US4387283A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method of forming aluminum balls for ball bonding
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1981-08-03
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Granted: 1983-06-07
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Expires: 2001-08-03
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method of forming aluminum balls utilized for ball bonding. The aluminum balls are formed in a moist argon atmosphere by applying an electrical potential across a spark gap causing a spark to occur which causes the end of the aluminum wire to melt, forming an aluminum ball.
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Peterson
- 👤 Edward M. Majors
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:07
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; 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; H10W72/075; H10W72/07511; H10W72/07531; H10W72/07532; H10W72/07533; H10W72/50; H10W72/541; H10W72/5449; H10W72/551; H10W72/552; H10W72/5522; H10W72/5524; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/751; H10W90/753; H10W90/754; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/4913; Y10T29/49139; Y10T29/4914; Y10T29/49142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for forming an aluminum ball on an end of an aluminum wire comprising: (a) an electrode located closely adjacent said end of said aluminum wire and spaced therefrom for providing a spark gap when electrical potential is applied between said aluminum wire and said electrode to heat said end of said aluminum wire to form said aluminum ball; (b) a supply of argon gas; (c) a humidifier connected to said supply to produce a flow of moist argon gas; and (d) a nozzle connected to said humidifier for providing moist argon gas at said end of said aluminum wire.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for forming an aluminum ball on an end of an aluminum wire comprising: (a) an electrode located closely adjacent said end of said aluminum wire and spaced therefrom for providing a spark gap when electrical potential is applied between said aluminum wire and said electrode to heat said end of said aluminum wire to form said aluminum ball; (b) a supply of argon gas; (c) a humidifier connected to said supply to produce a flow of moist argon gas; and (d) a nozzle connected to said humidifier for providing moist argon gas at said end of said aluminum wire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a heater for heating said moist argon gas to approximately 100° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supply provides argon gas while electrical potential is applied between said aluminum wire and said electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including a partial enclosure disposed about said nozzle, said electrode, and said end of said aluminum wire.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for forming an aluminum ball at an end of an aluminum wire comprising: (a) an electrode located closely adjacent said end of said aluminum wire and spaced therefrom for providing a spark gap when an electrical potential is present between said aluminum wire and said electrode for heating said aluminum wire to form said aluminum ball at said end thereof; (b) a supply of argon gas under pressure; (c) a humidifier connected to said supply for producing a flow of moist argon gas; (d) a nozzle connected to said humidifier for directing said flow of moist argon gas generally toward said end of said wire and said electrode; and (e) a temperature control device in thermal communication with said moist argon gas intermediate said humidifier and said nozzle for maintaining the flow of moist argon gas at a temperature above 95° F.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for forming an aluminum ball at an end of an aluminum wire comprising: (a) an electrode located closely adjacent said end of said aluminum wire and spaced therefrom for providing a spark gap when an electrical potential is present between said aluminum wire and said electrode for heating said aluminum wire to form said aluminum ball at said end thereof; (b) a supply of argon gas under pressure; (c) a humidifier connected to said supply for producing a flow of moist argon gas; (d) a nozzle connected to said humidifier for directing said flow of moist argon gas generally toward said end of said wire and said electrode; and (e) a temperature control device in thermal communication with said moist argon gas intermediate said humidifier and said nozzle for maintaining the flow of moist argon gas at a temperature above 95° F.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for forming an aluminum ball on an end of an aluminum wire comprising: (a) a controller selectively providing an electrical potential at a negative and positive output thereof with said negative output connected to said aluminum wire; (b) an electrode connected to said positive output and located closely adjacent to said end of said aluminum wire to form a spark gap therewith for said electrical potential to heat said end forming said aluminum ball; (c) a flow of moist argon gas directed toward said end of said aluminum wire; and (d) a temperature control device in thermal communication with said flow of moist argon gas for maintaining temperature thereof at approximately 100° F.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for forming an aluminum ball on an end of an aluminum wire comprising: (a) a controller selectively providing an electrical potential at a negative and positive output thereof with said negative output connected to said aluminum wire; (b) an electrode connected to said positive output and located closely adjacent to said end of said aluminum wire to form a spark gap therewith for said electrical potential to heat said end forming said aluminum ball; (c) a flow of moist argon gas directed toward said end of said aluminum wire; and (d) a temperature control device in thermal communication with said flow of moist argon gas for maintaining temperature thereof at approximately 100° F.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for thermally forming an aluminum ball at an end of an aluminum wire comprising: (a) first means connected closely adjacent to and spaced from said end of said aluminum wire for forming a spark gap therewith; (b) a second means connected to said first means and said aluminum wire for selectively producing an electrical spark across said spark gap; and (c) third means located adjacent said first means and said end of said aluminum wire for providing moist argon gas with a temperature of at least 95° F. within said spark gap and at said end of said aluminum wire at least prior to and during the electric spark.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for thermally forming an aluminum ball at an end of an aluminum wire comprising: (a) first means connected closely adjacent to and spaced from said end of said aluminum wire for forming a spark gap therewith; (b) a second means connected to said first means and said aluminum wire for selectively producing an electrical spark across said spark gap; and (c) third means located adjacent said first means and said end of said aluminum wire for providing moist argon gas with a temperature of at least 95° F. within said spark gap and at said end of said aluminum wire at least prior to and during the electric spark.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second means connects said first means and said aluminum wire to relatively positive and negative electrical potentials, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus for forming an aluminum ball on an end of an aluminum wire by heating said end to melt said wire comprising: (a) first means located closely adjacent to and spaced from said end of said aluminum wire for forming a spark gap therewith; (b) a second means connected to said first means and said aluminum wire for selectively producing an electric spark across said gap; and (c) third means located adjacent said first means and said aluminum wire for directing a flow of moist argon gas toward said end of said aluminum wire and said first means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus for forming an aluminum ball on an end of an aluminum wire by heating said end to melt said wire comprising: (a) first means located closely adjacent to and spaced from said end of said aluminum wire for forming a spark gap therewith; (b) a second means connected to said first means and said aluminum wire for selectively producing an electric spark across said gap; and (c) third means located adjacent said first means and said aluminum wire for directing a flow of moist argon gas toward said end of said aluminum wire and said first means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for thermally forming aluminum balls on an end of an aluminum wire comprising the steps of: (a) providing moist argon gas at said end of said aluminum wire; and (b) applying an electric spark to said end of said aluminum wire to heat said end for forming said ball.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for thermally forming aluminum balls on an end of an aluminum wire comprising the steps of: (a) providing moist argon gas at said end of said aluminum wire; and (b) applying an electric spark to said end of said aluminum wire to heat said end for forming said ball.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for forming an aluminum ball from an end of an aluminum wire comprising the steps of: (a) providing moist argon gas having a temperature of at least 95° F. at said end of said aluminum wire; and (b) heating said end of said aluminum wire to melt said wire for forming said aluminum ball by applying an electric spark to said end of said aluminum wire with said aluminum wire having a relative negative potential across said spark gap.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for forming an aluminum ball from an end of an aluminum wire comprising the steps of: (a) providing moist argon gas having a temperature of at least 95° F. at said end of said aluminum wire; and (b) heating said end of said aluminum wire to melt said wire for forming said aluminum ball by applying an electric spark to said end of said aluminum wire with said aluminum wire having a relative negative potential across said spark gap.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3641660A
Cited
US4098447A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-06 | 1986-12-06 | 1987-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-06 | 1990-12-06 | 1991-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-06 | 1994-12-06 | 1995-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |