A method for operating an ultrasonic bonding apparatus, the ultrasonic bonding apparatus providing an ultrasonic transducer with a carrier, displaceable in a z direction, including an ultrasound generating device which is movable relative to the carrier and is held thereon, and including an ultrasonic tool which is excitable to ultrasonic vibrations by the ultrasound generating device.

A method of forming a wire loop in connection with a semiconductor package is provided. The method includes the steps of: (1) providing package data related to the semiconductor package to a wire bonding machine; (2) providing at least one looping control value related to a desired wire loop to the wire bonding machine, the at least one looping control value including at least a loop height value related to the desired wire loop; (3) deriving looping parameters, using an algorithm, for forming the desired wire loop; (4) forming a first wire loop on the wire bonding machine using the looping parameters derived in step (3); (5) measuring actual looping control values of the first wire loop formed in step (4) corresponding to the at least one looping control value; and (6) comparing the actual looping control values measured in step (5) to the at least one looping control value provided in step (2).

A method of forming a wire loop in connection with a semiconductor package is provided. The method includes the steps of: (1) providing package data related to the semiconductor package to a wire bonding machine; (2) providing at least one looping control value related to a desired wire loop to the wire bonding machine, the at least one looping control value including at least a loop height value related to the desired wire loop; (3) deriving looping parameters, using an algorithm, for forming the desired wire loop; (4) forming a first wire loop on the wire bonding machine using the looping parameters derived in step (3); (5) measuring actual looping control values of the first wire loop formed in step (4) corresponding to the at least one looping control value; and (6) comparing the actual looping control values measured in step (5) to the at least one looping control value provided in step (2).

To provide a wire bonding apparatus, which is insusceptible to a bonding state at a second bonding point due to a wire cut error or the like, or to members such as a capillary and a wire, and is capable of automatically protruding the wire from a leading end of the capillary, provided is a wire bonding apparatus including: a capillary (6) having a through hole through which a wire (40) is to be inserted; a holding unit, which is provided above the capillary (6), and is configured to hold the wire (40) inserted through the capillary (6); and a vibrating unit configured to vertically vibrate the capillary (6). Under a state in which the holding unit holds the wire (40), the vibrating unit vertically vibrates the capillary (6) so that the wire (40) is protruded from the leading end of the capillary.

A method for automatically threading wire in a wire bonding apparatus includes the steps of extending a wire tail of a wire from a wire spool, locating the wire tail in a wire locating device and positioning the wire tail at a straightening location of the wire locating device. The wire tail is straightened at the straightening location with a wire manipulating device and then conveyed to a threading location. With a wire threading device, the straightened wire tail is received at the threading location and is threaded through a capillary of the wire bonding apparatus.

A capillary transport device is capable of inserting, without manpower, a capillary into a mounting section of an ultrasonic horn. The capillary transport device includes: a first tube for transporting a capillary; an ultrasonic horn with a mounting section for mounting the capillary; a first movement mechanism for relatively moving the ultrasonic horn and a first end of the first tube; and a mechanism for blowing gas into a second end of the first tube.

A bonding apparatus is provided. This bonding apparatus uses images captured by an imaging apparatus and performs a packaging process for a semiconductor chip and additional processes other than the packaging process. The bonding apparatus is provided with: an aperture switching mechanism provided in an optical system of the imaging apparatus and capable of switching between a first aperture and a second aperture that has an aperture hole diameter greater than that of the first aperture; and a control unit which controls the aperture switching mechanism to switch to either the first aperture or the second aperture. The control unit performs the packaging process using an image captured by switching to the first aperture and performs the additional processes using an image captured by switching to the second aperture.

A method for automatically threading wire in a wire bonding apparatus includes the steps of extending a wire tail of a wire from a wire spool, locating the wire tail in a wire locating device and positioning the wire tail at a straightening location of the wire locating device. The wire tail is straightened at the straightening location with a wire manipulating device and then conveyed to a threading location. With a wire threading device, the straightened wire tail is received at the threading location and is threaded through a capillary of the wire bonding apparatus.

A wire bonding apparatus according to an embodiment bonds a wire to a bonding portion by generating an ultrasonic vibration in a state of pressing the wire onto the bonding portion. The wire bonding apparatus includes a bonding tool that causes the wire to contact the bonding portion and applies a load, an ultrasonic horn that generates the ultrasonic vibration, a load sensor that continuously detects the load applied from the bonding tool to the bonding portion, and a controller that controls the operation of the bonding tool and the ultrasonic horn. The controller analyzes data of the load output from the load sensor between when the wire contacts the bonding portion and when the ultrasonic vibration is generated, and controls the operation of the bonding tool and the ultrasonic horn based on an analysis result.

To provide a wire bonding apparatus, which is insusceptible to a bonding state at a second bonding point due to a wire cut error or the like, or to members such as a capillary and a wire, and is capable of automatically protruding the wire from a leading end of the capillary, provided is a wire bonding apparatus including: a capillary (6) having a through hole through which a wire (40) is to be inserted; a holding unit, which is provided above the capillary (6), and is configured to hold the wire (40) inserted through the capillary (6); and a vibrating unit configured to vertically vibrate the capillary (6). Under a state in which the holding unit holds the wire (40), the vibrating unit vertically vibrates the capillary (6) so that the wire (40) is protruded from the leading end of the capillary.