A calibration method for a bonder. Characteristics of a force actuator of the bonder are measured and stored in such a way that the force actuator can be controlled optimally during production operation of the bonder on the basis of the measured data. Further, a device for fully automatic or partially automatic bonding force calibration.

In a general aspect, a wire bonding apparatus can include a supply of bond wire, a wire bonding head, and an electrical continuity tester. The wire bonding head can including a wire cutter. The wire cutter can be electrically conductive. The electrical continuity tester can be coupled between the supply of bond wire and the wire cutter.

A wedge bonding tool including a body portion including a tip portion is provided. The tip portion includes a working surface configured to contact a wire material during formation of a wedge bond. A plurality of notches are defined by one or more surfaces of the body portion.

A ribbon bonding tool including a body portion is provided. The body portion includes a tip portion. The tip portion includes a working surface between a front edge of the tip portion and a back edge of the tip portion. The working surface includes a region defining at least one of a plurality of recesses and a plurality of protrusions. The working surface also defines at least one of (1) a first planar portion between the region and the front edge of the tip portion, and (2) a second planar portion between the region and the back edge of the tip portion.

A method of joining a surface-mount component to a substrate includes placing a piece of solder on top of the substrate and temporarily bonding the piece of solder to the substrate with at least one temporary bond. The method also includes placing a surface-mount component on top of the substrate with a bottom face of the surface-mount component facing the substrate. The surface-mount component has at least one lateral side. The method further includes positioning the surface-mount component with the at least one lateral side proximate the piece of solder, heating the substrate and the piece of solder to a joining temperature for a time sufficient for the solder to flow into an area between the bottom face of the surface-mount component and the substrate, and cooling the substrate and solder.

A bonding method of a first member and a second member includes: forming a first wire bonding bump (12) on a first electrode (14) arranged in the first member; forming a second wire bonding bump (22) on a second electrode 24 arranged in the second member; and flattening a tip section of the second wire bonding bump to form a bump flat surface (221). The tip section (120) of the first wire bonding bump and the bump flat surface (221) are pressure bonded to each other.

A high-voltage energy storage module for supplying a voltage, in particular to a motor vehicle, includes at least two storage cells and at least one electrically conductive connection between two poles of different storage cells. The individual connection consists of multiple adjacently arranged bonding wires, and each bonding wire is secured to the two poles by means of a wire bonding.

A wire bonding apparatus includes: a bonding tool 40 into and through a wire 42 passes; a control unit 80 that performs a movement process of the bonding tool 40 for cutting the wire 42 after forming a wire loop 90 between first and second bonding points of a bonding target 100; and a monitoring unit 70 that supplies a predetermined electric signal between the wire 42 through the bonding tool 40 and the bonding target 100, and monitors whether the wire 42 is cut or not based on an output of the supplied electric signal. The control unit 80 continues the movement process of the bonding tool 40 while the wire 42 is determined not to be cut, and stops the movement process of the bonding tool 40 when the wire 42 is determined to be cut, based on a monitoring result from the monitoring unit 70. This can shorten the operation time of the wire bonding, and improve the process efficiency of the wire bonding.

An electrically conductive lead is formed using a bonding tool. After bonding the wire to a metal surface and extending a length of the wire beyond the bonding tool, the wire is clamped. Movement of the bonding tool imparts a kink to the wire at a location where the wire is fully separated from any metal element other than the bonding tool. A forming element, e.g., an edge or a blade skirt provided at an exterior surface of the bonding tool can help kink the wire. Optionally, twisting the wire while tensioning the wire using the bonding tool can cause the wire to break and define an end. The lead then extends from the metal surface to the end, and may exhibit a sign of the torsional force applied thereto.

A vibration welding system for joining a wire to a substrate includes a welding pad attached to a sonotrode and an anvil. The welding pad includes first energy directors that are disposed in a first region and second energy directors that are disposed in a second region. A channel is formed between the substrate and the first energy directors when the second energy directors are in contact with the substrate. The channel is configured to accommodate a portion of the wire, and has a depth that is less than a cross-sectional diameter of the wire. The wire and the substrate are clamped between the welding pad and the anvil during operation of the sonotrode. The first energy directors urge the wire towards the substrate during the operation of the sonotrode to effect joining of the wire to the substrate.