Abstract: A tension mechanism that applies a back tension to a wire in a bonding apparatus including: a first nozzle which has a through-hole through which the wire passes, second and third nozzles which have diameters that are larger than the diameter of the through-hole of the first nozzle and which are disposed above and below the first nozzle, a first air passage formed in the joining surfaces of the first nozzle and second nozzle, and a second air passage formed in the joining surfaces of the second nozzle and third nozzle. A compressed air supply device is connected to the tension mechanism and supplies compressed air to the first air passage from an air supply source, and a vacuum suction device is also connected to the tension mechanism and applies vacuum suction to the second air passage from a vacuum supply source.

Abstract: In a wire bonding apparatus in which a wire is passed through a capillary that is provided at one end of a bonding arm and a clamper that holds the wire is disposed directly above the capillary, the distance between the upper surface of the capillary and the undersurface of the clamper is set as a very short distance as 1.5 mm or less.

Abstract: A wire bonding apparatus comprising: a spool motor rotates a spool around which a wire is wound, a tension-applying device that is disposed beneath the spool, a wire pay-out sensor disposed away from a gas-jet-out side of the tension-applying device so as to sense that the supply of the wire is insufficient, a wire-end detection sensor disposed on the gas-jet-out side of the tension-applying device so as to sense that the supply of the wire from the spool has stopped, and a control device controls so that the spool motor is rotated by a predetermined fixed amount when the wire is sensed by the wire pay-out sensor.

Abstract: A wire bonding method and apparatus, in which after the tail of a wire extends out of a capillary, the capillary moves to a measurement position above a tail length measuring member; the capillary descends so that the end of the tail contacts the tail length measuring member; a position of the capillary or a distance by which the capillary is lowered at the time that electrical continuity is established with the tail length measuring member is detected; and the tail length is calculated based upon a height level of the tail length measuring member, the position of the capillary before being lowered for measuring the tail, and the position of the capillary when the wire contacts the tail length measuring member, or upon the height of the capillary above the tail length measuring member before lowering the capillary for measuring the tail, and a distance the capillary is lowered.

Abstract: A tension mechanism that applies a back tension to a wire in a bonding apparatus including: a first nozzle which has a through-hole through which the wire passes, second and third nozzles which have diameters that are larger than the diameter of the through-hole of the first nozzle and which are disposed above and below the first nozzle, a first air passage formed in the joining surfaces of the first nozzle and second nozzle, and a second air passage formed in the joining surfaces of the second nozzle and third nozzle. A compressed air supply device is connected to the tension mechanism and supplies compressed air to the first air passage from an air supply source, and a vacuum suction device is also connected to the tension mechanism and applies vacuum suction to the second air passage from a vacuum supply source.

Abstract: In a wire bonding apparatus in which a wire is passed through a capillary that is provided at one end of a bonding arm and a damper that holds the wire is disposed directly above the capillary, the distance between the upper surface of the capillary and the undersurface of the damper is set as a very short distance as 1.5 mm or less.

Abstract: A wire bonding method in which first and second bonding points are connected by a wire comprising the steps of: connecting the wire that passes through a capillary to a first bonding point, raising the capillary and performing a reverse operation so as to move the capillary in the opposite direction from the second bonding point, raising and moving the capillary toward the second bonding point and then lowering the capillary slightly, raising the capillary and performing at least once another reverse operation so as to move the capillary in the opposite direction from the second bonding point, and raising and then moving the capillary toward the second bonding point and connecting the wire to the second bonding point; thus forming a stable wire loop that has a high shape retention strength.

Abstract: A wire bonding method and apparatus, in which after the tail of a wire extends out of a capillary, the capillary moves to a measurement position above a tail length measuring member; the capillary descends so that the end of the tail contacts the tail length measuring member; a position of the capillary or a distance by which the capillary is lowered at the time that electrical continuity is established with the tail length measuring member is detected; and the tail length is calculated based upon a height level of the tail length measuring member, the position of the capillary before being lowered for measuring the tail, and the position of the capillary when the wire contacts the tail length measuring member, or upon the height of the capillary above the tail length measuring member before lowering the capillary for measuring the tail, and a distance the capillary is lowered.

Abstract: A method, which is for forming accurate low wire loop shapes or short wire loop shapes which are stable and which have a high shape retention force in devices in which height differences between first and second bonding points are small and the wiring distance is short, including the steps of bonding a ball formed at the end of the wire extending out of the capillary to the first bonding point, raising the capillary while delivering the wire, moving the capillary toward the second bonding point, and then raising the capillary diagonally upward.

Abstract: A wire bonding apparatus comprising: a spool motor rotates a spool around which a wire is wound, a tension-applying device that is disposed beneath the spool, a wire pay-out sensor disposed away from a gas-jet-out side of the tension-applying device so as to sense that the supply of the wire is insufficient, a wire-end detection sensor disposed on the gas-jet-out side of the tension-applying device so as to sense that the supply of the wire from the spool has stopped, and a control device controls so that the spool motor is rotated by a predetermined fixed amount when the wire is sensed by the wire pay-out sensor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with wires mounted thereon, each one of the wires, which connects a first bonding point and a second bonding point which are positioned substantially in a lateral relationship, including: a neck height part which extends more or less vertically upward from the first bonding point, a first lateral wire part which extends laterally while dipping downward from the neck height part, a second lateral wire part which extends more or less horizontally from the first lateral wire part, a third lateral wire part which extends while rising from the second lateral wire part, and an inclined part which extends from the third lateral wire part to the second bonding point.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with wires mounted thereon, each one of the wires, which connects a first bonding point and a second bonding point which are positioned substantially in a lateral relationship, including: a neck height part which extends more or less vertically upward from the first bonding point, a first lateral wire part which extends laterally while dipping downward from the neck height part, a second lateral wire part which extends more or less horizontally from the first lateral wire part, a third lateral wire part which extends while rising from the second lateral wire part, and an inclined part which extends from the third lateral wire part to the second bonding point.

Abstract: A wire bonding method in the manufacture of, for instance, a semiconductor device in which first bonding points or pads of a chip and second bonding points or leads of a lead frame are connected by wires, and the bonding by wires is initiated from one end of the row of the first bonding points (pads) and is successively performed in one direction toward a center of the row, and after bonding has been performed up to an approximate center of the row, then bonding is initiated from another end of the row in the opposite direction toward the center of the row.

Abstract: A lead frame supplying method and apparatus used with, for instance, a wire bonding machine, including a sensor which detects a presence or absence of a lead frame in a frame storing section of a lead frame magazine. The sensor is installed at the level of a frame conveying path or above the level of the frame conveying path of a frame feeder that feeds lead frames to, for instance, the bonding machine and is located so that the lead frame magazine is positioned between the sensor and the frame feeder. In addition, a control unit positions a frame storing section that contains a lead frame at the level of the frame conveying path of the frame feeder when the sensor detects the absence of a lead frame in one frame storing section.

Abstract: In a bonding apparatus such as a wire bonding apparatus, die bonding apparatus and the like in which lead frames are supplied from a lead frame magazine to a bonding section via a frame conveying path, when the absence of a lead frame in the frame storing section of a lead frame magazine is detected by a sensor in spite of the fact that a frame pusher for pushing out the lead frame from the magazine has operated, a judgement is made that no more lead frames are contained in the frame magazine, so that a lowermost frame storing section of the next magazine is moved to the level of the frame conveying path.

Abstract: In a bonding apparatus such as a wire bonding apparatus, die bonding apparatus and the like in which lead frames are supplied from a lead frame magazine to a bonding section via a frame conveying path, when the absence of a lead frame in the frame storing section of a lead frame magazine is detected by a sensor in spite of the fact that a frame pusher for pushing out the lead frame from the magazine has operated, a judgement is made that no more lead frames are contained in the frame magazine, so that a lowermost frame storing section of the next magazine is moved to the level of the frame conveying path.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a bonded wire that connects a first bonding point and a second bonding point and has a linear portion in the top area thereof, the linear portion being bent or depressed down, thus having a high shape-retaining strength.

Abstract: A method for moving a capillary so as to connect wire to a first bonding point and then to a second bonding point in manufacturing, for instance, semiconductor devices, including the steps of moving the capillary in a opposite direction from the second bonding point after moving the capillary away from the first bonding point, and then moving the capillary slightly towards the first bonding point so as to form a firm kink in the wire, and after which the capillary is further moved away from the first bonding point delivering the wire, and then the capillary is moved towards the second bonding point to connect the wire to the second bonding point.

Abstract: A method for connecting a first bonding point and a second bonding point with a wire comprising the steps of: raising a capillary through which the wire passes slightly after the second reverse operation that involves the movement of the capillary in the opposite direction from a second bonding point, moving the capillary to a position which is more or less above the first bonding pint, and then raising the capillary while delivering the wire; resulting in the formation of a kink in the inclined portion of a trapezoidal wire loop employed in the wire connection in semiconductor devices.

Abstract: In a bonding method for bonding with a wire a first bonding point and then a second bonding point, a capillary that carries the wire is moved in a direction which is opposite from the first bonding point at the same time that an ultrasonic vibration is applied to the capillary during bonding to the second bonding point. Such a movement of the opposite direction can occur 10-20 ms after the application of the ultrasonic vibration at the second bonding point.