Patent ID: 6896170

Claim:
A wire bonder for bonding an insulated wire to a surface, said wire bonder comprising: a bond head, having a bonding position adjacent to said surface and a wire preparation position spaced apart from said surface; a wire holder on said bond head, said wire holder being sized and shaped to permit a free end of said insulated wire to extend from the wire holder when said bond head is in the spaced apart position; a source of insulated wire for said bond head; an electrical discharge wand positioned adjacent to said bond head when said bond head is in the spaced apart position for directing sufficient electricity at said extending free end of said insulated wire to form a bond ball on said free end; and a first ground attached to said insulated wire, and positioned closely adjacent thereto at a point where the insulated wire extends from the wire holder to conduct electrical energy away from said bond wire to prevent said insulation on said bond wire remote from said free end from being damaged.