Electronic Component Image Authentication for Assembly Traceability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic assembly traceability methods rely on vendor-provided information, which can be inaccurate, incomplete, or fraudulent, leading to the use of compromised or defective components, resulting in security and quality breaches, increased costs, and potential recalls.

Innovation Solution

An automated system using machine learning and image processing to authenticate components based on visual features, cross-referencing vendor-provided information with actual component images to generate reliable traceability data and classify components into groups for efficient recall management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual inspection methods are used to verify component tracing information, then authentication accuracy may be improved, but manufacturing cost and time increase substantially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an automated optical inspection system that captures images of components and uses image processing algorithms to extract and verify tracing information. This substitution eliminates the need for human inspectors while maintaining high authentication accuracy and significantly reducing inspection time and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables components to self-verify their tracing information through automated image capture and processing. The inspection system automatically extracts tracing information from component images, compares it with database records, and authenticates the components without requiring manual intervention, making the verification process self-service oriented.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If vendor-provided tracing information is trusted without verification, then manufacturing efficiency is maintained, but security and quality breaches occur due to compromised or fraudulent components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidcomponent authenticity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the automated inspection system continuously verifies component tracing information against a centralized database. The system captures images, extracts tracing data, compares it with vendor-provided information and database records, and provides immediate authentication feedback. This closed-loop feedback ensures that no compromised or fraudulent components pass verification, maintaining both efficiency and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary authentication of component tracing information before components are assembled into electronic assemblies. By verifying the authenticity and integrity of tracing information in advance, the system prevents compromised or fraudulent components from entering the manufacturing process, thereby ensuring reliability while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive manual inspection of all components is performed, then traceability accuracy is improved, but the complexity and time of the manufacturing process increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraceability accuracyVSAvoidinspection process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex manual inspection processes with an automated optical inspection system that uses image capture and processing algorithms. The system automatically extracts tracing information from component images, compares it with database records, and authenticates components. This automation maintains high traceability accuracy while significantly reducing process complexity and inspection time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates digital copies of component tracing information by capturing images and extracting data from them. These digital copies are then used for verification against the centralized database, eliminating the need for physical manual inspection. This copying approach maintains traceability accuracy while simplifying the inspection process and reducing its complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4165592B1System and method for tracing components of electronic assembly
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 CYBORD LTD
  • EP4165592B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4165592B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4165592B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A system and a method for tracing components of an electronic assembly. The method may include obtaining an image of a component of the electronic assembly, generating identification information of the component based on visual features of the component, authenticating the component based on the identification information, generating correlating information by associating the component to an electronic assembly and classifying the component to a group based on the visual features of the component.