Substrate Identification Pads for Post-Singulation Traceability

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing substrates lack efficient methods to track and identify the panel, strip, row, and column information after singulation, making it difficult to trace defects and manage individual products effectively.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating identification codes, including first to fourth identification codes on the substrate's surface, which utilize identification pads to provide information on panel, strip, row, and column positions, allowing for easy tracking and identification even after singulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If traditional character-based codes are used for substrate identification, then identification information can be provided, but the codes occupy excessive area and cannot be detected by automated inspection equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification informationVSAvoidarea occupied by codes

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the identification code from character-based representation to a geometric pattern-based representation using pads arranged in specific configurations. This parameter change allows the code to be represented by the spatial arrangement, size, and shape of pads rather than traditional characters, enabling automated optical inspection while reducing area occupation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces human-readable character-based identification systems with machine-readable geometric patterns that can be automatically detected by optical inspection equipment. The identification information is encoded in the spatial relationships between pads rather than through textual characters, enabling automated detection without human intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If traditional character-based codes are used for substrate identification, then identification information can be provided, but automated inspection equipment cannot detect the codes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification informationVSAvoiddetectability by automated equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces human-readable character-based identification systems with machine-readable geometric patterns that can be automatically detected by optical inspection equipment. The identification information is encoded in the spatial relationships between pads rather than through textual characters, enabling automated detection without human intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the identification code from character-based representation to a geometric pattern-based representation using pads arranged in specific configurations. This parameter change allows the code to be represented by the spatial arrangement, size, and shape of pads rather than traditional characters, enabling automated optical inspection while reducing area occupation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If identification codes are added to substrates, then tracking capability is improved, but the substrate design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking capabilityVSAvoidsubstrate design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates identification functionality into the existing pad structure of the substrate, which serves dual purposes: electrical connection functions and identification coding functions. By making the pads multi-functional, the substrate design does not require separate identification elements, thus avoiding increased complexity while maintaining reliable tracking capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the identification code with the electrical pad structure, combining two previously separate functions into a single integrated element. The same pads that provide electrical connectivity also encode identification information through their spatial arrangement and configuration, eliminating the need for separate identification components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12501542B2Substrate with identification codes composed of identification pads

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A substrate may include a base substrate and first to fourth identification codes on the base substrate, wherein the substrate is one of a plurality of substrates at a row ‘c’ and a column ‘d’ in a (b)th strip of an (a)th panel, where ‘a’, ‘b’, ‘c’ and ‘d’ are natural numbers, and the plurality of substrates are included in the (b)th strip of the (a)th panel, and wherein the first identification code includes information on the ‘a’, the second identification code includes information on the ‘b’, the third identification code includes information on the ‘c’, and the fourth identification code includes information on the ‘d’.