A QR code on the bottom and another on the top plus an encrypted algorithm to multiply them together. The small chips are assembled together with other components in t he surface assembly line and provide secure traceability down to the component level.
– Today you use a label for 12 to 25 cents or laser marking to create traceability, in both cases it is associated with a lot of manual work, says Zeev Efrat at Cybord when I meet him at Electronica.
The Israeli start-up company has patented a chip, effectively a small piece of circuit board with a QR code on the bottom and one on the top. Both are framed in the copper foil and represent two 16-digit numbers.
The chip is assembled together with the other components in the production line where the placement machine’s camera reads the underside. The upper side is read by the AOI which is at the end of the line.
– Only I know both numbers and the code. This provides full traceability throughout the life of the card.
In addition, it will be difficult to replace the chip or create forgeries as you need all three components to create a valid identity.
Everything is stored in Cybord’s cloud, which makes it possible to retrieve the data on the day it is needed and thus also see exactly which components are on a certain card and which machines assembled them.