Patent ID: 6019271
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: B23K,H05K

Abstract:
A method for ultrasonically bonding together at least two conductive members, comprising the steps of:providing said conductive members, wherein each member includes at least one metallic conductor having a respective bonding area, at least one of said members having a deposition of metallic bonding material attached to each respective metallic conductor proximate each respective bonding area, at least one of said members having a plastic element attached thereto proximate each respective bonding area, wherein each plastic element is made of a thermoplastic material and each deposition of bonding material has a melting point lower than a melting point of said thermoplastic material;positioning said members such that each bonding area of one member juxtaposes a respective bonding area of another member in a predetermined orientation, thereby defining couplets of juxtaposed bonding areas and generally defining a plane between interfacing surfaces of said members;clamping together said members at said couplets between an ultrasonic horn and an anvil using a predetermined amount of force;applying ultrasonic energy to said couplets through said ultrasonic horn for a predetermined amount of time and at a predetermined frequency in a direction substantially orthogonal to said plane, such that each plastic element is heated and such that each conductor is brought into proximity with another conductor at each couplet, wherein heating of each plastic element melts each deposition of bonding material so as to form a molten joint of bonding material at each couplet, wherein each molten joint physically contacts each respective conductor thereat;holding said members together until each joint is solidified, thereby forming an assembly; andretracting at least one of said ultrasonic horn and said anvil from said assembly.