Wire Bonded Circuit Connections Featured On New Ignition Module Assembly

Lisle, IL – Tricon Industries, Inc. announced it has begun production of a new low power ignition module circuit and frame for use with V-8 engines featured on premium automobiles. This insert-molded assembly consists of a glass filled polyester picture frame shell with integral connector housing containing stamped copper alloy circuits with aluminum-inlaid contact pads. Jumper wires from electronic components, installed by the end user, are wire bonded to the frame circuit contact pads.

"Wire bonding the jumpers wires to the circuit contact pads creates extremely robust connections between the module circuit leads and the electronic control chips" says Rick Zech, Sales Manager, Tricon Industries. "This wired assembly is then sealed between a heat sink and solenoid module to form the low power ignition control module for the V-8 engine."

To produce consistent, reliable connections using wire bonding techniques, the contact pads must be ultra clean. "Special care is needed in purchasing material, handling and fabricating parts and shipping sub-assemblies that have wire-bonding surfaces," explains Mr. Zech. "Tricon Industries uses a number of proprietary, pre- and post-fabrication procedures to prevent surface damage and contamination from interfering with our customer's wire bonding process."

Finished sub-assemblies are individually packaged in cell trays and then sealed inside plastic bags for maximum protection during shipment. This packaging also allows the customer to bring these parts onto the wirebonding assembly line without risk of damage or contamination.

Manufacturing components that perform well in harsh underhood operating conditions required Tricon engineers to meet strict process parameters to assure heat resistance and water infiltration requirements were met. To achieve these objectives, one half of a new Packard GT type sealed connector is molded into the end of the picture frame shell. And, a special heat-resistant polyester resin was specified for the shell and picture frame connector housing.

Tricon Industries, Inc. is a QS-9000/ISO 9001 registered manufacturer specializing in insert molding and specialized components for worldwide automotive, mobile communications and appliance markets. Tricon was one of the first in the industry to use insert molding techniques for the manufacture of switch and relay components as well as other electrically oriented parts. Some of Tricon's recent projects include complex insert molded junction blocks and multifunction switch components, sealed tail light bulb and circuit stampings, single bulb light sockets, mobile antenna assemblies and wire terminations to circuit components. Today, Tricon provides comprehensive design, project management and manufacturing capabilities that can be tailored to specific project requirements.