WIREBONDS: THE WEAK LINK
Wirebonds play a crucial role in connecting chips or substrates using tiny wires made typically of gold or aluminum. However, these wirebonds are susceptible to deformation or even burnout due to their delicate nature. Semiconductor engineers regard them as the weakest link in the IC assembly process, necessitating careful design considerations. Factors such as wirebond impedance, attenuation, resistance, matching, temperature, and deformation must all be meticulously taken into account during the design phase.