Automated Quality Testing of Component Carrier Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual quality testing of component carrier structures, such as printed circuit boards, is labor-intensive, lacks precision, and struggles with high throughput requirements, especially in industrial settings where mechanical robustness and electrical reliability are critical.
Innovation Solution
An automated apparatus comprising a handling unit, identification unit, material removal unit, determining unit, and evaluation unit that handles, identifies, processes, and evaluates component carrier structures to assess their quality without human intervention, using robotic systems, image recognition, and artificial intelligence for precise material removal and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual quality testing is used, then human expertise can be applied for complex defect detection, but labor effort is high and throughput is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an automated optical measurement system. The apparatus uses optical sensors and image processing to detect defects, replacing the mechanical human eye and hand inspection process. This substitution enables both high precision through automated image analysis and high throughput through continuous automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-assessment through automated defect detection and classification. The evaluation unit automatically analyzes the captured images, compares them against quality criteria, and determines pass/fail status without human intervention. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual quality assessment while maintaining or improving precision.
2Reliability
If manual quality testing is used, then flexible judgment can be applied, but consistency and objectivity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms subjective quality judgment into objective parameter measurement. Instead of relying on human experts' subjective assessment, the system measures specific parameters such as defect size, position, shape, and optical properties. These quantified parameters are then compared against predefined thresholds, ensuring consistent and objective quality assessment across all samples.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automated feedback loops where measurement results are immediately compared against quality criteria, and pass/fail decisions are automatically generated. This feedback mechanism ensures consistent application of quality standards without human variability, while the automated nature of the process significantly reduces testing effort.
3Measurement precision
If cross-sectioning with manual preparation is used, then detailed internal structure can be examined, but time consumption and effort are high
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automated preparation actions including automated sectioning and mounting of samples. The apparatus automatically prepares cross-sections using programmed cutting and mounting sequences, eliminating the time-consuming manual preparation steps while maintaining the quality needed for detailed internal structure examination.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus (100) for carrying out a quality test of a component carrier structure (102), wherein the apparatus (100) comprises a handling unit (104) configured for handling the component carrier structure (102) at least along a portion between an inlet (106) and an outlet (108) of the apparatus (100), an identification unit (110) configured for identifying the component carrier structure (102) undergoing the quality test, a material removal unit (112) configured for removing material of the component carrier structure (102) for exposing an interior of the component carrier structure (102) undergoing the quality test, a determining unit (114) configured for determining at least one pre-defined test target (116) of the component carrier structure (102) after said material removal, and an evaluation unit (118) configured for evaluating a characteristic of the determined at least one test target (116) of the component carrier structure (102) for assessing the quality of the component carrier structure (102).