A microelectronic structure includes a semiconductor having conductive elements at a first surface. Wire bonds have bases joined to the conductive elements and free ends remote from the bases, the free ends being remote from the substrate and the bases and including end surfaces. The wire bonds define edge surfaces between the bases and end surfaces thereof. A compliant material layer extends along the edge surfaces within first portions of the wire bonds at least adjacent the bases thereof and fills spaces between the first portions of the wire bonds such that the first portions of the wire bonds are separated from one another by the compliant material layer. Second portions of the wire bonds are defined by the end surfaces and portions of the edge surfaces adjacent the end surfaces that are extend from a third surface of the compliant later.

An example apparatus includes: a wire bond tool including a bond wire capillary having a central opening configured for receiving a bond wire in the central opening; a first laser path formed in the capillary configured to focus a first laser beam on the end of the bond wire to form a free air ball; and a second laser path formed in the capillary configured to focus a second laser beam on a bonding location beneath the capillary.

A method of forming a wire interconnect structure includes the steps of: (a) forming a wire bond at a bonding location on a substrate using a wire bonding tool; (b) extending a length of wire, continuous with the wire bond, to a position above the wire bond; (c) moving the wire bonding tool to contact the length of wire, at a position along the length of wire, to partially sever the length of wire at the position along the length of wire; and (d) separating the length of wire from a wire supply at the position along the length of wire, thereby providing a wire interconnect structure bonded to the bonding location.

A method of forming a wire interconnect structure includes the steps of: (a) forming a wire bond at a bonding location on a substrate using a wire bonding tool; (b) extending a length of wire, continuous with the wire bond, to a position above the wire bond; (c) moving the wire bonding tool to contact the length of wire, at a position along the length of wire, to partially sever the length of wire at the position along the length of wire; and (d) separating the length of wire from a wire supply at the position along the length of wire, thereby providing a wire interconnect structure bonded to the bonding location.

The semiconductor device manufacturing method includes a bonding step of bonding a wire to an electrode (35a), a looping wire formation step of looping the wire from the electrode (35a) to a dummy electrode (34) to form a looping wire (50a), a pressing step of pressing a part of the wire, a moving step of moving the pressed part of the wire directly above the electrode, a wire separation step of separating the wire partially from a wire supply to form a pin wire (55a) extending vertically upward from the electrode (35a), wherein the looping wire formation step adjusts the looping height of the wire to set the length of the looping wire to a predetermined length.