Bonding Wire Support Structure for Complex Geometry Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wire bonding methods face challenges in complex geometries, such as maintaining insulation distance and guiding bonding wires between components arranged at right angles, often requiring additional effort and specialized preparation of components or tools.

Innovation Solution

The use of metallic supports with solderable foot sections, surface-mounted using SMT technology, which can be made from sheet metal or wire sections, and feature resilient receptacles to secure the bonding wire, allowing for flexible routing and reducing load on bonding points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If standard wire bonding is used without supports, then the bonding process is simple, but it is impossible to maintain insulation distance and guide wires in complex geometries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation distance maintenanceVSAvoidsupport structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces support structures as intermediary elements between the PCB and bonding wires. These supports serve as mediators that guide the wires and maintain insulation distances without interfering with the bonding process itself. The supports are simple metallic structures (pins or clips) that provide physical guidance and positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure is segmented into discrete, independent elements (individual pins or clips) rather than a continuous complex framework. Each support element is a separate component that can be independently positioned and attached to the PCB, simplifying both the design and manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If components are arranged at right angles, then space utilization is improved, but wire guiding becomes impossible with standard bonding tools

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent arrangement flexibilityVSAvoidwire bonding operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support structures act as intermediaries that adapt to various component arrangements including right-angle configurations. By providing physical guides and routing paths, the supports enable wire bonding operations in geometries that would otherwise be inaccessible to standard bonding tools, thus maintaining ease of operation while achieving design flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support structures extend the bonding wire routing into three-dimensional space, allowing wires to navigate around obstacles and between components arranged at different orientations. The supports create elevated routing paths and lateral guidance structures that enable wire bonding in multi-dimensional component layouts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Length of stationary object

If bond wires are stretched over long distances, then connection coverage is improved, but insulation distance to components cannot be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire span lengthVSAvoidinsulation distance
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support structures serve as intermediary positioning elements that maintain insulation distances along the entire wire path, not just at endpoints. By providing continuous physical guidance and elevation, the supports ensure that even long-span wires maintain adequate clearance from components and PCB surfaces throughout their routing path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The supports elevate the wire routing from the PCB plane into the third dimension (vertical space), creating clearance between the wires and component surfaces. This vertical separation maintains insulation distances while allowing wires to span long horizontal distances without contacting other components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Reliability

If supports are added to guide wires, then bonding reliability is improved, but manufacturing effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is divided into simple, discrete elements (individual pins or clips) that can be manufactured using standard PCB fabrication processes. Each element is a basic metallic component requiring minimal processing, and can be attached to the PCB using conventional through-hole or surface-mount techniques, thus avoiding complex manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support structures are implemented as simple, low-cost metallic elements rather than complex reusable fixtures. These supports are inexpensive to manufacture and attach, and their function is fulfilled during the bonding process without requiring recovery or reuse, making them economically viable despite adding manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables secure bonding in complex geometries with reduced effort and cost, allowing for any desired routing of bonding wires while preventing accidental detachment and ensuring insulation, thus improving the bonding process efficiency and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

at least one support with a metallic, solderable foot section is soldered onto a solder pad of the component and surface-mounted using SMT technology

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSoldering: Soldering

Implementation Method 2

Simultaneously, ultrasonic vibrations are generated in the bonding head, bonding the wire to the contact pad at the atomic level

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3379906B1Method for producing wire bond connections with a support structure, and the corresponding electronic device
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 ZKW GRP GMBH
  • EP3379906B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3379906B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4f

AI summary

An electronic component (1) with electrical connection points (50, 5u), in which at least one bond wire (4) is guided from at least one first connection point (50) across the component surface to at least one second connection point (5u), wherein a bond connection of the wire with a contact surface of the connection point is established at the at least first and at least the second connection point, wherein at least one support (6) for the at least one bond wire (4) is provided on the component (1) and at least one bond wire is held between a first connection point (50) and a second connection point (5u) from the support at a predetermined distance from surface sections of the component, and a method for manufacturing such a component, in which at least one support (6) for the bond wire is erected on the component (1) before guiding the bond wire (4) from a first (50) to a second (5u) connection point.which holds the bond wire at a predetermined distance from surface sections of the component.