Wire-bonding equipment has jigs which may be secured on a mounting support whereat an electronic or other module may be loaded onto a jig and moved into a correct alignment observable on a television screen, and the jigs are transportable from the mounting support location to a positioning table location whereat successive jigs are automatically moved in a requisite manner to bring successive terminals of modules loaded thereon to a position for bonding of wires thereto by a simultaneously actuated wire-bonder unit, after which successive jigs are transported back to the mounting support to permit unloading of a wired module and loading of a new module. Since the disclosed equipment permits use of ultrasonic bonding means, and requires only simple, easily observable actions by an operator, the equipment is particularly suited to wiring of microelectronic modules.

The present invention relates to a wirebonding equipment. More particularly 
the invention relates to equipment for automatic bonding of wiring 
connections of microelectronic modules or similar units. 
In the field of microelectronics it is known to provide a complete circuit 
in a single independent unit, referred to below as a module, which is 
compact in size, and which may be assembled with other modules to 
constitute what is known as a package. Although such modules make it 
possible to dispense with a great number of separately provided 
interconnections such as are necessary in more conventional electric 
circuits, separate interconnection between various terminals of a module 
is sometimes necessary, and it is always necessary to provide separate 
connection means for connecting module terminals to external leads, such 
connection means generally being in the form of fine wires, on the order 
of 25.mu. for example which are bonded to the terminals. Because of the 
small overall size of a module element, the distance between terminals 
thereof is very small, for example on the order of 1-2 mm, and only slight 
displacement of a connection wire results in an incorrect or imperfect 
connection, whereby the module is unuseable or is less reliable in use. 
In a conventional procedure for assembly and wiring of semiconductor 
elements, as shown in FIG. 1 (A) and (B), a module 1, for example a dual 
in-line package integrated circuit, is set in a required positional 
relationship to an electrode pad 2 and external leads 3 and an operator 
while observing this assembly through a microscope or similar means, 
effects manual bonding of gold or aluminium wires for example in order to 
provide connections between terminals of the semiconductor element 1 and 
the external leads 3. 
This work can be effected satisfactorily by skilled operators, but since 
the work is extremely exacting operators are subject to unusual fatigue, 
and it is difficult to maintain predictable standards of accuracy of 
wiring work, which is an obvious disadvantage in production of electronic 
components on an industrial scale, in addition to which rates of work are 
generally slow and also variable. Thus, whereas most other processes 
necessary to production and packaging of modules have been automated in a 
generally satisfactory manner, bonding of connection wires to modules is 
still largely dependent on the skill of operators, and in mass-production 
of electronic components represents a major problem in terms of 
quality-control and maintenance of steady production rates. 
To overcome such drawbacks there have been proposed various means for 
effecting automatic wire-bonding. However, almost all these means are for 
processes involving thermocompression of gold wires, and as yet it has not 
been possible to provide an automatic wire-bonding means which ensures 
high-precision of element mounting and wire connection in a repeatable, 
mass-production process and also takes advantage of ultrasonic wedge 
bonding of wire materials other than gold. 
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide 
wire-bonding equipment, which, after positioning of a semiconductor 
circuit, element, or other electronic module on a jig, automatically 
effects required wiring connections to the module, whereby improved 
efficiency in module production and packaging is achieved. 
It is another object of the invention to provide wire-bonding equipment 
which permits easy and accurate initial set-up of electronic modules and 
easy subsequent removal thereof from the equipment. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide wire-bonding equipment 
which permits improvement of production rates and imposes less strain on 
operators employed in a wire-bonding process. 
In accomplishing these and other objects there is provided wire-bonding 
equipment comprising a plurality of jigs, for example four, which are 
disposed symmetrically with respect to the axis of rotation of a rotatable 
transport table which is actuable to carry the jigs from a module loading 
station to a wire-bonding station then back to the loading station. When 
at the loading station a jig is disengaged from the transport table and 
held on a fixed mounting support. The hand of an operator setting a module 
on a jig at the loading station prevents impingement of light on a 
photodetector element which thereupon actuates a relay means. The 
construction of the jig and mounting support is such that when this relay 
means is actuated the jig head, which actually carries the module and 
which is viewable at a suitable magnification on a television screen 
marked with cross-linked or other suitable alignment marks, may be moved 
slightly with respect to the jig body, while the jig body is held in fixed 
attachment to the mounting support. The operator therefore, while 
observing the television screen, moves the jig head into a position in 
which the module placed and held thereon is in matching alignment with the 
reference marks on the television screen. When alignment is achieved and 
the operator's hand is removed the relay means controlled by the 
photodetector element is de-energized, with the result that the jig head, 
now carrying the module is a required alignment, is fixedly held to the 
jig body, and the jig body, while still supported on the mounting support, 
is not fixedly held thereon. The jig head remains fixedly held on the jig 
body until completion of wire-bonding and subsequent removal of the module 
when the jig is returned to the loading station and the operator's hand 
again causes actuation of the relay means. The invention thus offers the 
first advantage that initial set-up and alignment of successive modules to 
be wired is effected very simply, removal of modules also being rapidly 
achieved. 
When loading of the module is completed the rotary transport table is 
actuated, whereby the newly loaded jig is carried to an intermediate 
position, a jig carrying a previously loaded module is carried to the 
wire-bonding station and a jig carrying a module in which wiring has been 
completed is carried to the loading station, whereat the wired module may 
be removed and a new module loaded. The jig brought to the wire-bonding 
station is set onto a positioning plate to which the jig may be fixedly 
held in the same manner as to the mounting support at the loading station, 
whereby the module alignment achieved at the loading station is also 
maintained at the wire-bonding station. The positioning plate may be 
displaced short distances in requisite directions to bring successive 
terminals of the module into position for bonding thereto of connection 
wires by a wire-bonding unit comprising an ultrasonic wedge and wire feed 
means, movement of the positioning plate means and synchronized actuation 
of the wire-bonding unit being controlled by a suitably programmed numeric 
control unit or similar means, and the wire-bonding process being 
observable by means of a suitably located microscope, whereby an operator 
will known when the wire-bonding process is completed and when the rotary 
transport table should again be actuated. While the wire-bonding process 
is being effected, a previous module is unloaded from and a new module is 
loaded onto the jig currently at the loading station, as noted above. The 
time required at the wire-bonding station to bond wires to an 
light-terminal module, for example, and the average time required to 
unload a module and load a new module in correct alignment on a jig at the 
loading station are such that it is possible for an operator to control 
three wire-bonding units. 
It will be noted that the principal action required of an operator is 
alignment of a module on a jig at the loading station, and that this work 
is done while observing a television screen, which may be sufficiently 
large to permit easy viewing of the module thereby avoiding problems of 
fatigue of the operator. Also, since the process at the wire-bonding 
station is entirely automatic, there is no problem of variation of 
accuracy of wire attachment. With the equipment of the invention therefore 
wire-bonding of electronic modules may proceed accurately on a 
mass-production scale, production rates may be calculated and maintained, 
and the load on the operators is lessened.

The description below presumes that modules to be wired are dual in-line 
package integrated circuits requiring to have effected wiring connections 
such as shown in FIG. 1, and having, subsequent to completion of wiring, 
the general external appearance shown in FIG. 2, it being understood that 
the equipment of the invention is equally employable for wiring of other 
types of modules. 
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown wire-bonding equipment 
comprising a main support base 27 and housing 27a and a forwardly 
extending working table unit 27b, i.e. the working table unit extends 
towards an operator positioned to actuate the wire-bonding equipment. On 
the working table unit 27b there is provided a circular rotary transport 
table 11. Near peripheral portions of the transport table 11 there are 
formed four circular openings 11a, which are disposed symmetrically and at 
an equal distance from the rotational axis of the table 11. Through each 
hole 11a passes a jig 5, 6, 7, or 8, which are identical, and on each of 
which an electronic module may be mounted and held in a requisite 
alignment as described in greater detail below. The rotary transport table 
11 is driven by a drive unit 12 which is actuated by depression of a 
spring-back push-button 28 actuable by an operator. Each time the 
push-button 28 is depressed the transport table 11 is turned 90.degree., 
clockwise as seen in FIG. 3, and then stopped, the jigs 5 through 8 being 
carried in circular motion by the transport table 11 during this movement 
of the table 11. Thus, upon repeated actuation of the transport table 11, 
successive jigs 5 through 8 are carried from a loading station I, which is 
nearest to an operator, to a first intermediate position II, to a 
wire-bonding station III, whereat requisite wiring of a module carried on 
a jig is effected, to a second intermediate position IV, and then back to 
the loading station I. 
Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, and also referring to FIG. 5, above the 
loading station I there is provided a television camera 20, which is 
supported on a vertical post 22 fixedly attached to the working table unit 
27b, and which projects the image of an electronic module placed on the 
head of jig at the loading station I, jig 5 in the drawings, onto a 
monitor screen 21 located at an upper forward portion of the main housing 
unit 27a and viewable by an operator. The screen 21 is marked with 
cross-lines 31, or similar alignment marks. On each module, not shown, 
there are provided witness marks, for example, which when the module is 
loaded on the jig 5 at the loading station I may be brought into alignment 
with the cross-lines 31 on the screen 21 by adjustment by the operator of 
the position of the jig head of the jig 5, the operator knowing that the 
module is in a correct setting for subsequent wiring thereof when this 
alignment is achieved. 
Positioned above the wire-bonding station III there is provided a 
microscope 23, which is supported in a suitable manner on the forward 
portion of the main housing unit 27a, via which the operator may observe 
the process of bonding of wires to terminals of a module positioned on the 
jig currently at the wire-bonding station III, jig 7 in the drawings, and 
which permits the operator to know when the wire-bonding process is 
completed. The wire-bonding process is effected by ultrasonic waves 
directed through a horn 15 which extends forwards from the main housing 
unit 27a and has an outer tip positioned above a generally central, 
reference point of the wire-bonding station III, and forms part of a wire 
bonding unit, described in greater detail below, which is contained 
principally in an internal housing 26, and which is actuated on successive 
occasions to effect wiring of successive modules brought to the 
wire-bonding station III by successive actuation of a control switch 29 by 
the operator. 
As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, near the outer end of the working table 
unit 27b and generally in line with the loading station I there is 
provided a photodetector element 24 and a light source 25 constantly 
actuated to emit light which impinge on the photodetector element 24, the 
element 24 and light source 25 being preferably provided on opposite sides 
of the loading station I. The photodetector element 24, which may be a 
conventionally known means either presenting a resistance or producing a 
current which varies according to the intensity of light thereon, forms 
part of a control circuit of a first vacuum-producing unit, not shown, 
which is connectable to elements at the loading station I in a manner 
described below. The control circuit of the first vacuum-producing unit is 
so formed that the first vacuum-producing unit remains unactuated when the 
photodetector element 24 receives light from the light source 25, and is 
actuated when light from source 25 is prevented from reaching element 24. 
The sensitivity of the photodetector element 24 is suitably made such that 
the element 24 is actuable as a control circuit element only by light from 
light source 25, and element 24 may be provided with protection from other 
light and light source 25 with a reflector or other light-direction means. 
When an operator is placing or removing a module onto or from jig 5 at 
loading station I, either element 24 or source 25, or both are covered by 
one hand or the two hands of the operator, with the result that the first 
vacuum-producing unit is actuated. 
Referring to FIG. 5, the rotary transport table 11 is driveable by a drive 
unit 12 provided in a lower portion of the working table unit 27b. The jig 
5 at the loading station I is supported on a fixed mounting support 9. The 
Jig 7 at the wire-bonding station III is supported on a positioning unit 
10, which may be rotated or moved along mutually orthogonal axes, such 
movement of the unit 10 being in a horizontal plane, whereby different 
terminals of a module carried by the jig 7 supported on the positioning 
unit 10 are brought to a position directly below a wire-bonder 13 which 
receives ultrasonic waves emitted by transducer 14 and transmitted by the 
horn 15, the positioning unit 10 being held stationary while bonding of a 
wire is actually proceeding. The wire-bonder 13 and horn 15 are lowered to 
a horizontal or slightly downwardly inclined position when bonding is 
actually in process, and are raised while the positioning unit 10 is 
actuated and is moving to bring another terminal of a module on the jig 7 
into a position for wiring, this raising and lowering being effected by a 
cam unit 16 which acts through a rod 18 connecting to the wire-bonder unit 
and is mounted on a shaft driven by a pulse motor 17. Subsequent to 
actuation of the abovementioned control switch 29, action of the motor 17, 
and hence lowering and raising of the wire-bonder unit, action of the 
transducer 14, and movement of the positioning unit 10 requisite distances 
in requisite directions are all controlled by a numeric control unit 19 
accommodated in the main support base 27. 
Referring now to FIG. 6, which shows a jig mounted on the mounting support 
9 at the loading station I, each jig 5 through 8 has a generally 
cylindrical shape and comprises a main body portion 36 which has an 
uppermost large diameter portion, an intermediate, smaller diameter 
portion 36a, the diameter of which is generally equal to the diameter `1` 
of a hole 11a formed near the periphery of the transport table 11, and a 
lowermost portion 36b which has a still smaller diameter `b`. When 
unactuated, the transport table 11 is generally level with the jig 
lowermost portion 36b, whereby the jig is not contacted by the table 11 
and is free to rest on the mounting support 9. When actuated in a manner 
described below, prior to turning 90.degree., the table 11 is first raised 
and moved into line with the jig intermediate portion 36a and the upper 
surface portions of the table II which surround the hole 11a are brought 
into contact with the jig wall portion 36c which joins the jig uppermost 
portion and the jig intermediate portion 36a, the table 11 being raised to 
a height such that the jig is lifted clear of the support mount 9 by the 
table 11. At the same time of course the table 11 is brought into similar 
contact with the other jigs, and subsequent rotation of the table 11 
carries each jig through the quadrant of a circle, as noted above, after 
which the table 11 is again lowered to its normal, unactuated position. 
In FIGS. 6 and 7, the jig also comprises a head 31 comprising an upwardly 
extending module carrier portion 31a which is of suitable size for 
carrying a module and extends upwards from a generally central portion of, 
and is fixedly attached to a collar 31b which has a diameter generally 
equal to or slightly greater than that of the uppermost portion of the jig 
main body 36, and is in flat slidable contact therewith. The top surface 
of the module carrier portion 31a has a flat surface between a projection 
stop 32 and retainer spring element 33. A module to be wired is placed on 
this flat surface and is held in place by the projection 32 and spring 
element 33. Once positioned in this manner, the module is not moveable 
relative to the jig head 31. 
Placed on the collar 31b there is a top plate 34 which has a generally 
central open portion slightly larger than the module carrier portion 31a 
of the head 31 and surrounds the module carrier portion 31a. The top plate 
34 is attached to the collar 31b and to the jig main body 36 by three 
symmetrically disposed bolts 35c extending through holes 35a which are 
formed in the collar 31b, and each of which is slightly larger in diameter 
than a bolt 35c, and has provided therein a spacer or spacers 35b, and 
into holes 35a' which are formed in the upper portion of the jig main body 
36 and each of which has a diameter matching that of a bolt 35c. The top 
plate 34 is thus in fixed attachment to the jig main body 36, but the 
attachment means permits slight movement of the jig head 31 in various 
directions relative to the jig main body 36, the amount of this movement 
depending on the size of the holes 35a relative to the bolts 35c, the 
thickness of the spacers 35b and the size of the central opening of the 
top plate 34. The size of the plate 34 central opening is however, 
preferably made such that it constitutes no limitation on the movement of 
the jig head 31. The thickness of the collar 31b is such that although the 
jig head 31 may be moved by applied pressure in a manner described below, 
friction between the collar 31b and top plate 34 and jig main body 36 is 
sufficient to constitute a constraint to movement of the jig head 31 
unless such pressure is positively applied. 
Movement of the jig head 31 relative to the top plate 34 and jig main body 
36 is normally completely prevented by a vertically aligned piston 37 
slidably mounted in a central, cylindrical opening 36d which is provided 
in the jig main body 36 and having a piston head which is fitted with a 
piston ring 37a and which can exert pressure on the lower surface of the 
jig head collar 31b through contact plates 39a and 39b made of hard 
rubber, for example, and which can also contact an inner wall portion 36d' 
of the central opening 36d and thereby exert downward pressure on the jig 
main body 36. The piston 37 is normally urged upwards to press against the 
jig head collar 31b with sufficient force to prevent movement of the jig 
head 31 relative to the jig main body by an expansion spring 38 also 
provided in the jig main body central opening 36d and having an upper end 
pressing against the lower end of the piston 37 and a lower end pressing 
against a bottom plate 40 which is provided in fixed airtight attachment 
to, and extends across the entire bottom surface of the jig main body 36. 
In the bottom plate 40 there is formed an air passage 41 which permits 
communication between the jig main body central opening 36d and the 
abovementioned 1st vacuum-producing unit in a manner described below. 
In the lower surface of the bottom plate 40 there are formed three cavities 
43a, 43b and 43c, which are suitably out of line with a symmetrically 
disposed with respect to the jig main body central opening 36d, and into 
which fit the upper portions of balls 42a, 42b, and 42c which are made of 
a suitably rigid material such as steel, and which have the same 
configuration, and the same dimensions as the holes 43a, 43b and 43c, and 
are fixedly seated in and project above cavities 44a, 44b and 44c formed 
in the upper surface of a cover plate 44 fixedly attached to the main a 
body 45 of the mounting support 9. Thus the cavities 43a, 43b, and 43c in 
the bottom plate 40 of the jig main body 36 fit exactly over the balls 
42a, 42b and 42c, whereby, since all jigs 5 through 8 have an identical 
construction, a jig supported on the mounting support 9 is held in a 
precise positional relationship to the equipment as a whole. The jig is 
maintained in the same general alignment during transport thereof by the 
transport table 11, since during this transport the opening 11a of the 
transport plate 11 fits exactly or closely around the intermediate portion 
36a of the jig as noted above. The positioning unit 10 at the wire-bonding 
station III is also provided with three fixed balls 42d, 42e, and 42f of 
the same size and in the same configuration as the steel balls 42a, 42b 
and 42c on the mounting support 9, whereby when a jig brought to the 
wire-bonding station III is lowered onto the positioning unit 10, the jig 
may be brought into the same alignment as that in which it was while on 
the mounting support 9, even if there is a slight displacement from this 
alignment during transport thereof by the transport table 11. 
Still referring to FIG. 6, in the central portion of the main body 45 of 
the mounting support 9 there is formed a vertically aligned passage 49 
extending completely through the main body 45 and having a large-diameter 
upper portion, a small-diameter intermediate portion and a lowermost 
flared portion. The uppermost portion of the passage 49 accommodates a 
piston which is slidable without play in the passage 49, which has a head 
projecting slightly above the upper surface of the cover plate 44 of the 
mounting support 9 having peripheral portions which may fit smoothly 
against the bottom plate 40, and which is loaded by a restoring spring 48 
the upper end of which is in contact with the lower end of the piston 46 
and the lower end of which is supported on the wall portion of the passage 
49 which connects the upper portion and the intermediate portion of the 
passage 49. The piston 46 has a central air passage 47 which extends 
completely therethrough and provides communication between the passage 49 
in the support 9 and, via the opening 41 in the bottom plate 40 of the jig 
main body 36, with the passage 36d in the jig main body 36. The lowermost 
portion of the passage 49 communicates with the 1st vacuum-producing unit. 
Actuation of the 1st vacuum-producing unit therefore produces a vacuum in 
the passage 36d and 49 which causes the pistons 37 and 46 to be moved 
downwards against the force of the springs 38 and 48. As a result of this 
downward movement of the piston 37 the jig main body 36 is held firmly 
against the mounting support 9, while at the same time pressure by the 
piston 37 to prevent movement of the jig head 31 relative to the jig main 
body 36 is removed. Thus, since the photodetector element 24 (FIG. 3) is 
actuated and causes actuation of the 1st vacuum-producing unit when an 
operator places a module on the jig head 31, the operator may at this time 
move the jig head 31 as necessary to bring the module mounted thereon into 
exact alignment with the cross-lines 31 on the television screen 21 (FIG. 
4). To facilitate this movement, it is most suitable that the collar 31b 
of the jig head 31 have a diameter somewhat larger than that of the jig 
main body 36, whereby the operator can easily apply pressure to different 
portions of the periphery of the collar 31b. 
It is of course possible to provide conventionally known screw adjustment 
means for adjusting the setting of the jig head 31 in a required manner, 
but in addition to the equipment being made complex and less compact by 
the provision of such means, adjustment by such means is known to be 
time-consuming, and it is believed that a much greater advantage is 
offered by the abovedescribed means of the invention, which permits direct 
and rapid adjustment of the setting of a module. 
When the operator ceases to apply pressure to move the jig head 31, the jig 
head 31 remains in its set position since the collar 31b is in horizontal 
alignment and is also in frictional contact with the top plate 34 and jig 
main body 36. When the hands of the operator move away from the jig, light 
from light source 25 is again allowed to impinge on photodetector element 
24, whereupon actuation of the 1st vacuum-producing unit is terminated and 
the springs 38 and 48 are therefore allowed to move the pistons 37 and 46 
upwards again, the spring 48 returning the piston 46 to a level slightly 
above the top of the mounting support 9 but not causing the piston 46 to 
apply great pressure on the bottom of the jig mounted on the support 9, 
and pressure of the spring 38 causing the piston 37 to press the collar 
31b of the jig head 31 firmly against the top plate 34, whereby the jig 
head 31 is securely held in its set alignment, and also to release the 
downward pressure applied on the jig main body 36, whereby the jig, 
although still maintained in position on the mounting support 9 by the 
balls 42a, 42b and 42c, may be lifted freely from the support 9. 
When loading of a module on the jig at the loading station I is thus 
completed, presuming wiring of a module at the wire-bonding station III is 
not in progress, the operator presses push-button 28 (FIG. 4) to actuate 
the rotary transport table 11. 
Referring now to FIGS. 8A and 8B, which show details of the drive unit 12 
of the transport table 11, the central portion of the transport table 11 
is fitted with fixedly attached upper and lower plates 11b and 11c and is 
splined onto the upper portion of a drive shaft 55, the table 11 thus 
being slidable on the shaft 55 and moveable to an upper position and to a 
lower position, but being compelled to rotate with the shaft 55. The lower 
plate 11c fixedly attached to the central portion of the transport table 
11 has a central opening which is either in splined connection with, or 
permits free rotation of the shaft 55, whereas the upper plate 11b is a 
solid element which contacts the upper end of the drive shaft 55 and 
prevents downward movement of the table 11 beyond a certain point. 
Needless to say, it is not essential that the transport table 11 be splined 
directly to the drive shaft 55, but the same effect may be achieved by 
different constructions, for example comprising a tube fixedly attached to 
the table 11 and splined to the shaft 55. 
On the lower end portion of the drive shaft 55 there is mounted a Geneva 
gear 57 drivable by a Geneva driver 56, which is fixedly mounted on a 
shaft 52 which is rotatable by drive supplied thereto by a pulse motor 50 
acting through a drive transmission belt 51. On the shaft 52 there is also 
mounted a horizontally aligned cam plate 53 having lower surface portions 
which contact and drive a pivot shaft 54 a which constitutes the pivotal 
center of a lever 54 fixedly mounted thereon. To one end of the lever 54 
there is rotatably attached a stud 54b which extends into and is freely 
slidable in a vertically aligned slot 55b formed in a sleeve 55a which is 
provided around but does not contact the transport table drive shaft 55, 
and is slidably mounted on vertically aligned guide elements, not shown, 
which are fixedly mounted on a fixed portion of the interior of the 
working table unit 27b. By the action of the stud 54b contacting the lower 
end of the slot 55b the sleeve 55a may be moved to a lower position in 
which the upper end of the sleeve 55a is out of contact with the lower 
plate 11c attached to the transport table 11, this being the configuration 
shown in FIG. 8 (B), and the table 11 moves downwards under its own weight 
until transport table upper plate 11b comes into contact with the top of 
the drive shaft 55. In this case the table 11 is level with the lowermost 
portions 36b of the jigs 5 through 8. The lever 54 is pivoted to thus 
bring the stud 54b into contact with the lower end of the slot 55b of the 
sleeve 55a by the action of the cam 53 lower surface contacting the pivot 
shaft 54a. When the cam 53 does not contact the pivot shaft 54a, the lever 
54 is pivoted by a tensile element 54c to a position in which the stud 54b 
presses against the upper end of the slot 55b, whereby the sleeve 55a is 
moved upwards and, pressing against the transport table lower plate 11c, 
moves the transport table 11 upwards, whereby the transport table holes 
11a move to around the intermediate portions 36b of the jigs 5 through 8, 
and the transport table 11 presses against the jig wall portions 36c (see 
FIG. 6) lifts the jigs 5 through 8 to a height at which they are clear of 
steel balls 42a through 42f at the loading station I and wire-bonding 
station III. 
The transport table 11 is normally stationary at the lower position, but 
when motor 50 is actuated, by depression of push-button 28, the table 11 
is first raised, then rotated 90.degree. while carrying the jigs 5 through 
8, then lowered, actuation of the motor 50 being terminated until 
push-button 28 is again actuated. When the table 11 is lowered, the jigs 
at the first intermediate position II and second intermediate position IV 
are not contacted by other portions of the equipment and remain held by 
the table 11, whereas the jigs at the loading station I and the 
wire-bonding station III are lowered onto the mounting support 9 and 
positioning table 10 and, when the transport table 11 reaches the lower 
position are not contacted by the table 11. At this time, as is apparent 
from FIG. 6, the jig at the wire-bonding station III may be moved in any 
direction over a distance equal to half the difference between the 
diameter `a` of a transport table hole 11a and the diameter `b` of the 
lowermost portion of the jig main body 36. The top of the sleeve 55 is 
made suitably smooth in order to avoid hindrance of rotation of the 
transport table 11. 
During transport by the transport table 11 even if a jig is moved slightly 
out of the initial alignment thereof on the mounting support 9, the piston 
38 holds the jig head 31 firmly in the set positional relationship to the 
jig main body 36, and during lowering of the jig onto the positioning 
table 10 the cavities 43a, 43b and 43c fit smoothly over the balls 42d, 
42e and 42f on the positioning table 10, whereby the jig, and hence the 
module carried thereby are guided to and held in their initial alignment. 
Referring now to FIGS. 9A and 9B, the positioning table 10 comprises a 
rotatable jig support 58 and a displacement table 67 which carries the jig 
support 58 and is independently moveable in linear motion in a direction 
referred to below as the x direction, and another displacement table 69 
which carries the x displacement table 67, is slidably mounted on a fixed 
base 80 and may be moved in a y direction which is normal to the x 
direction. 
The rotatable jig support 58 is supported by and may rotate in bearings 64 
provided on a rigid stand 65 fixedly mounted on the x displacement table 
67, and is connected to and rotatable synchronously with a large gear 63 
which is driven by a small gear 62 mounted on the output shaft of a pulse 
motor 61 also mounted on the x displacement table 67, the support 58, 
motor 61 and associated gears 62 and 63 thus being constrained to move 
together with the x displacement table 67, but the support 58 being 
rotatable independently of the x displacement table 69. The angular 
position of the pulse motor 61 is detected by a detector 83. 
In FIGS. 9A and 9B and 10A and 10B, similarly to the abovedescribed main 
body portion 45 of the fixed mounting support 9, the rotatable jig support 
58 has affixed to the upper surface thereof a cover plate 44b in which are 
fixedly seated the abovementioned balls 42d, 42e and 42f, and has a 
vertically aligned central hollow cylinder passage 66 in which is slidably 
mounted a piston 59 defining a central through-passage 47' which 
communicates with the interior of the cylinder passage 66. The head of the 
piston 59 has peripheral portions which fit smoothly on the bottom of a 
jig lowered onto the support 58 by the transport table 11 and may also 
contact the jig through a contact plate 60. 
In FIG. 9 (B), the lower end of the cylinder passage 66 communicates with 
an air passage 65a which is formed in the fixed stand 65 and communicates 
with a second vacuum-producing unit, not shown. The second 
vacuum-producing unit is actuated either automatically when action of the 
transport table motor 50 is terminated, or in response actuation of the 
wire-bonder unit control switch 29, and when actuated causes the piston 37 
(FIG. 6) of a jig on the support 58 to move downwards and hold the jig 
firmly on the support 58. When this is done the piston 37 of course no 
longer presses against the collar 31b of the jig head 31. However, as 
noted above, the collar 31b is in frictional contact with the jig main 
body 36 and top plate 34 and there is therefore no risk of displacement of 
the jig head 31 relative to the jig main body portion 36 during 
displacement of the positioning table 10, which is only of the order of 
100 to 200 microns to bring successive terminals of the jig on the 
positioning table 10 into line with the tip of the wire-bonder 13, while 
on the other hand, since the jigs 5 through 8 are longer than they are 
broad and also since a jig is supported by the bottom, smallest diameter 
portion thereof when on the positioning table 10, it is preferable to 
ensure that this portion is securely held to the table 10. 
To ensure effective action of the vacuum produced by the first and second 
vacuum-producing units it is sufficient that peripheral portions of the 
heads of the cylinders 46 and 59 of the mounting support 9 and rotary 
support 58 be in smooth contact with the bottom plates 40 of jigs. It is 
of course also possible for these cylinder heads to have peripheral upward 
extensions which fit into grooves formed in bottom plates 40, in which 
case there is the further advantage that positioning of a jig on the 
mounting support 9 or rotatable support 58 is assisted. 
To ensure exact coincidence of alignment holes which are formed in the 
bottom plates 40 of the jigs 5 through 8 and on the cover plates 44 and 
44' of the mounting support 9 and rotary support 58 and into which the 
balls 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, or 42f are fitted, a single template is 
suitably employed in the formation of all these holes. 
Referring to FIG. 9 (B) and to FIG. 11, shafts 68a and 68b which are 
fixedly attached to opposite side portions of the lower surface of the x 
displacement table 67 are slidable in bearings 70a and 70b which are 
fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the y displacement table 69. 
In FIGS. 9 (B), 12, and 13, drive from a pulse motor 72 which is mounted on 
and carried by the y displacement table 69 and has associated therewith an 
angular position detector 84, is transmitted through gears 73 and 74 to a 
horizontally disposed linear cam 71. A cam roller 75 rotatably supported 
in a mount fixedly attached to the lower surface of the x displacement 
table 67 is urged into contact with the periphery of the linear cam 71 by 
a compression spring means 76 having one end connected to the cam roller 
mount or to a suitable portion of the x displacement table 67 and the 
opposite end connected to the y displacement table 69. Thus, as seen in 
FIG. 13 and x displacement table 67 is moved to the left as far as is 
permitted by the cam 71 contacted by the roller 75, and the position of 
the x displacement table 67 on the y displacement table 69 may be changed 
by rotation of the linear cam 71. 
In FIGS. 9 (B), 11 and 12 the y displacement table 69 has fixedly attached 
to opposite sides of the lower surface thereof shafts 79a and 79b which 
are respectively slidable in bearings 80a and 80b fixedly attached to the 
base 80. The y displacement table 69 is moveable requisite distances in 
the y direction by drive supplied from a pulse motor 78 via suitable gears 
to a linear cam 81 with which a cam roller attached to the y displacement 
table is maintained in contact by spring means such as provided in 
association with the x displacement table 67. The angular position of the 
pulse motor 78 is detected by a detector 85. 
The detectors 83, 84, and 85 for the pulse motors 61, 72, and 78 supply 
feedback to the numeric control unit 19 which acts to drive the motors 61, 
72, and 78, and is initially programmed to cause requisite rotation of the 
rotary support 58 and movement of the x displacement table 67 and y 
displacement table 69 to bring successive terminals of a module carried by 
a jig mounted on the support 58 into position for connection thereto of 
wires by the wire-bonder unit 26, which also is actuated by the control 
unit 19, as noted above. Employment of linear cams for driving the 
different elements of the positioning table 10 has the advantages that 
compared with conventional screw drive transmission means a more compact 
construction is possible and there is smaller risk of error in the drive 
transmission system, since rotary movement is converted directly to 
requisite displacement of an element of the positioning table 10, and 
that, since the cam pressure angle is small, requisite short displacement 
of a module which is at most 5mm in a module having dimensions 120 .mu. x 
120.mu. for example, may be effected smoothly. 
In addition, there is also the advantage that use of the equipment of the 
invention entails much less fatigue of an operator, since loading of a 
module onto a jig at the loading station I may be effected while observing 
a comparatively large television screen, and there is no need for constant 
observation through a microscope to be made while wiring of a module at 
the wire-bonding station III is proceeding, it being simply necessary to 
make occasional observation through the microscope 23 to determine when 
wiring is completed. 
The invention thus permits maintenance of quality and steady production of 
wired modules, in a simply controlled and supervised process. As noted 
above, time requirements for module unloading and loading and wiring 
effected at the wire-bonding station are such that an operator may control 
three units of wire-bonding equipment, whereby staff requirements for 
wire-bonding work are reduced. In such a case, a suitable arrangement is 
that shown in FIG. 14 in which three wire-bonding units 100 are disposed 
fan-fashion about and at a equal distance from a seat 101, for example, 
from which an operator 200 may control such of the three units 101 by 
turning to each unit in turn indicated by the chain-dot line in the 
drawing. 
Needless to say, although offering particular advantages when employed in 
wiring of microelectronic modules, the equipment of the invention may be 
easily modified to permit use thereof as a means for effecting wiring or 
similar connection of larger elements. This and other modifications being 
possible and contemplated, there is no intention of limiting the invention 
to the exact details shown and described above, but the scope of the 
invention should be determined from the following claims.