Systems and methods for processing ribbon and wire in ultrasonic bonding systems

1. An ultrasonic bonding system comprising:

a) a bond head assembly carrying an ultrasonic bonding tool;

b) a conductive material supply;

c) a conductive material feeding system for guiding a length of the conductive material supply to a position proximate the ultrasonic bonding tool; and

d) a vapor generation system for supplying a vapor proximate the ultrasonic bonding tool, the vapor including a carrier gas and a lubricating vapor, wherein the lubricating vapor comprises methanol.

2. The ultrasonic bonding system of claim 1 wherein the conductive material supply comprises a conductive ribbon spool.

3. The ultrasonic bonding system of claim 1 wherein the carrier gas includes at least one of compressed air, nitrogen, and argon.

4. The ultrasonic bonding system of claim 1 wherein the vapor generation system includes a bubbler feeding the vapor to an outlet proximate the ultrasonic bonding tool.

5. The ultrasonic bonding system of claim 4 wherein the outlet is carried by the bond head assembly.

6. The ultrasonic bonding system of claim 1 wherein the vapor generation system supplies the vapor within a vapor containment structure, the vapor containment structure substantially enclosing the bond head assembly.

7. The ultrasonic bonding system of claim 1 wherein the conductive material supply includes at least one of a conductive ribbon supply and a wire supply.

8. An ultrasonic bonding system comprising:

a) a bond head assembly carrying an ultrasonic bonding tool;

b) a conductive material supply;

c) a conductive material feeding structure for guiding a length of a conductive material from the conductive material supply to a position proximate the ultrasonic bonding tool; and

d) a vapor generation system for supplying a vapor to the conductive material feeding structure, the vapor including a carrier gas and a lubricating vapor.

9. The ultrasonic bonding system of claim 8 wherein the lubricating vapor comprises methanol.

10. The ultrasonic bonding system of claim 8 wherein the carrier gas includes at least one of compressed air, nitrogen, and argon.

11. The ultrasonic bonding system of claim 8 wherein the vapor generation system includes a bubbler.

12. The ultrasonic bonding system of claim 8 wherein the conductive material supply includes at least one of a conductive ribbon supply and a wire supply.

13. A system for processing a conductive material, the system comprising:

a conductive material supply;

a dispenser for dispensing a silane compound to a length of conductive material fed from the conductive material supply; and a curing mechanism for curing the silane compound on the length of the conductive material,

wherein the dispenser includes at least one of: (a) a vapor dispenser for dispensing the silane compound as a vapor; and (b) a liquid dispenser for dispensing the silane compound as a liquid.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the system is integrated into at least one of an ultrasonic ribbon bonding machine and an ultrasonic wire bonding machine.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising a conductive material storage structure for storing the length of the conductive material after dispensing of the silane compound to the length of the conductive material.

16. A method of processing a conductive material in connection with an ultrasonic bonding system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a length of the conductive material from a conductive material supply on the ultrasonic bonding system, and guiding the length of the conductive material through a conductive material feeding structure positioned between (1) the conductive material supply and (2) a position proximate an ultrasonic bonding tool of the ultrasonic bonding system; and

b) supplying a vapor from a vapor generation system to a portion of the conductive material in the conductive material feeding structure on the ultrasonic bonding system, the vapor including a carrier gas and a lubricating vapor.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the lubricating vapor comprises methanol.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the vapor generator system comprises a bubbler.