An ultrasonic transducer system is provided. The ultrasonic transducer system includes a transducer body, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the transducer body includes a processed area. The processed area has a changed condition at the surface of the transducer body.

A jig for holding a wire bonding capillary includes a first arm and an opening in the first arm, wherein a wire bonding capillary is receivable within the opening. A second arm is pivotally attached to the first arm. The second arm has a surface facing the first arm, wherein the surface is contactable with a capillary mount of a wire bonding machine.

A bonding apparatus has a bonding tool for bonding a wire to a bonding surface, a bonding tool retainer configured to releasably retain the bonding tool, a bonding tool holder configured to hold at least one bonding tool, a bonding tool manipulator configured to transfer said bonding tool between said bonding tool holder and said bonding tool retainer, and a bonding tool guide configured to guide said bonding tool to be received by said bonding tool retainer during transfer by said bonding tool manipulator.

A method of detecting potential issues in connection with engagement between a wire bonding tool and an ultrasonic transducer of a wire bonding machine is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing electrical power to an ultrasonic transducer at each of a plurality of levels of electrical power; (b) detecting an electrical characteristic of the ultrasonic transducer at each of the plurality of levels of electrical power; and (c) determining if the electrical characteristic of the ultrasonic transducer at each of the plurality of levels of electrical power is acceptable.

A capillary guide device 40 includes: a guide body portion 41 capable of being in contact with a capillary 8 held in a hole 7h; and a drive portion 42 which arranges the guide body portion 41 at a position capable of being in contact with the capillary 8 by moving the guide body portion 41 along an X-axis direction. The drive portion 42 includes: a table 46 connected to the guide body portion 41; a drive shaft 47b extending in the X-axis direction and exhibiting a frictional resistance force with the table 46; and an ultrasonic element 47a fixed to an end of the drive shaft 47b and supplying an ultrasonic wave to the drive shaft 47b.

A capillary guide device (40) includes: a guide body portion (41) capable of being in contact with a capillary (8) held in a hole (7h); and a drive portion (42) which arranges the guide body portion (41) at a position capable of being in contact with the capillary (8) by moving the guide body portion (41) along an X-axis direction. The drive portion (42) includes: a table (46) connected to the guide body portion (41); a drive shaft (47b) extending in the X-axis direction and exhibiting a frictional resistance force with the table (46); and an ultrasonic element (47a) fixed to an end of the drive shaft (47b) and supplying an ultrasonic wave to the drive shaft (47b).

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 method for replacing a capillary of a wire bonding apparatus that includes a holding unit that holds a capillary includes transferring a capillary replacing unit to the wire bonding apparatus by a mobile robot in response to receiving a capillary replacement start signal from the wire bonding apparatus, separating, by the capillary replacing unit, the capillary corresponding to the replacement signal from the wire bonding apparatus, and installing, by the capillary replacing unit, a new capillary in the wire bonding apparatus.

A jig for holding a wire bonding capillary includes a first arm and an opening in the first arm, wherein a wire bonding capillary is receivable within the opening. A second arm is pivotally attached to the first arm. The second arm has a surface facing the first arm, wherein the surface is contactable with a capillary mount of a wire bonding machine.

A discharge examination device for examining discharge of a wire-bonding apparatus that applies a voltage between a torch electrode and a wire to procure the discharge therebetween includes a current detection unit, a timer unit and a discharge determination unit. The current detection unit detects a discharge current flowing through the wire. The timer unit measures discharge detection time after application of the voltage before detection of the discharge current. The discharge determination unit determines whether or not the discharge is abnormal based on the discharge detection time. With this, a discharge examination device, a wire-bonding apparatus, and a discharge examination method that are capable of detecting abnormality of discharge are provided.