by the position sensor. A wire bonder configured to perform such a method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for pull testing a wire bond. The method including the steps of: (i) with a wire bonding tool, bonding an end of a wire to make a bond at a first location on a bonding surface having a conductive material, such that the bond completes an electrical circuit; (ii) clamping the wire with a wire clamp; (iii) pulling the wire with the wire clamp to apply a predetermined pulling force; (iv) detecting whether the electrical circuit is open; and (v) if the electrical circuit is open, determining that there has been a bond failure, and automatically incrementing a bond failure count.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of bonding wire between first and second bonding points with a bonding tool. It comprises the steps of forming a first bond at the first bonding point with the bonding tool, forming a first kink located over the first bond, and moving the bonding tool to a first position spaced from the first kink by a predetermined distance to release a length of wire from the bonding tool. It further comprises the step of moving the bonding tool in a direction away from the second bonding point to a second position which is outside a plane comprising the first bonding point, the second bonding point, and the first kink. It also comprises the steps of forming a second kink which lies outside the plane, and moving the bonding tool to the second bonding point to form a second bond.

Abstract: A wire bonding apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer including a capillary, a flexible connecting frame having a first side to which the ultrasonic transducer is connected and at least one electrically-driven actuator which is connected to a second side of the flexible connecting frame that is opposite to the first side thereof, the actuator having a longitudinal actuation direction. An elongated slit located in the flexible connecting frame extends substantially transversely to the actuation direction of the at least one actuator to form at least one pivot point adjacent to an end of the slit about which the flexible connecting frame is rotatable when it is driven by the at least one actuator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wire bonder comprising: a processor; a bond head coupled to the processor, the processor being configured to control motion of the bond head; a bonding tool mounted to the bond head, the bonding tool being drivable by the bond head to form an electrical interconnection between a semiconductor die and a substrate to which the semiconductor die is mounted using a bonding wire; and a measuring device coupled to the bond head, the measuring device being operable to measure a deformation of a bonding portion of the bonding wire as the bonding tool is driven by the bond head to connect the bonding wire to the semiconductor die via the bonding portion.

Abstract: A capillary is utilized to form the wedge wire bond comprised in a wire interconnection. A wire holding device is located above a wire clamp and the capillary to secure the wire while the wire clamp is open and not clamping onto the wire. The wire clamp and the capillary may be lifted relative to the wire in a direction away from the wedge wire bond and towards the wire holding device so as to pay out a length of wire from the capillary. At a predetermined height of the capillary, the wire clamp is closed to clamp onto the wire, and thereafter, the capillary and wire clamp may be moved further away from the wedge wire bond to cause the wire to break away from the wedge wire bond and to form the wire tail with a desired length extending from the capillary.

Abstract: A method for pull testing a wire bond. The method including the steps of: (i) with a wire bonding tool, bonding an end of a wire to make a bond at a first location on a bonding surface having a conductive material, such that the bond completes an electrical circuit; (ii) clamping the wire with a wire clamp; (iii) pulling the wire with the wire clamp to apply a predetermined pulling force; (iv) detecting whether the electrical circuit is open; and (v) if the electrical circuit is open, determining that there has been a bond failure, and automatically incrementing a bond failure count.

Abstract: A wire bonding apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer including a capillary, a flexible connecting frame having a first side to which the ultrasonic transducer is connected and at least one electrically-driven actuator which is connected to a second side of the flexible connecting frame that is opposite to the first side thereof, the actuator having a longitudinal actuation direction. An elongated slit located in the flexible connecting frame extends substantially transversely to the actuation direction of the at least one actuator to form at least one pivot point adjacent to an end of the slit about which the flexible connecting frame is rotatable when it is driven by the at least one actuator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of measuring a free air ball size during a wire bonding process of a wire bonder, which comprises a position sensor and a bonding tool for forming an electrical connection between a semiconductor device and a substrate using a bonding wire. Specifically, the method comprises the steps of: forming a free air ball from a wire tail of the bonding wire; using the position sensor to determine a positional difference between a first and a second position of the bonding tool with respect to a reference position, wherein the first position of the bonding tool is a position of the bonding tool with respect to the reference position when the free air ball contacts a conductive surface; and measuring the free air ball size based on the positional difference of the bonding tool as determined by the position sensor. A wire bonder configured to perform such a method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wire bonder comprising: a processor; a bond head coupled to the processor, the processor being configured to control motion of the bond head; a bonding tool mounted to the bond head, the bonding tool being drivable by the bond head to form an electrical interconnection between a semiconductor die and a substrate to which the semiconductor die is mounted using a bonding wire; and a measuring device coupled to the bond head, the measuring device being operable to measure a deformation of a bonding portion of the bonding wire as the bonding tool is driven by the bond head to connect the bonding wire to the semiconductor die via the bonding portion.

Abstract: A capillary is utilized to form the wedge wire bond comprised in a wire interconnection. A wire holding device is located above a wire clamp and the capillary to secure the wire while the wire clamp is open and not clamping onto the wire. The wire clamp and the capillary may be lifted relative to the wire in a direction away from the wedge wire bond and towards the wire holding device so as to pay out a length of wire from the capillary. At a predetermined height of the capillary, the wire clamp is closed to clamp onto the wire, and thereafter, the capillary and wire clamp may be moved further away from the wedge wire bond to cause the wire to break away from the wedge wire bond and to form the wire tail with a desired length extending from the capillary.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting the oscillation amplitude of an oscillating object (3) includes an optical radiation source (9) and a detector (10) including first and second optical radiation sensing areas (24A, 24B) adjacent each other. The detector (10) and the optical radiation source (9) are adapted to be located opposite each other with the oscillating object (3) located between the source (9) and the detector (10) so that the object (3) blocks a portion of the sensing areas (24A, 24B) from receiving optical radiation from the source (9). A processor (18) coupled to the detector (10) receives first and second output signals representing the magnitude of optical radiation sensed by the first and second optical radiation sensing areas (24A, 24B), respectively. The processor (18) processes the first and second output signals to obtain an indication of the amplitude of oscillation of the object (3).

Abstract: The invention provides a wire-bonding apparatus for forming electrical connections between a semiconductor chip and a leadframe, comprising a plurality of bond-heads associated with a plurality of work holders on said wire bonding apparatus for holding a plurality of leadframes, wherein each bond-head of the apparatus is capable of independent bonding operation simultaneously with the other bond-heads, without synchronization of movement with the other bond-heads.

Abstract: A bonding system (1) bonds wires between a first electrical contact surface on a semiconductor chip and a second electrical contact surface on a substrate. The bonding system (1) has a first memory device (3) having a master bond program stored thereon and a second memory device (4) having an operating bond program stored thereon.

Abstract: The invention provides a wire-bonding apparatus for forming electrical connections between a semiconductor chip and a leadframe, comprising a plurality of bond-heads associated with a plurality of work holders on said wire bonding apparatus for holding a plurality of leadframes, wherein each bond-head of the apparatus is capable of independent bonding operation simultaneously with the other bond-heads, without synchronization of movement with the other bond-heads.

Abstract: A device for monitoring a wire bonding process measures an electric signal applied to a bond wire during the bonding process, and generates an output which discriminates between successful and unsuccessful bonding. The device employs at least one variable parameter. The value of the variable parameter is determined beforehand in a learning process by monitoring examples of actual wire bonding operations. Thus, the detection method may adapt to changing requirements automatically and operate under optimal conditions for a large variety of circuits to be processed. The electric signal is preferably oscillating, and the measurement preferably includes its peak or RMS amplitude.

Abstract: A device for monitoring a wire bonding process measures an electric signal applied to a bond wire during the bonding process, and generates an output which discriminates between successful and unsuccessful bonding. The device employs at least one variable parameter. The value of the variable parameter is determined beforehand in a learning process by monitoring examples of actual wire bonding operations. Thus, the detection method may adapt to changing requirements automatically and operate under optimal conditions for a large variety of circuits to be processed. The electric signal is preferably oscillating, and the measurement preferably includes its peak or RMS amplitude.