# US 2019/0320565 A1 · System for tracing printed circuit boards through manufacturing stages > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0320565 A1 - Document ID: US20190320565A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/051,045 - Filed: 2018-07-31 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-17 - Assignees: Avary Holding (Shenzhen) Co., Limited.; HongQiSheng Precision Electronics (QinHuangDao) Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Avary Holding (Shenzhen) Co., Limited.; HongQiSheng Precision Electronics (QinHuangDao) Co ., Ltd. - Inventors: FU-SHENG LUO; PAI-HUNG HUANG; CHIEN-JUI LO; YIN-ZHEN ZENG - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190320565A1 ## CPC - H05K 13/082: {Integration of non-optical monitoring devices, i.e. using non-optical inspection means, e.g. electrical means, mechanical means or X-rays} - H05K 1/0268: {for electrical inspection or testing} - H05K 1/0269: {for visual or optical inspection} - H05K 3/4644: {by building the multilayer layer by layer, i.e. build-up multilayer circuits (making via holes in the insulating layers H05K3/0011; special circuit boards as base or core whereon the multilayer is built H05K3/4602)} - H05K 3/4652: {Adding a circuit layer by laminating a metal foil or a preformed metal foil pattern (H05K3/4647 takes precedence)} - H05K 13/084: {Product tracking, e.g. of substrates during the manufacturing process; Component traceability} - H05K 13/087: {Equipment tracking or labelling, e.g. tracking of nozzles, feeders or mounting heads} - H05K 2201/09927: Machine readable code, e.g. bar code - H05K 2201/09936: Marks, inscriptions, etc. for information - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A system for tracking objects such as a printed circuit board (PCB) undergoing multiple manufacturing processes traceability system includes a coding unit, a scanning unit, and a reading unit and a database. The printed circuit board includes at least two inner copper foil substrates, subsequent substrates can be added. The coding unit marks identification and manufacturing stage codes on the inner copper foil substrate for through scanning by the scanning unit emitting X-rays. The reading unit can receive and parse the codes identified by the X-rays, and determine the previous or a next stage according to a predetermined encoding rule without risk of stage repetition or stage omission or product misplacement. The database stores standard identities and information as to manufacturing stages as a reference. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A traceability system of a printed circuit board comprising at least two inner copper foil substrates, the traceability system comprising: an identification code marking device comprising: a coding unit configured to mark an identification code on each inner copper foil substrate; a scanning unit configured to emit X-rays after adding one of the inner copper foil substrates each time so that the X-rays pass through the newly added inner copper foil substrate to scan the identification code of the inner copper foil substrate of the previous layer, and generate an identification code graphic; a reading unit configured to receive and parse the identification code graphic, and determine a next identification code according to a predetermined encoding rule and the parsed identification code graphic, the predetermined encoding rule being that each identification code records an identity information of the inner copper foil substrate of corresponding layer, and each identification code associated with the identification code of the identification code of the inner copper foil substrate of previous layer; the coding unit further configured to mark determined identification code on newly added inner copper foil substrate; and a server communicating with the identification code marking device and comprising: a storage device that stores one or more programs and a database; and a processor; the one or more programs when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: store the identity information recorded by the identification code of the inner copper foil substrate and processing information and processing information of the inner copper foil substrate in the database. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The traceability system of claim 1, wherein the server further electrically coupled to a loading machine, the processor is further caused to: control the loading machine to stop loading the newly added inner copper foil substrate when an abnormality occurs. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The traceability system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further caused to: read the identification code stored in the database in real time; and determine that an abnormality occurs when read identification code is abnormal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The traceability system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further caused to: read the identification code stored in the database periodically; and determine that an abnormality occurs when read identification code is abnormal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The traceability system of claim 2, wherein the database further stores standard processing information of each station, and the processor is further caused to: read the processing information in real time; and compare the processing information with the standard processing information to determine whether an abnormality is occurred. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The traceability system of claim 2, wherein the database further stores standard processing information of each station, and the processor is further caused to: read the processing information periodically; and compare the processing information with the standard processing information to determine whether an abnormality is occurred. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The traceability system of claim 1, wherein a time axis is stored in the database, and the processor is further caused to: store the identity information recorded by the identification code and the processing information on corresponding time node of the time axis according to processing time of the inner copper foil substrate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The traceability system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further caused to: store the corresponding processing information of the inner copper foil substrate on the time node corresponding to the time axis according to processing time of the inner copper foil substrate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The traceability system of claim 1, wherein the reading unit is a visual recognition device having charge-coupled device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The traceability system of claim 1, wherein the coding unit is a laser marking device. ### Claim 11 A traceability system of a printed circuit board comprising at least two first inner copper foil substrates, the traceability system comprising: an identification code marking device comprising: a coding unit configured to mark an identification code on each inner copper foil substrate; a scanning unit configured to emit X-rays after adding a second inner copper foil substrates so that the X-rays pass through the second inner copper foil substrate to scan the identification code of the first inner copper foil substrate, and generate an identification code graphic; a reading unit configured to receive and parse the identification code graphic, and determine a next identification code according to a predetermined encoding rule and the parsed identification code graphic, the predetermined encoding rule being that each identification code records an identity information of the first inner copper foil substrate and the second inner copper foil substrate, and the identification code of the second inner copper foil substrate associated with the identification code of the first inner copper foil substrate; the coding unit further configured to mark determined identification code on second inner copper foil substrate; and a server communicating with the identification code marking device and comprising: a storage device that stores one or more programs and a database; and a processor; the one or more programs when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: store the identity information recorded by the identification code of the first inner copper foil substrate and the second inner copper foil substrate and processing information and processing information of the first inner copper foil substrate and the second inner copper foil substrate in the database. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The traceability system of claim 11, wherein the server further electrically coupled to a loading machine, the processor is further caused to: control the loading machine to stop loading the second inner copper foil substrate when an abnormality occurs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The traceability system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further caused to: read the identification code stored in the database in real time; and determine that an abnormality occurs when read identification code is abnormal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The traceability system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further caused to: read the identification code stored in the database periodically; and determine that an abnormality occurs when read identification code is abnormal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The traceability system of claim 12, wherein the database further stores standard processing information of each station, and the processor is further caused to: read the processing information in real time; and compare the processing information with the standard processing information to determine whether an abnormality is occurred. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The traceability system of claim 12, wherein the database further stores standard processing information of each station, and the processor is further caused to: read the processing information periodically; and compare the processing information with the standard processing information to determine whether an abnormality is occurred. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The traceability system of claim 11, wherein a time axis is stored in the database, and the processor is further caused to: store the identity information recorded by the identification code and the processing information on corresponding time node of the time axis according to processing time of the first inner copper foil substrate and the second inner copper foil. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The traceability system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further caused to: store the corresponding processing information of the second inner copper foil substrate on the time node corresponding to the time axis according to processing time of the first inner copper foil substrate and the second inner copper foil substrate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The traceability system of claim 11, wherein the reading unit is a visual recognition device having charge-coupled device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The traceability system of claim 11, wherein the coding unit is a laser marking device.