GB2287860A - Method and means for the identification of electronic components and assemblies - Google Patents

Method and means for the identification of electronic components and assemblies Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2287860A
GB2287860A GB9506034A GB9506034A GB2287860A GB 2287860 A GB2287860 A GB 2287860A GB 9506034 A GB9506034 A GB 9506034A GB 9506034 A GB9506034 A GB 9506034A GB 2287860 A GB2287860 A GB 2287860A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
component
electronic component
accordance
identification means
identification
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9506034A
Other versions
GB9506034D0 (en
Inventor
Stuart Edwin Stanton Wilkie
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ROOD TECHNOLOGY
Original Assignee
ROOD TECHNOLOGY
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ROOD TECHNOLOGY filed Critical ROOD TECHNOLOGY
Publication of GB9506034D0 publication Critical patent/GB9506034D0/en
Publication of GB2287860A publication Critical patent/GB2287860A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
    • H05K1/00—Printed circuits
    • H05K1/02—Details
    • H05K1/0266—Marks, test patterns or identification means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
    • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
    • G06K19/0723—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
    • H05K1/00—Printed circuits
    • H05K1/18—Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
    • H05K2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to printed circuits covered by H05K1/00
    • H05K2201/10—Details of components or other objects attached to or integrated in a printed circuit board
    • H05K2201/10007—Types of components
    • H05K2201/10098—Components for radio transmission, e.g. radio frequency identification [RFID] tag, printed or non-printed antennas

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

An electronic component or assembly has incorporated therein means capable of providing identification of the component or assembly on interrogation. The arrangement may be applied to, for example, printed circuit boards, circuit modules, integrated circuits, memory modules and assemblies including such components. The identification means may be a discrete element inserted and sealed into a recess in the component or may be surface mounted on the component. Alternatively, the identification means may be an element functionally separate from the component but fabricated as part of it. The identification means may be manufactured such as to provide an identity or may be programmed subsequently. The identification means may be a transponder interrogated by direct electrical contact or by a radiated radio frequency signal and it may be powered by a dedicated local power source or by energy derived from an interrogating signal. Any tampering with the transponder may be indicated visually and may be arranged to render the electronic component non-functioning.

Description

Method and Means of Identification of Electronic Assemblies The present invention relates to a method and means for electronically identifying electronic components, which term as used herein includes, for example, printed circuit boards, both populated and unpopulated, circuit modules, integrated circuits, memory modules and other electronic components, and assemblies including such components.
Electronic components are often high value items, which may also have an additional value attributable to scarcity. The ability to be able to readily and positively identify such items is thus of considerable economic importance to their manufacturers, to product assemblers incorporating such components into larger products, and to law enforcement agencies such as police and customs authorities.
Identification of electronic components has in the past conventionally been by printing a visible number or mark on to the component. Such markings are readily removable or alterable. In addition it has been known to program the identity of a component into certain suitably configured components, such as memory modules, by means of software programming of part of the memory provided by the component. However neither of these methods is ideal, particularly for high volume production items, where noncontact, automatic, high speed identification may be desirable.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a method and means of providing identification for electronic components without the shortcomings of such prior art methods.
In accordance with one aspect the present invention consists in a method of providing identification for an electronic component including the step of incorporating in that component identification means capable of providing identification for the component and responsive to interrogation to disclose that identification.
In accordance with another aspect the invention consists in an electronic component incorporating identification means capable of providing identification for the component, and responsive to interrogation to disclose the identification.
The identification means may be a discrete element separate from the component which is assembled with the component, either during manufacture of the component or subsequently.
For example a suitable recess may be provided in the component into which the identification means may be inserted during manufacture, or a recess may be milled or similarly machined into an appropriate part of the completed component, and the identification means inserted and sealed into it.
Alternatively the identification means may be surface mounted upon the component.
The identification means may alternatively be an element functionally separate from the component but fabricated as part of it, for example if the component is an integrated circuit or other such component.
The identification means may be manufactured such as to provide an identity, or may be programmed subsequently to provide the identity. If programmable, the identification means may also be capable of being programmed with other information relating to the component for which identification is provided.
The identification means may be a transponder device which may be powered from a dedicated local power source or which may derive its power from the interrogating signal transmitted by interrogation means.
The transponder device may comprise an integrated circuit chip or chips.
The identification means may be interrogated by means of direct electrical contact therewith or alternatively by a non-contact method such as interrogation by a radiated radio frequency signal in order to trigger a radiated response from the identification means.
The advantages accruing from use of a method in accordance with the invention, and from components in accordance with the invention, include the ability to achieve identification of electronic components without any need for visual inspection or the provision of any external visually recognisable identification.
Components in accordance with the invention may be readily tracked in stock control procedures, and in automatic handling and assembly procedures, using appropriate known identity interrogation and reader equipment.
Components in transit may be individually identified using the same or similar interrogation and reader equipment, as may any stolen components subsequently recovered.
The methods by which the transponder means may be incorporated in or attached to the electronic component will make it immediately apparent, by visual inspection, if any attempt has been made to remove or corrupt the identification means of the electronic component. Such tampering may be arranged to be such as to cause the electronic component assembly to become non-functioning.
Other modifications apparent to those skilled in the art may be made to the method of the invention and to electronic components so produced without exceeding the scope of the invention.

Claims (19)

CLAIMS:
1. A method of providing identification for an electronic component, as herein defined, including the step of incorporating in that component identification means capable of providing identification for the component and responsive to interrogation to disclose that identification.
2. An electronic component, as herein defined, incorporating identification means capable of providing identification for the component, and responsive to interrogation by interrogating means to disclose the identification.
3. An electronic component as claimed in Claim 2 in which the identification means is a discrete element separate from the component.
4. An electronic component in accordance with Claim 3 in which the identification means is assembled with the component during manufacture of the component.
5. An electronic component in accordance with Claim 3 in which the identification means is assembled with the component subsequent to manufacture of the component.
6. An electronic component in accordance with Claim 4 or Claim 5 in which a recess is provided in the body of the component to receive the identification means.
7. An electronic component in accordance with Claim 6 in which the identification means is sealed into the recess.
8. An electronic component in accordance with Claim 4 or Claim 5 in which the identification means is surface mounted upon the component.
9. An electronic component in accordance with Claim 2 in which the identification means is an element functionally separate from the component but fabricated with it.
10. An electronic component in accordance with Claim 9 in which the component and the identification means are both integrated circuits comprised within a common physical sturcture.
11. An electronic component in accordance with any preceding claim in which the identification means is manufactured such as to provide the identity.
12. An electronic component in accordance with any one of Claims 2 to 10 in which the identification means is programmable to provide the identity.
13. An electronic component in accordance with Claim 12 in which the identification means is also capable of being programmed with information other than relating to the identity of the component.
14. An electronic component in accordance with any preceding claim in which the identification means is a transponder device capable of interrogation by the interrogating means to diclose the identity of the component.
15. An electronic component in accordance with Claim 14 which derives the power for its response to the interrogating signal from the interrogating signal transmitted by interrogation means.
16. An electronic component in accordance with Claim 14 or 15 in which the transponder device comprises an integrated circuit chip or chips.
17. An electronic component in accordance with any one preceding claim in which the identification means is interrogated by a non-contact method.
18. An electronic component in accordance with Claim 17 in which the identification means is interrogated by means of a radio frequency signal radiated by the interrogation means.
19. An electrical component in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 16 in which the identification means is interrogated by means direct electrical contact therewith.
GB9506034A 1994-03-25 1995-03-24 Method and means for the identification of electronic components and assemblies Withdrawn GB2287860A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9405961A GB9405961D0 (en) 1994-03-25 1994-03-25 Method & means for the identification of electronic assemblies

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9506034D0 GB9506034D0 (en) 1995-05-10
GB2287860A true GB2287860A (en) 1995-09-27

Family

ID=10752511

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9405961A Pending GB9405961D0 (en) 1994-03-25 1994-03-25 Method & means for the identification of electronic assemblies
GB9506034A Withdrawn GB2287860A (en) 1994-03-25 1995-03-24 Method and means for the identification of electronic components and assemblies

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9405961A Pending GB9405961D0 (en) 1994-03-25 1994-03-25 Method & means for the identification of electronic assemblies

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB9405961D0 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10119232C1 (en) * 2001-04-19 2002-12-05 Siemens Production & Logistics Device for labeling component carriers provided with a plurality of electrical components to be fitted and method for using the device
FR2850832A1 (en) * 2003-01-31 2004-08-06 Program Plus Plus Sarl Printed circuit card includes a circuit identification device comprising a transponder having external antenna flush with surface of insulating plate, where antenna is formed by conductors of the printed circuit
WO2006055478A2 (en) * 2004-11-19 2006-05-26 Intel Corporation Rfid tag in a printed circuit board
DE102006022370A1 (en) * 2006-05-12 2007-11-15 Siemens Ag Command generating method for manually assembling through hole technology-component on printed circuit board, involves determining assembling command for board based on printed circuit board and component-related data
CN100356379C (en) * 2005-09-22 2007-12-19 北京中星微电子有限公司 System and method for identifying electronic element

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1267350A (en) * 1968-07-26 1972-03-15 Ml Aviation Co Ltd Detection system for indicating the passage of bodies
US4074189A (en) * 1970-04-15 1978-02-14 U.S. Philips Corporation Carrier with code
US4889977A (en) * 1987-12-21 1989-12-26 Southwestern Bell Telephone Company Method of identifying the disposition of plug-in units at a warehouse
GB2251105A (en) * 1990-12-11 1992-06-24 Race Electronics Limited An identification component
US5129974A (en) * 1990-08-23 1992-07-14 Colorcode Unlimited Corporation Microlabelling system and method of making thin labels
WO1993020459A1 (en) * 1992-04-03 1993-10-14 Tommy Olsson A method and a device for anti-theft marking of office equipment, especially computers
US5257011A (en) * 1991-12-03 1993-10-26 Avid Corporation Data altering means for multi-memory electronic identification tag
GB2280054A (en) * 1993-04-16 1995-01-18 Geoffery Paul Cambray Electronic monitoring system for video cassette and games hire

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1267350A (en) * 1968-07-26 1972-03-15 Ml Aviation Co Ltd Detection system for indicating the passage of bodies
US4074189A (en) * 1970-04-15 1978-02-14 U.S. Philips Corporation Carrier with code
US4889977A (en) * 1987-12-21 1989-12-26 Southwestern Bell Telephone Company Method of identifying the disposition of plug-in units at a warehouse
US5129974A (en) * 1990-08-23 1992-07-14 Colorcode Unlimited Corporation Microlabelling system and method of making thin labels
GB2251105A (en) * 1990-12-11 1992-06-24 Race Electronics Limited An identification component
US5257011A (en) * 1991-12-03 1993-10-26 Avid Corporation Data altering means for multi-memory electronic identification tag
WO1993020459A1 (en) * 1992-04-03 1993-10-14 Tommy Olsson A method and a device for anti-theft marking of office equipment, especially computers
GB2280054A (en) * 1993-04-16 1995-01-18 Geoffery Paul Cambray Electronic monitoring system for video cassette and games hire

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10119232C1 (en) * 2001-04-19 2002-12-05 Siemens Production & Logistics Device for labeling component carriers provided with a plurality of electrical components to be fitted and method for using the device
FR2850832A1 (en) * 2003-01-31 2004-08-06 Program Plus Plus Sarl Printed circuit card includes a circuit identification device comprising a transponder having external antenna flush with surface of insulating plate, where antenna is formed by conductors of the printed circuit
WO2006055478A2 (en) * 2004-11-19 2006-05-26 Intel Corporation Rfid tag in a printed circuit board
WO2006055478A3 (en) * 2004-11-19 2006-08-10 Intel Corp Rfid tag in a printed circuit board
CN100356379C (en) * 2005-09-22 2007-12-19 北京中星微电子有限公司 System and method for identifying electronic element
DE102006022370A1 (en) * 2006-05-12 2007-11-15 Siemens Ag Command generating method for manually assembling through hole technology-component on printed circuit board, involves determining assembling command for board based on printed circuit board and component-related data

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9506034D0 (en) 1995-05-10
GB9405961D0 (en) 1994-05-11

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)