Electronic Assembly Component Tracing Through Visual Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for tracing components in electronic assemblies rely on vendor-provided information, which is often 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 algorithms and image processing to authenticate components based on visual features, cross-referencing vendor-provided information with actual component images to generate reliable traceability data, preventing the assembly of compromised components and reducing recall extent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering 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
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an automated optical imaging 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 through automated feature recognition and database comparison.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables components to self-verify their authenticity through automated image capture and analysis. The imaging system automatically extracts tracing information from component images, compares it with database records, and determines authenticity without requiring external manual intervention, thus improving both accuracy and efficiency.
2Productivity
If no authentication of components is performed during assembly, then manufacturing efficiency is maintained, but security and quality breaches occur due to use of compromised or defective components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements authentication of component tracing information before components are assembled into the final electronic assembly. The imaging system captures and verifies tracing information at the component level prior to assembly, ensuring that only authenticated components are used. This preliminary verification prevents security and quality breaches while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through automated processing.
3Productivity
If vendor-provided tracing information is accepted without verification, then manufacturing process remains simple and fast, but tracing information may be inaccurate, incomplete, or fraudulent leading to security breaches
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where tracing information from vendor labels is cross-checked against image-recognised features and database records. The imaging system extracts features from component images, compares them with expected characteristics, and provides verification feedback. This closed-loop approach ensures tracing information accuracy while maintaining manufacturing speed through automated validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification layer between the vendor-provided tracing information and the final assembly process. The imaging system acts as an intermediary that independently verifies tracing information by capturing images, extracting features, and comparing them with database records. This intermediary validation ensures accuracy without significantly impacting manufacturing speed.
Data Source
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.