Patent · US Expired

Method for preparing electrical conductor

US4489231A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
8References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 16, 1982
Grant dateDec 18, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 16, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2924/3011
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of preparing stranded electrical conductors for subsequent attachment to the terminal pad of an electrical device or component whereby the tip portion of said conductors are fused to form a coalescent bead. The stranded wire conductor is placed in a holding fixture and the end surface thereof is brought into engagement with an electrode member. The electrode is then displaced from the end of the wire by a predetermined gap distance. Subsequently, the air or other gas in the gap is ionized by a high frequency, high voltage electrical field, creating a low impedance for a low voltage current source. The current flowing from this source, through the electrode and through the gap is sufficient to fuse the strands of the conductor being treated at the tip end thereof and when cooled, a tiny coalescent bead of metal is formed. A suitable inert gas may also be introduced into the gap during the process to prevent oxidation of the metal during the fusion step.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.