Patent ID: 7954689
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: B23K,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A wire tensioner for a wire bonder, the wire tensioner comprising: a tubular body having a bore configured so that a bonding wire is received through the bore, the tubular body further comprising a terminal bottom face and side surfaces, and having a bore outlet located in the terminal bottom face at a lowermost end of the tubular body, the bore outlet configured so that the bonding wire extends from the bore outlet towards a bonding tool; a housing enclosing the tubular body and including a plurality of walls including side walls and a bottom wall transverse to the side walls, the walls of the housing and the tubular body defining a hollow chamber comprising a void filled solely by air, the void surrounding and enclosing the terminal bottom face and side surfaces of the lowermost end of the tubular body and the bore outlet, the hollow chamber having a lateral diameter measured between the side walls; the chamber having a chamber opening formed below the bore outlet on a lowermost surface of the housing, the chamber opening defined by the bottom wall of the housing such that a diameter of the chamber opening is smaller than the lateral diameter of the hollow chamber; an air inlet connected to the chamber, the air inlet being configured to direct clean air into the chamber towards the lowermost end of the tubular body where the bore outlet is located; and a vacuum outlet connected to a side of the tubular body, the vacuum outlet being in fluid communication with the chamber via the bore, the vacuum outlet being operative to draw air from the bore outlet through the bore to pull the wire, wherein the terminal bottom face of the tubular body contacts solely air of the hollow chamber.