Patent Description:
In the context of growing product functionalities of component carriers equipped with one or more electronic components and increasing miniaturization of such electronic components as well as a rising number of electronic components to be mounted on the component carriers such as printed circuit boards, increasingly more powerful array-like components or packages having several electronic components are being employed, which have a plurality of contacts or connections, with ever smaller spacing between these contacts. Removal of heat generated by such electronic components and the component carrier itself during operation becomes an increasing issue. At the same time, component carriers shall be mechanically robust and electrically reliable so as to be operable even under harsh conditions.

Traceability of component carriers or pre-forms thereof, i.e. the capability to trace and identify component carriers related bodies for instance during manufacture and/or use, is desirable. Tracing component carrier related bodies may allow verifying the history, location, or application of an individual component carrier related body.

Document <CIT> discloses a multilayer circuit board substrate comprising first identification codes each one associated to a respective layer and including information related to the specific layer, a second identification code on the external surface of the multilayer circuit board substrate including information about the multilayer circuit board substrate as such and third identification codes on the external surface of the multilayer circuit board substrate including information about the boarding unit subsequently separated from the multilayer circuit board substrate; the first, second and third codes are readable by a scanning device acting on the respective readable surface.

Document <CIT> discloses a PCB with exposed lateral indicium placed to be read from the lateral side to evaluate the alignment of the layers composing the PCB.

It is an object of the invention to efficiently trace component carriers and/or pre-forms thereof.

In order to achieve the object defined above, a component carrier related body, a method of manufacturing a component carrier related body and an arrangement are provided.

According to the invention, a component carrier related body is provided as defined in claim <NUM>.

According to the invention, a method of manufacturing a component carrier related body is provided as defined in claim <NUM>.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, an arrangement is provided as defined in claim <NUM> and comprises a component carrier related body having the above mentioned features and being separated or separable into a plurality of component carriers and into a residual structure, wherein the residual structure comprises the information carrying structures, and each of the component carriers comprises a carrier-related information carrying structure, and a database including data sets, wherein a respective data set is correlated to at least part of the information carrying structures and comprises information related to a manufacturing process of the component carrier related body, and wherein each of the data sets links a respective one of the carrier-related information carrying structures to at least one of the information carrying structures relating to the component carrier related body based on which the respective component carrier has been manufactured.

In the context of the present application, the term "component carrier" may particularly denote any support structure which is capable of accommodating one or more components thereon and/or therein for providing mechanical support and/or electrical connectivity and/or optical connectivity and/or thermal connectivity.

In the context of the present application, the term "component carrier related body" may particularly denote either a component carrier (such as a printed circuit board or an IC substrate) itself or a larger body (such as a panel or an array) of multiple component carriers or pre-forms thereof (for instance a semifinished product obtained during manufacturing component carriers individually or in a batch process).

In the context of the present application, the term "layer structure" may particularly denote a continuous layer, a patterned layer or a plurality of nonconsecutive islands within a common plane. A layer structure may be electrically insulating and/or electrically conductive.

In the context of the present application, the term "tracking or tracing a component carrier or component carrier related body" may particularly denote an opportunity of a coding system enabling to analyze a component carrier or component carrier related body concerning assigned information carrying structures or identification codes allowing identifying the component carrier or component carrier related body and/or allowing correlating the component carrier or component carrier related body with a specific manufacturing batch or lot (for instance for determining a lot number) and/or a place of manufacture, a manufacturing process (for instance a specific customer order), time (for instance date) or issue (for instance quality issue determined during a product test).

In the context of the present application, the term "information carrying structure" may particularly denote a physical structure assigned to or correlated with a component carrier or a component carrier related body or a layer structure thereof and identifying the former or the latter. In particular, the information carrying structure may be a code structure. Preferably, but not necessarily, an information carrying structure or a combination of information carrying structures may be unique for a certain component carrier or component carrier related body. It is however also possible that an information carrying structure or a combination of information carrying structures is identical for a certain number of component carriers or component carrier bodies, for instance for those manufactured within a common lot or batch. For instance, such an information carrying structure may be a QR code. In such a QR code or other information carrying structure, information such as a link to a specific data set in a database may be included. Additionally or alternatively, such a QR code or other information carrying structure may include a lot number, a panel sequence number, date and time at when the panel is produced (for example at a photo imaging or laser direct imaging (LDI) process). In particular, the manufacturing history of the component carrier related body or a part (for instance a layer structure) thereof may be encoded directly in the respective information carrying structure(s) and/or may be retrieved from a data set in a database to which the information carrying structure(s) is or are linked. In particular, the information carrying structure may be an identification structure. For example, the information carrying structure can be produced by one or more of the following procedures: patterning by a photo process or LDI; applying the information carrying structure by adhering, cutting, scribing, minting, embossing, printing (in particular three-dimensional printing, inkjet printing, etc.); providing the information carrying structure from an electrically conductive material or a dielectric material, wherein the material of the information carrying structure should differ concerning its properties with regards to surrounding material so as to make it readable by a reader device (for instance by providing a darker information carrying structure made out of a corresponding resin to be surrounded by a lighter (for instance at least partially transparent) resin, so that the information carrying structure can be read by a reader device. By at least one lighter resin (can be two or more kinds of more transparent resin as well), the code or information carrying structure can be made of several materials and/or heights. This may be done, for example, for establishing multidimensional codes (for instance a 4D code).

In the context of the present application, the term "database" may particularly denote a data structure which may be stored in a mass storage device such as a hard disk and which may be capable of storing multiple data sets. Certain entities (for instance a control unit or processor of a coding system) may have read and/or write access to the database. The location of the storage device may or may not be the same as the location of processing and/or collecting data, i.e. as the manufacturing location.

In the context of the present application, the term "data set" may particularly denote a number of grouped data elements with fixed correlation to one another. In other words, the combination of the data elements assigned to one specific component carrier or component carrier related body may form the respective data set. For instance, a data set may be composed of information concerning information carrying structures or identification codes of a specific component carrier or component carrier related body and may be composed of auxiliary or meta information. Such auxiliary or meta information may for example relate to a manufacturing process of a component carrier or a component carrier related body.

In the context of the present application, the term "vertically displaced" may particularly denote that the different layer-assigned information carrying structures of the component carrier related body are arranged at different vertical levels of the stack of layer structures, i.e. above each other in a stacking direction. In particular, each of the information carrying structures (which may be a patterned electrically conductive layer structure of the stack) may be formed and positioned on an assigned layer structure (which may be an electrically insulating layer structure of the stack).

In the context of the present application, the term "laterally displaced" may particularly denote that the different information carrying structures of the component carrier related body are arranged in different area regions in a plane or projected plane of the stack of layer structures, i.e. side-by-side in a (in particular horizontal) plane vertically to the stacking direction. By arranging at least each pair of vertically neighbored information carrying structures laterally displaced with regard to one another, it may be ensured that, in a plan view of the stack or a portion thereof both vertically neighbored information carrying structures are arranged next to one another and can therefore be read out without being disturbed by a spatial interference. For instance, a touchless optical reader device may read an (for instance exposed) upper information carrying structure of an upper layer structure and may also read a laterally displaced lower information carrying structure (which may be covered by the upper layer structure, but preferably not by the upper information carrying structure) in view of its lateral displacement with regard to the upper information carrying structure.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a coding system for component carriers or other component carrier related bodies is provided which is based on the formation of information carrying structures for subsequently formed layer structures of a layer stack of the component carrier related body. By not only vertically displacing neighbored information carrying structures assigned to different vertically stacked layer structures but by also laterally displacing adjacent information carrying structures, it can be made possible to read out at least two information carrying structures during manufacturing to thereby correctly link neighbored information carrying structures assigned to neighbored layer structures. In this context, it may be for instance possible to read, with an appropriate reader device, not only a presently exposed uppermost information carrying structure but also a laterally displaced and vertically lower located information carrying structure assigned to a previously formed layer structure. Said buried information carrying structure may still be readable through only one (in particular dielectric) layer structure. This geometric configuration of information carrying structures enables a failure free assignment or correlation between different information carrying structures relating to different layer structures of the same component carrier related body. Thus, information carrying structures assigned to different layer structures and thus different manufacturing stages of the component carrier related body may be correctly assigned also in a database. This may simplify and render accurate tracking of the component carrier related body based on reading out at least one of the information carrying structures by correlation with data sets of the database. Traceability may therefore be possible in a simple and error robust way. Thus, this provides for a simple, highly reliable, failure robust and tamperproof coding system for component carriers or pre-forms thereof.

It may happen during a manufacturing process that a component carrier related body (such as a panel for manufacturing printed circuit boards) being provided with such information carrying structures may be separated into multiple component carriers (such as printed circuit boards), and that the information carrying structures remain on one or more residue portions (such as a frame) of the component carrier related body, whereas the individual component carriers do not include said information carrying structures. To nevertheless enable proper traceability of the individual component carriers, it may be possible in an arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention to form a carrier related information carrying structure on each of the individual component carriers (preferably before separation, or alternatively after separation). It may be also advantageous to correlate in a database each individual carrier related information carrying structure with the information carrying structures (in particular the last formed information carrying structure) of the component carrier related body based on which the component carrier has been formed. Thus, by querying the database using the respective carrier related information carrying structure, it may be possible in a very simple way to correlate the carrier related information carrying structure with the data set in the database regarding the manufacturing process of the component carrier related body to which the component carrier belongs. Thus, information which may be included in said data set and corresponding to the manufacturing process also of such component carrier may be reliably retrieved based on the carrier related information carrying structure when the latter is linked to one or more information carrying structures of the assigned component carrier related body. Hence, also traceability on a component carrier basis may be simplified with the described traceability architecture.

In the following, further exemplary embodiments of the component carrier related body, the method of manufacturing a component carrier related body and the arrangement will be explained.

According to the invention, the at least two of the at least two information carrying structures are laterally displaced without overlap in the plan view on the stack. When there is no overlap between adjacent information carrying structures in a plan view, simultaneous readout is possible. This simplifies linking adjacent information carrying structures and therefore adjacent layer structures in a reliably way.

In an embodiment, the at least two laterally displaced information carrying structures are vertically adjoining, neighbouring or adjacent ones of the information carrying structures. Since the lateral displacement has the advantage that it allows reading of both laterally displaced information carrying structures (in particular the lower one which may already be covered with a further layer structure), it is advantageous and sufficient when two consecutively formed information carrying structures show the mentioned lateral displacement.

In an embodiment, the at least two of the at least two information carrying structures are laterally displaced in the plan view on the stack for enabling separate reading, in particular optical reading, of the at least two information carrying structures. Such an optical reading may be carried out on an exposed information carrying structure, but also on an information carrying structure being covered by an at least partially transparent layer structure, for instance a prepreg sheet, covering a buried information carrying structure which is nevertheless still optically readable.

In an embodiment, an information carrying structure of a later produced layer structure is linked to an information carrying structure of an earlier produced layer structure. By linking information carrying structures assigned to subsequently produced layer structures, also portions of data sets describing the manufacturing process and/or defects of individual layer structures of the stack may be linked in a database. Linkage between different information carrying structures may be carried out by linking information included in at least part of the information carrying structures and/or may be stored in a data set of the database to which the respective information carrying structures relate.

In an embodiment, each of the at least two information carrying structures includes at least one information from a group consisting of:.

Additionally or alternatively, also other kind of information may be stored in the information carrying structure or a data set of a database linked to an information carrying structure. For instance, information about defects of a component carrier related body or a component carrier may be stored in an information carrying structure or a linked data set.

In an embodiment, the information carrying structure of a later produced layer structure includes information included in the information carrying structure of the earlier produced layer structure and includes additional information. Highly advantageously, an information carrying structure of a later produced layer structure may not only include information related to said layer structure, but may also include information which has been previously stored in an earlier created information carrying structure of the component carrier related body. For instance, the later an information carrying structure is formed, the more information may be included in it or in a database link to which it refers as compared to a previously manufactured information carrying structure. It may then be sufficient to read out only a last produced information carrying structure, when it also includes the information of the previously formed information carrying structure(s).

For instance, the information included in the information carrying structure of the earlier produced layer structure is indicative of at least one property of the earlier produced layer structure, in particular at least one property in relation to a manufacture of the earlier produced layer structure. Correspondingly, the additional information may be indicative of at least one property of the later produced layer structure, in particular at least one property in relation to a manufacture of the later produced layer structure. Based on the information carrying structures (optionally in combination with a data set in a database assigned to the information carrying structures), a component carrier related body may be identified and may be assigned to its manufacturing history.

In an embodiment, the component carrier related body comprises at least three information carrying structures on three consecutively produced layer structures. More generally, a multilayer stack may comprise a respective information carrying structure assigned to each individual layer structure so as to allow tracking or tracing the component carrier related body for each layer structure individually.

In an embodiment, the information carrying structure of the earliest produced layer structure is no more readable after having formed the information carrying structure of the last produced layer structure. However, the information carrying structure of the earliest produced layer structure may be still readable immediately before forming the last produced layer structure, or after forming the intermediate layer structure of said three layer structures. For instance, it may be possible to (in particular optically, more particularly with infrared or X-rays) read a patterned electrically conductive layer structure forming an information carrying structure beneath one electrically insulating layer structure (in particular beneath one prepreg layer). However, no reading may be possible anymore when multiple additional layers are already arranged on top of one information carrying structure. Reading through one layer structure may nevertheless enable reading out two information carrying structures sequentially or simultaneously (in particular one covered and one exposed information carrying structure) on subsequent electrically insulating layer structures, which may be sufficient for establishing a link between them.

In an embodiment, at least one of the information carrying structures, in particular all information carrying structures, is or are configured as one of the group consisting of a QR code, a barcode and an alphanumerical code. More generally, it is possible to configure any of the information carrying structures as a one-dimensional code, a multidimensional code (for instance a two-dimensional code or a three-dimensional code or a four-dimensional code). For example, a one-dimensional code can be a barcode. A two-dimensional code may for instance be PDF417, Data-Matrix-Code, Semacode, QR-Code, BeeTag, VeriCode, Aztec-Code, MaxiCode, VS-Code or composites thereof. For example, a three-dimensional code may be any code including different colours and/or depth information like hologram codes or High Capacity Color Barcodes and/or codes with different heights. Any of such codes, in particular three-dimensional codes, can be applied by printing. Although many different information carrying structures are possible, use of QR codes for the information carrying structures may be preferred, since a QR code may still be readable even when part thereof is destroyed. Since there may be harsh conditions during manufacturing component carrier related bodies, use of such a failure robust QR code may be advantageous. For example, a four-dimensional code may be a code (such as a QR code) including different heights (in particular of resin) and colors (in particular of resin). Additionally or alternatively, each individual information carrying structure may be formed redundantly on a respective layer structure (for instance twice on a layer structure), so that one of the information carrying structures may still be readable when another one is destroyed. For instance, the information carrying structure may also be any system of words, letters, figures, and/or symbols used to represent others.

In an embodiment, the information carrying structures are patterned portions of electrically conductive layer structures of the stack. Correspondingly, at least one of the information carrying structures may be formed by patterning an electrically conductive layer structure. For instance, this may be accomplished preferably by laser direct imaging (LDI), or alternatively by photoimaging. LDI may use a component carrier or a preform thereof with a photosensitive surface, positioned under a controllable laser. A control unit scans the component carrier or preform thereof into a raster image. Matching the raster image to a predefined metallic pattern corresponding to a respective information carrying structure of said component carrier or preform thereof allows operating the laser to directly generate the image on said component carrier or preform thereof. Advantageously, a highly accurate information carrying structure may be formed by LDI even in an environment with harsh conditions.

In an embodiment, layer structures of the stack carrying the information carrying structures are electrically insulating layer structures, in particular made of prepreg. Prepreg comprises resin, in particular epoxy resin, and optionally reinforcing particles, such as glass spheres. When prepreg is provided as a thin sheet, it may be sufficiently optically transparent so as to enable reading a (in particular copper) information carrying structure directly under the prepreg layer without exposing said information carrying structure before reading it out optically.

In an embodiment, information encoded by the information carrying structures is partially redundant. In particular, information included in a later formed information carrying structure (i.e. on an upper layer structure of the stack) may include more information than an earlier formed information carrying structure (i.e. on a lower layer structure of the stack). A part of the information included in or linked to the later formed information carrying structure may already be stored in or linked to the earlier formed information carrying structure. Due to this partial redundancy, it may be sufficient to retrieve all desired information only by reading out the last formed information carrying structure.

In an embodiment, the method comprises reading, in particular touchless reading, more particularly optically reading, the information carrying structure of an earlier produced layer structure before forming the information carrying structure of a later produced layer structure, in particular for forming at least part of a data set of a database. In particular, reading a respective information carrying structure may be carried out directly after having formed it. This information may be stored and may be later used for linking the information carrying structure with other information carrying structures.

In an embodiment, the method comprises reading, in particular touchless reading, more particularly optically reading, the information carrying structure of an earlier produced layer structure while covered by a later produced layer structure through the later produced layer structure after producing the later produced layer structure. According to this highly preferred embodiment, an earlier formed information carrying structure which has meanwhile been covered by another layer structure - the latter also having a spatially displaced further information carrying structure - may be read out through the layer structure in a touchless way by an optical reader device. This may significantly simplify and render accurate establishing a link between the information carrying structure covered by the layer structure and the other information carrying structure on the layer structure, since both reading processes may be carried out simultaneously or immediately after each other.

In an embodiment, the method comprises reading, in particular touchless reading, more particularly optically reading, the information carrying structure of the later produced layer structure, and linking the information carrying structure of the earlier produced layer structure with the information carrying structure of the later produced layer structure, in particular for forming at least part of a data set of a database. Establishing this link may also allow traceability of component carrier related bodies on the basis of linked information carrying structures which may also be linked to a respective data set in a database.

In an alternative embodiment, the method comprises reading, in particular optically reading, the information carrying structure of an earlier produced layer structure after producing a later produced layer structure and after removing part of the later produced layer structure to thereby expose the information carrying structure of the earlier produced layer structure. Thus, as an alternative to reading an information carrying structure covered by a layer structure for linking said information carrying structure with another information carrying structure, it is also possible to remove part of the material of the layer structure above the covered information carrying structure so as to expose also this information carrying structure. This may allow a more precise readout but requires an additional processing step for exposing.

For instance, the method comprises determining part of information to be encoded by the information carrying structure of the later produced layer structure as information of the information carrying structure of the earlier produced layer structure, in particular information related to a manufacture of the earlier produced layer structure. Correspondingly, the method may comprise determining another part of information to be encoded by the information carrying structure of the later produced layer structure as being indicative of at least one property of the later produced layer structure, in particular information related to a manufacture of the later produced layer structure.

In an embodiment, the method comprises reading a respective one of the information carrying structures by an information carrying structure reader, in particular by an information carrying structure reader configured for a touchless reading, more particularly by an optical information carrying structure reader. In contrast to an electric read out of an information carrying structure by applying an electric stimulus signal and detecting an electric reply signal in response to the applied electric stimulus signal, an optical and therefore touchless reading is simpler and can be carried out without the risk of damaging the component carrier during reading. Laterally displacing information carrying structures, as well as reading a covered information carrying structure may be properly compatible with optically readout.

In an embodiment, the method comprises reading at least part of the information carrying structures during manufacturing the component carrier related body and storing corresponding information as a data set in a database, the data set being assigned to the component carrier related body. This allows tracking and tracing a component carrier related body or part thereof (in particular a component carrier) by reading an information carrying structure thereof and comparing it with different data sets in the database. A best match between the data sets and the read out information carrying structure may then allow to identify the component carrier related body or part thereof and to obtain information about its manufacturing process.

In an embodiment, the method comprises separating the component carrier related body into a plurality of component carriers, in particular so that the information carrying structures do not form part of the component carriers, but for instance form part of a residue structure (such as a panel frame). Advantageously, the method may further comprise forming a carrier-related information carrying structure on each separated one of the component carriers. Highly preferably, the method may comprise correlating in a data set of a database the carrier-related information carrying structure of a respective one of the component carriers with at least one of the information carrying structures of the component carrier related body. For instance, the above-mentioned information carrying structures may be formed on a frame of a panel, which frame surrounds the individual component carriers during manufacturing component carriers in a batch process (i.e. using a continuous panel as component carrier related body). After separating or singularizing the individual component carriers (for instance by routing, sawing, dicing, etching or laser cutting) the information carrying structures of the panel may remain part of the residue structure and may no longer form part of the individual component carriers. By forming carrier related information carrying structures on each individual component carrier and by linking the carrier related information carrying structures with the information carrying structures of the residue structure and being linked to a specific data set in a database, it may be possible to track the individual component carriers (such as printed circuit boards, PCBs, or integrated circuit (IC) substrates) by a correlation between the assigned carrier related information carrying structure and the information carrying structures of the residue structure which may be linked to a specific data set in the database.

In an embodiment, the method comprises granting an entity, being assigned to a subset of component carriers with assigned data sets, an access right to exclusively access, in particular via a communication network, data sets relating to the subset of component carriers assigned to the entity. For instance, a specific user or entity may have the authorization to access a selected or specific part of the database only, i.e. the part of the database relating to component carriers which are assigned to this user or entity. When the user or entity wishes to access the mentioned part of the database via the communication network (for instance the public Internet), authorization of the user or entity to get the requested information corresponds to the provided information concerning the respective information carrying structure. Thus, the information carrying structure of the component carrier related body (such as component carriers) may not only be used for retrieving a data set in the database assigned to this component carrier related body, but may also serve as an authorization right to get access to the corresponding specific portion of the database.

In an embodiment, the arrangement comprises a data interface configured to provide the information related to the manufacturing process of the component carrier related body to which a respective one of the carrier-related information carrying structures belongs in reply to a request identifying the respective one of the carrier-related information carrying structures. Such a request may be sent over the above-described communication network, for instance as a communication message (such as an email or control command, for instance sent via a browser).

In an embodiment, the component carrier related body comprises a stack of at least one electrically insulating layer structure and at least one electrically conductive layer structure. For example, the component carrier related body may be a laminate of the mentioned electrically insulating layer structure(s) and electrically conductive layer structure(s), in particular formed by applying mechanical pressure and/or thermal energy. The mentioned stack may provide a plate-shaped component carrier related body capable of providing a large mounting surface for further components and being nevertheless very thin and compact.

In an embodiment, the component carrier related body is shaped as a plate. This contributes to the compact design, wherein the component carrier related body nevertheless provides a large basis for mounting components thereon. A plate-shaped component carrier related body also ensures short electric connection paths, and therefore suppresses signal distortion during transport.

In an embodiment, the component carriers formed on the basis of a related body such as a panel is configured as one of the group consisting of a printed circuit board, a substrate (in particular an IC substrate), and an interposer.

In the context of the present application, the term "printed circuit board" (PCB) may particularly denote a plate-shaped component carrier which is formed by laminating several electrically conductive layer structures with several electrically insulating layer structures, for instance by applying pressure and/or by the supply of thermal energy. As preferred materials for PCB technology, the electrically conductive layer structures are made of copper, whereas the electrically insulating layer structures may comprise resin and/or glass fibers, so-called prepreg or FR4 material. The various electrically conductive layer structures may be connected to one another in a desired way by forming through-holes through the laminate, for instance by laser drilling or mechanical drilling, and by filling them with electrically conductive material (in particular copper), thereby forming vias as through-hole connections. Apart from one or more components which may be embedded in a printed circuit board, a printed circuit board is usually configured for accommodating one or more components on one or both opposing surfaces of the plate-shaped printed circuit board. They may be connected to the respective main surface by soldering. A dielectric part of a PCB may be composed of resin with reinforcing fibers (such as glass fibers).

In the context of the present application, the term "substrate" may particularly denote a small component carrier having substantially the same size as a component (in particular an electronic component) to be mounted thereon. More specifically, a substrate can be understood as a carrier for electrical connections or electrical networks as well as component carrier comparable to a printed circuit board (PCB), however with a considerably higher density of laterally and/or vertically arranged connections. Lateral connections are for example conductive paths, whereas vertical connections may be for example drill holes. These lateral and/or vertical connections are arranged within the substrate and can be used to provide electrical and/or mechanical connections of housed components or unhoused components (such as bare dies), particularly of IC chips, with a printed circuit board or intermediate printed circuit board. Thus, the term "substrate" also includes "IC substrates". A dielectric part of a substrate may be composed of resin with reinforcing particles (such as reinforcing spheres, in particular glass spheres).

The substrate or interposer may comprise or consist of at least a layer of glass, silicon (Si) or a photoimageable or dry-etchable organic material like epoxy-based build-up material (such as epoxy-based build-up film) or polymer compounds like polyimide, polybenzoxazole, or benzocyclobutene.

In an embodiment, each of the above mentioned electrically insulating layer structures comprises at least one of the group consisting of resin (such as reinforced or non-reinforced resins, for instance epoxy resin or bismaleimide-triazine resin), cyanate ester, polyphenylene derivate, glass (in particular glass fibers, multi-layer glass, glass-like materials), prepreg material (such as FR-<NUM> or FR-<NUM>), polyimide, polyamide, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), epoxy-based build-up material, polytetrafluoroethylene (teflon), a ceramic, and a metal oxide. Reinforcing materials such as webs, fibers or spheres, for example made of glass (multilayer glass) may be used as well. Although prepreg particularly FR4 are usually preferred for rigid PCBs, other materials in particular epoxy-based build-up film for substrates may be used as well. For high frequency applications, high-frequency materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene, liquid crystal polymer and/or cyanate ester resins, low temperature cofired ceramics (LTCC) or other low, very low or ultra-low DK materials may be implemented in the component carrier as electrically insulating layer structure.

In an embodiment, each of the above mentioned electrically conductive layer structures comprises at least one of the group consisting of copper, aluminum, nickel, silver, gold, palladium, and tungsten. Although copper is usually preferred, other materials or coated versions thereof are possible as well, in particular coated with supra-conductive material such as graphene.

In an embodiment, the component carrier further comprises an electronic component mounted on and/or embedded in the component carrier material, in particular in the stack. For instance, the electronic component may be a radiofrequency semiconductor chip configured for emitting and/or receiving radiofrequency signals via the wiring structures and being electrically coupled with the electrically conductive wiring structures. Hence, the electronic component may be configured for executing a radio frequency application, in particular a radio frequency application involving frequencies above <NUM>.

At least one component may be surface mounted on and/or embedded in the component carrier and can in particular be selected from a group consisting of an electrically non-conductive inlay, an electrically conductive inlay (such as a metal inlay, preferably comprising copper or aluminum), a heat transfer unit (for example a heat pipe), a light guiding element (for example an optical waveguide or a light conductor connection), an electronic component, or combinations thereof. For example, the component can be an active electronic component, a passive electronic component, an electronic chip, a storage device (for instance a DRAM or another data memory), a filter, an integrated circuit, a signal processing component, a power management component, an optoelectronic interface element, a light emitting diode, a photocoupler, a voltage converter (for example a DC/DC converter or an AC/DC converter), a cryptographic component, a transmitter and/or receiver, an electromechanical transducer, a sensor, an actuator, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS), a microprocessor, a capacitor, a resistor, an inductance, a battery, a switch, a camera, an antenna, a logic chip, and an energy harvesting unit. However, other components may be embedded in the component carrier. For example, a magnetic element can be used as a component. Such a magnetic element may be a permanent magnetic element (such as a ferromagnetic element, an antiferromagnetic element, a multiferroic element or a ferrimagnetic element, for instance a ferrite core) or may be a paramagnetic element. However, the component may also be a substrate, an interposer or a further component carrier, for example in a board-in-board configuration. The component may be surface mounted on the component carrier and/or may be embedded in an interior thereof. Moreover, also other components, in particular those which generate and emit electromagnetic radiation and/or are sensitive with regard to electromagnetic radiation propagating from an environment, may be used as component.

In an embodiment, the component carrier related body is a laminate-type component carrier. In such an embodiment, the component carrier is a compound of multiple layer structures which are stacked and connected together by applying a pressing force and/or heat.

Before referring to the drawings, exemplary embodiments will be described in further detail, some basic considerations will be summarized based on which exemplary embodiments of the invention have been developed.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an electronic mapping and traceability system for tracing component carrier related bodies (such as component carriers, for instance printed circuit boards, PCBs) is provided.

In an embodiment, an electronic data set may be established by electronic mapping. A traceability system may be formed by creating two-dimensional barcodes (in particular QR codes) on different layer structures of a component carrier related body (in particular on every layer during multi-layer PCB manufacturing). Such a system may be implemented at inner layer and outer layer processes during manufacturing component carriers, such as during photoimaging, laser direct imaging (LDI), automatic optical inspection (AOI), solder mask ultraviolet direct imaging (SM UVDI) processing, electric test, sorting, laser marking, final inspection, automated visual inspection (AVI), packing and shipping, etc. Information concerning a presently generated layer structure may be combined with information generated for subsequent layer structures to generate an electronic mapping file (such as a data set in a database) which can be used for crossing out defect cards and improve or even optimize the efficiency of the back-end processes.

A traceability system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention may be able to meet the following requirements:
In a first procedure, (in particular two-dimensional) information carrying structures and a corresponding electronic file (or data set) may be provided to manage an array of component carriers or the like. This may involve the following procedure:.

In a next procedure, electronic file management and delivery may be carried out:.

Such a concept has a number of advantages: it may involve linking of information between different layers in a multi-layer PCB board by using two-dimensional information carrying structures printed on each layer structure of a component carrier stack. Information carrying structure reading of an inner layer underneath an existing layer may be possible. By taking this measure, it may be possible in particular to derive defect information concerning component carrier related bodies. It may also be possible to laser a cross out marker on an outer layer for defects occurred in an inner layer. In embodiments, it may also be possible to establish a heat mapping for card level defects for all layer structures. A tracing system for process and defect information may be collected in all related stations, enabling a further refined traceability. As a result, a fully electronic traceability system for PCB manufacturing may be obtained. It may also be possible to skip defect cards at back-end processes (such as electric test, automatic visual inspection, etc). Obtained information may also be used for yield analysis and improvement. By involving the concept of co-structures assigned to each layer structure, it may be possible to expand the use on all processes for a complete traceability function.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention may involve the creation of an electronic file or data set, electronic mapping, and traceability system by creating two-dimensional barcodes or other information carrying structures on every layer for a multi-layer component carrier (in particular PCB) manufacturing process.

Information generated on each layer may be combined advantageously with the subsequent layers to generate an electronic file or data set which can be used for crossing out defect cards and improve or even optimize the efficiency of the back-end processes. Thus, an embodiment may involve the use of a two-dimensional code from an inner layer (such as a core) until an outer layer of a layer stack of a component carrier related body. Exemplary embodiments of the invention allow for an efficient defect and commonality analysis for each combined layers, for instance during automatic optical inspection. This may allow to improve efficiency by skipping repair on cards that already have defects in the previous layers. It may be possible to improve efficiency by skipping back-end processes such as electric test, automatic visual inspection and final inspection for defect cards.

<FIG> illustrates a traceability system <NUM> for component carrier related bodies <NUM>, for instance component carriers such as printed circuit boards (PCB) with an embedded component <NUM> (such as a semiconductor chip), according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. <FIG> in particular shows two different phases during the lifetime of a component carrier as example for a component carrier related body <NUM>, i.e. a manufacturing phase <NUM> during which the component carrier related body <NUM> is manufactured and a use phase <NUM> during which a readily manufactured component carrier related body <NUM>, for instance a PCB, is used by a user.

The manufacturing process of <FIG> is described, for the sake of simplicity, based on a single component carrier. Usually, component carriers are manufactured in a batch procedure, in particular on panel level. Thus, the multiple code system implemented according to <FIG> for the component carrier can also be applied to a panel or array of component carriers, i.e. to any desired component carrier related body <NUM>. In particular, information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM> may also be connected to the panel and/or array rather than fully on the component carrier which comprises a layer stack <NUM>.

First referring to the manufacturing phase <NUM>, the traceable component carrier related body <NUM> is manufactured by forming a first information carrying structure <NUM> on a first layer structure <NUM> by a first manufacturing unit <NUM>. The first information carrying structure <NUM> may be a QR code. More precisely, the first information carrying structure <NUM> is physically formed on a core (such as fully cured FR4 material, for example epoxy resin with reinforcing glass fibers therein) as first layer structure <NUM> which will be located inside of the component carrier <NUM> at the end of the manufacturing phase <NUM>. As can be taken from a detail <NUM>, the core may comprise electrically conductive layer structures <NUM> (in particular patterned copper foils, a copper filled laser via, etc.) connected with the dielectric material of the core (prepreg in the present example), which may also be denoted as electrically insulating layer structure <NUM>. As described below in further detail, the first information carrying structure <NUM> may be formed by a unique pattern of a correspondingly patterned electrically conductive layer on the core.

Thereafter, the first information carrying structure <NUM> may be read by a touchless reader device <NUM> such as an infrared reader.

Data content characterizing the or being assigned to the first information carrying structure <NUM>, which may be unique for a specific component carrier related body <NUM>, may be stored as a first data element 120a of a data set <NUM> stored in a database <NUM> of a mass storage device (such as a hard disk) during the manufacturing phase <NUM>. Data content which may be included in the first information carrying structure <NUM> may be a link to the dataset <NUM>. Data content which may be included in the first information carrying structure <NUM> may also include at least one of an identity of the component carrier related body <NUM>, a manufacturing batch or lot assigned to the component carrier related body <NUM>, a date and time of processing of the layer structure <NUM> assigned to the first information carrying structure <NUM>, potential defect data concerning processing of the layer structure <NUM>, etc. The mentioned data set <NUM> is assigned to and is correlated with the specific individual component carrier related body <NUM> carrying the first information carrying structure <NUM>. The result of the reading or detection of the first information carrying structure <NUM> may be used for creating the data set <NUM>, more specifically for creating first data element 120a of the data set <NUM> relating to first information carrying structure <NUM>.

After forming and reading the first information carrying structure <NUM>, the manufacturing process continues: A second layer structure <NUM>, for instance a prepreg sheet, may be laminated on the core or first layer structure <NUM> and the embedded component <NUM> by a second manufacturing unit <NUM>.

After this, a second information carrying structure <NUM> is formed by a third manufacturing unit <NUM> on the second layer structure <NUM>, in the shown embodiment by photoimaging. The second information carrying structure <NUM> may be a further QR code. The first and second information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM> are vertically displaced from each other, i.e. are formed at different vertical levels of the stack <NUM>. Moreover, the first and second information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM> are laterally or horizontally displaced from each other i.e. do not overlap in a plan view or when viewed from above.

This simplifies subsequent readout of both information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM> by reader device <NUM>. Data content which may be included in the second information carrying structure <NUM> may be a link to the dataset <NUM> and/or to the first information carrying structure <NUM>. Data content which may be included in the second information carrying structure <NUM> may also include at least one of an identity of the component carrier related body <NUM>, a manufacturing batch or lot assigned to the component carrier related body <NUM>, a date and time of processing of the second layer structure <NUM> assigned to the second information carrying structure <NUM>, potential defect data concerning processing of the second layer structure <NUM>, etc. Is also possible that the second information carrying structure <NUM> includes at least part of the information included in or linked by the first information carrying structure <NUM>, for instance concerning processing of first layer structure <NUM>.

Data content indicative of the first information carrying structure <NUM> and of the second information carrying structure <NUM>, which may be unique for the specific component carrier <NUM>, may then be optically read during the manufacturing procedure by touchless optical reader device <NUM> based on the emission and detection of infrared radiation. As shown, the second data structure <NUM> is exposed and can be easily read by reader device <NUM>. In contrast to this, first data structure <NUM> is now covered by second layer structure <NUM>, which is here embodied as a thin dielectric layer (for instance a prepreg sheet). However, it is nevertheless possible to read the covered first data structure <NUM> through the second layer structure <NUM> by the same optical reader device <NUM> used also for detecting the second information carrying structure <NUM>. Due to this simultaneous or quasi simultaneous reading of information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM> by reader device <NUM>, it may be possible to link the information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM> based on the reading result. Data indicative of the second information carrying structure <NUM> may be stored as a second data element 120b, linked to first data element 120a, of the data set <NUM> in the database <NUM> during the manufacturing phase <NUM>.

After that, by a fourth manufacturing unit <NUM>, a third layer structure <NUM> (such as a further prepreg sheet) may be laminated on the second layer structure <NUM> and on the second information carrying structure <NUM>.

Thereafter, a third information carrying structure <NUM> is formed on the third layer structure <NUM>, in the shown embodiment for instance by laser direct imaging. The second and third information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM> are vertically displaced from each other, i.e. are formed at different vertical levels of the stack <NUM>. Moreover, the first and second and third information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are laterally or horizontally displaced from each other i.e. do not overlap in a projection, in a plan view or when viewed from above. The third information carrying structure <NUM> may for instance be a further QR code.

Data content which may be included in the third information carrying structure <NUM> may be a link to the dataset <NUM> and/or to the first information carrying structure <NUM> and/or to the second information carrying structure <NUM>. Data content which may be included in the third information carrying structure <NUM> may also include at least one of an identity of the component carrier related body <NUM>, a manufacturing batch or lot assigned to the component carrier related body <NUM>, a date and time of processing of the third layer structure <NUM> assigned to the third information carrying structure <NUM>, potential defect data concerning processing of the third layer structure <NUM>, etc. It is also possible that the third information carrying structure <NUM> includes at least part of the information included in or linked by the first information carrying structure <NUM> and/or the second information carrying structure <NUM>, for instance concerning processing of first layer structure <NUM> and/or second layer structure <NUM>.

Data content indicative of the second information carrying structure <NUM> and of the third information carrying structure <NUM>, which may be unique for the specific component carrier <NUM>, may then be optically read during the manufacturing procedure by touchless optical reader device <NUM> based on the emission and detection of infrared radiation. As shown, the third data structure <NUM> is exposed and can be easily read by reader device <NUM>. In contrast to this, second information carrying structure <NUM> is now covered by third layer structure <NUM>, which is here embodied as a thin dielectric layer (for instance a prepreg sheet). However, it is nevertheless possible to read the covered second data structure <NUM> through the third layer structure <NUM> by the same optical reader device <NUM> used also for detecting the third information carrying structure <NUM>. Due to this simultaneous or quasi simultaneous reading of information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM> by reader device <NUM>, it may be possible to link the information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM> based on the reading result. Data indicative of the third information carrying structure <NUM> may be stored as a third data element 120c, linked to second data element 120b and first data element 120a, of the data set <NUM> in the database <NUM> during the manufacturing phase <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the logical links between the data elements 120a, 120b, 120c and correspondingly between the data structures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are indicated by arrows <NUM>.

Furthermore, traceability system <NUM> comprises a control unit <NUM> coordinating the manufacturing units <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and operation of reader device <NUM> as well as read and write operations in database <NUM>. This is indicated by arrows in <FIG>.

Although not shown, the manufacturing phase <NUM> can be continued with any desired number of additional manufacturing procedures. For instance, the readily manufactured component carrier related body <NUM> may be made subject to a functional test. The test results may also be stored in the data set <NUM> of the database <NUM> assigned to component carrier related body <NUM>.

Thus, the data set <NUM> being specifically assigned as an identifier to the component carrier related body <NUM> as well as data indicative of the manufacturing process and potential defects correlates information indicative of the first, second and third information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> with the manufacturing method related data and/or optionally other auxiliary or meta data characterizing this specific component carrier related body <NUM> and its manufacturing process.

As can be taken from <FIG>, a plurality of further data sets <NUM>', <NUM>", etc. can also be stored in the database <NUM>, each of the data sets <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" being specifically assigned to an individual other component carrier related body (not shown). Thus, a plurality of component carrier related bodies <NUM> and the database <NUM> storing the various data sets <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>", one for each of the component carrier related bodies <NUM> form an arrangement allowing traceability of all component carrier related bodies <NUM> manufactured in accordance with the manufacturing phase <NUM>.

Now referring to the subsequent use phase <NUM>, it may happen that a user needs to retrace the origin, the manufacturing history and/or derive or extract other information concerning a component carrier related body <NUM> of interest with an identity which is not known by the user. For the purpose of identifying the component carrier related body <NUM> unknown to the user, the user may operate an optical reader device <NUM>' (which may be the same as reader device <NUM>, or another reader device) for reading information indicative of the exposed third information carrying structure <NUM> of the component carrier <NUM> to be retraced or identified. After having read out the third information carrying structure <NUM>, control unit <NUM> (which can be embodied as one or more processors and which may control the manufacturing and tracing process) may be supplied with the read out information indicative of the third information carrying structure <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may then access the database <NUM> to search for a best match between the read out information indicative of the third information carrying structure <NUM> and one of the data sets <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>",. stored in the database <NUM>. A comparison of these data items will result in a best match of the information read out by the reader device <NUM>' with the data set <NUM>.

It may also be optionally possible that the reader device <NUM>' detects data for identifying component carrier related body <NUM> additionally or alternatively from the covered second information carrying structure <NUM>.

Referring to reference numeral <NUM>, <FIG> also depicts the component carrier related body <NUM> in a plan view or corresponding to a viewing direction of reader device <NUM>, <NUM>'. A direction of the plan view is perpendicular to the main surface of the component carrier related body <NUM> and, referring to reference numeral <NUM>, perpendicular to the paper plane of <FIG>. In other words, the plan view may refer to a projection of the constituents of the component carrier related body <NUM> to the paper plane of <FIG> or to the main surface of the component carrier related body <NUM>. As indicated by the view according to reference numeral <NUM>, exposed third information carrying structure <NUM> and second information carrying structure <NUM> being covered by third layer structure <NUM> are laterally displaced in a non-overlapping way in this plan view.

Therefore, it is optionally possible for a reader device <NUM>, <NUM>' to read out both the second and the third information carrying structure <NUM>, <NUM> without disturbing spatial interference by the respectively other information carrying structure <NUM>, <NUM>.

Although the coding system has been described on the basis of a component carrier such as a printed circuit board (PCB), the coding system can be applied also to any other component carrier related body <NUM> such as a complete panel comprising multiple component carriers, or an array as a section of a panel for manufacturing the component carriers. In such an embodiment, the information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of a component carrier related body <NUM> may be advantageously formed in a region (such as an exterior edge) of the component carrier related body <NUM> in which region no component carriers are present. The entire extension of the component carrier related body <NUM> may then be efficiently used for manufacturing a high number of component carriers.

<FIG> illustrates a component carrier related body <NUM>' with information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM> being located in another way as in <FIG> according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

The component carrier related body <NUM>' according to <FIG> differs from the component carrier related body <NUM> shown in <FIG> by the mutual arrangement of the information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM>. According to <FIG>, the information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM> are formed without any mutual overlap in the plan view (see reference numeral <NUM>). According to <FIG>, there is no overlap between each two adjacent information carrying structures (i.e. no overlap between first information carrying structure <NUM> and second information carrying structure <NUM>, and no overlap between second information carrying structure <NUM> and third information carrying structure <NUM>). However, there is an overlap between first information carrying structure <NUM> and third information carrying structure <NUM>. This is however not disturbing when a reader device <NUM>, <NUM>' is only used for reading two subsequently formed information carrying structures (<NUM>/<NUM> or <NUM>/<NUM>). The arrangement according to <FIG> is particularly space-saving.

<FIG> have in common that in both embodiments two respectively vertically adjoining ones of the information carrying structures (i.e. <NUM> and <NUM>, and <NUM> and <NUM>) are laterally displaced with respect to one another. In particular, <FIG> shows that this condition is sufficient to allow reading of a previously formed information carrying structure (<NUM> or <NUM>) after having formed a subsequently formed information carrying structure (<NUM> or <NUM>) through a respective layer structure (<NUM> or <NUM>). A combined readout of two information carrying structures (i.e. <NUM> and <NUM>, or <NUM> and <NUM>) on and relating to adjacent layers structures <NUM> to <NUM> may for instance be advantageous for the purpose of linking subsequently formed information carrying structures (<NUM> and <NUM>, or <NUM> and <NUM>), also in terms of the assigned data set <NUM> in database <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a flowchart <NUM> relating to a traceability system <NUM> according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Referring to block <NUM>, a two-dimensional information carrying structure may be formed on a top side of a panel during a layer exposure procedure. In a subsequent block <NUM> relating to automatic optical inspection, the two-dimensional information carrying structure of the panel may be read and may be output as an electronic file or data set. The file may for instance be indicative of potential defects. As indicated with reference numeral <NUM>, the procedure according to blocks <NUM>, <NUM> may be repeated any desired number of times for creating and reading one or more additional panel related information carrying structures, in particular formed on additionally provided layer structures. Information may be exchanged with a panel format database <NUM>'.

Referring to block <NUM>, the previously created panel related information carrying structure may be read, and an array related information carrying structure may be created in a solder mask stage. As indicated by block <NUM>, data conversation from panel format to array format may occur involving database <NUM>' as well as database <NUM> relating to array format.

Referring to block <NUM> relating to an electric test, the array related information carrying structure on top side may be read, and an electronic file (such as an XML file) with electric test defect code may be created and may be stored in database <NUM>.

Referring to block <NUM> relating to a sorting procedure, it is then possible to read the array related information carrying structure. A split may be carried out between arrays passing the electric test and arrays failing the electric test.

In a block <NUM>, a laser mark procedure can be carried out. The array related information carrying structure may be read, and arrays having failed the electric test may be marked.

What follows is a final inspection block <NUM>, an automatic visual inspection block <NUM>, and a quality control block <NUM>.

In a subsequent sorting block <NUM>, the array related information carrying structure may be read and sorting of the laser mark arrays having failed the test may be carried out.

Referring to a further laser mark block <NUM>, the array related information carrying structures may be read. A split may be carried out between arrays having passed the test and arrays having failed the test.

A further sorting block <NUM> may follow, in which the array related information carrying structures may be read. Mixed lots may be split.

After a subsequent packing block <NUM>, the electronic file or data set may be output, see block <NUM>.

An entity being schematically illustrated with reference numeral <NUM> may have access to at least part of the database <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate component carrier related bodies <NUM> equipped with information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM> of a code system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Referring to <FIG>, information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM> printed by laser direct imaging (LDI) are shown.

Referring to <FIG>, information carrying structures <NUM> printed by solder mask and ultraviolet radiation treatment are shown.

Referring to <FIG>, a first information carrying structure <NUM> on a layer below is shown together with a second information carrying structure <NUM> on an actual layer. Thus, <FIG> indicates that reading of both a second information carrying structure <NUM> on an actual layer as well as first information carrying structure <NUM> through prepreg material is possible by an infrared optical reader device <NUM>. More specifically, it is possible to print a two-dimensional information carrying structure <NUM>, <NUM> by LDI on a fixed area of each layer. An optical inspection scanner can then read the second information carrying structure <NUM> of the actual layer and the first information carrying structure <NUM> of the layer below in a quick and touchless way. The link between the layers and corresponding information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM> may be generated by an appropriate software provided by a server or workstation.

<FIG> shows a flowchart <NUM> according to a manufacturing process of an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

A block <NUM> indicates that an information carrying structure is formed on a layer structure by photo imaging/laser direct imaging (LDI). Subsequently, a developing and etching procedure may be carried out, compare block <NUM>. Further subsequently, the information carrying structure may be read during automatic optical inspection, compare block <NUM>.

When a printed circuit board (PCB) or other component carrier is manufactured, an imaging process may define circuit traces and a correspondingly formed information carrying structure. LDI only needs to use a computer-controlled, highly focused, laser beam to directly define the circuit pattern onto the board, including the one or more information carrying structures.

A corresponding procedure in terms of LDI may be as follows:.

Each laser may provide a unique two-dimensional information carrying structure such as a QR code. By touchless reading, more particularly optically reading, it may be possible to read the information carrying structures of a current layer and a previous layer. The information of both layers may then be combined in an electronic file or data set.

Such a procedure may have the advantage that defect mapping and information on each layer of a multi-layer PCB board may be retrieved and used to improve or optimize the efficiency of the subsequent processes.

<FIG> shows an information carrying structure <NUM> formed by photoimaging on a layer structure of a stack <NUM> of a component carrier <NUM> being presently manufactured. For instance, the information carrying structure <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be manufactured as two dimensional barcode by photo processing on a surface of the layer structure <NUM>. The two dimensional barcode according to <FIG> can for instance have a size of less than <NUM> x <NUM><NUM>, for instance approximately <NUM> x <NUM><NUM>. The shown information carrying structure <NUM> may be formed by photoimaging a surface layer of layer structure <NUM>, i.e. by patterning the surface of the layer with light.

<FIG> illustrates a plan view of panel <NUM> comprising multiple (four in the present embodiment) arrays <NUM>, each comprising a plurality (six in the present embodiment) of component carriers <NUM>, as examples for component carrier related bodies <NUM> according to exemplary embodiments of the invention. For instance, the panel <NUM> has a dimension of <NUM> inch x <NUM> inch. In the shown example, the panel <NUM> is divided into four quarter panels constituting the arrays <NUM>. In the shown example, each array <NUM> comprises six component carriers <NUM>. A panel frame <NUM> surrounds the arrays <NUM> as an edge portion of the panel <NUM>. Information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM>, for instance in the form of QR codes, may be preferably formed in the panel frame <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM> may also be formed on and/or in the arrays <NUM> and/or on and/or in the component carriers <NUM>. In the framework of the present application, a component carrier related body <NUM> may in particular denote a panel <NUM>, an array <NUM> or a component carrier <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a traceability arrangement <NUM> for component carriers <NUM> of a panel-type component carrier related body <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Referring to <FIG>, traceability of the component carriers shown in <FIG> is enabled by forming the information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM> directly on the component carrier. However, in another scenario, information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM> according to <FIG> may be formed on panel level only so that they do not form part of the readily manufactured component carriers. In such a scenario, traceability of the panel-type component carrier related body <NUM> is possible by the information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM>, whereas tracing the separated component carriers may be carried out for instance as described in the following:
<FIG> shows an arrangement <NUM> with a component carrier related body <NUM> in form of a panel, see reference numeral <NUM> in <FIG>. The component carrier related body <NUM> comprises a plurality of still integrally connected component carriers <NUM> which have been formed in a batch procedure or on panel level. In other words, processing of the component carriers <NUM> for instance in the way as shown in <FIG> has been carried out while component carrier related body <NUM> is still an integral structure composed of multiple component carriers <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the described component carrier related body <NUM> can be separated at separation lines <NUM> (for instance by routing, sawing, dicing, laser cutting or etching) into a plurality of component carriers <NUM> and into a residual structure <NUM> such as a frame. The residual structure <NUM> comprises the information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM> used for creating data set <NUM> in database <NUM> in a way as described above referring to <FIG>. Additionally, each of the component carriers <NUM> comprises a carrier-related information carrying structure <NUM>-<NUM>"", which may also be embodied as QR codes. Thus, the component carrier related body <NUM> may be separated into the plurality of component carriers <NUM> so that the information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM> do not form part of the component carriers <NUM>. However, a respective one of the carrier-related information carrying structures <NUM>-<NUM>"" is formed on each of the separate component carriers <NUM>. In order to trace each individual component carrier in a data set <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" of a database <NUM>, each of the carrier-related information carrying structures <NUM>-<NUM>"" of each respective one of the component carriers <NUM> may be correlated with one or more of the information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM> of the component carrier related body <NUM>.

For this purpose, the arrangement <NUM> comprises the database <NUM> including data sets <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>". Each of the data sets <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" is correlated to one or more of the information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM> and comprises information related to a manufacturing process of the component carrier related body <NUM>, and thus of the individual component carriers <NUM> separated therefrom. Furthermore, each of the data sets <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" links a respective one of the carrier-related information carrying structures <NUM>-<NUM>"" to one or more of the information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM> relating to the component carrier related body <NUM> based on which the respective component carrier <NUM> has been manufactured.

For instance, the data elements 120a (linked to information carrying structure <NUM>), 120b (linked to information carrying structure <NUM>) and 120c (linked to information carrying structure <NUM>) may also be correlated with or linked to a further data element 120d which is, in turn, linked to a respective one of the component carriers <NUM> via a respective one of the carrier-related information carrying structures <NUM>-<NUM>"". This means that if a request is sent to the database <NUM> requesting information related to an individual one of the carrier-related information carrying structures <NUM>-126ʺʺ, the corresponding data set <NUM> can be found by database search. Due to the link between the individual one of the carrier-related information carrying structures <NUM>-126ʺʺ and its assigned data element 120d to the information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM> and the assigned data elements 120a to 120c, retrieved information content <NUM> indicative of the manufacturing history of the component carrier related body <NUM> and therefore of said component carrier <NUM> can be extracted or identified. The information content <NUM> may then be output to a requesting entity <NUM>.

<FIG> also shows that such an entity <NUM> can communicate with control unit <NUM> - having access to database <NUM> - via a communication network <NUM>, such as the public Internet. When the entity <NUM> is in process of the component carrier <NUM> with a respective one of the carrier-related information carrying structures <NUM>-<NUM>"", information concerning said carrier-related information carrying structure <NUM>-<NUM>"" may be transmitted via the communication network <NUM> to a data interface <NUM> of control unit <NUM> requesting information concerning the manufacturing history of the component carrier <NUM> to which said carrier-related information carrying structure <NUM>-<NUM>"" belongs. The control unit <NUM> may then query the database <NUM> and will find data set <NUM> matching with said carrier-related information carrying structure <NUM>-<NUM>"". Information content <NUM> relating to data set <NUM> and having been stored in data set <NUM> during manufacturing and reading the information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM> (for instance in a way as described referring to <FIG>) can then be sent to the entity <NUM>. Thus, it is possible to grant the entity <NUM>, being assigned to or in possession of a respective one of the component carriers <NUM>, an access right to exclusively access, via communication network <NUM>, data set <NUM> relating to said component carrier <NUM> assigned to the entity <NUM>. In this context, the data interface <NUM> may be configured to provide the information related to the manufacturing process of the component carrier related body <NUM> to which a respective one of the carrier-related information carrying structures <NUM>-<NUM>"" belongs in reply to a request identifying the respective one of the carrier-related information carrying structures <NUM>-<NUM>"".

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of a component carrier related body <NUM> with information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention in which laterally displaced (in the shown view displaced along the horizontal direction) information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM> are readable simultaneously when inspected along a viewing direction <NUM>. For instance, the electrically conductive layer structures <NUM> may be patterned copper foils and may include the information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM>. The layer structures <NUM>, <NUM> may be electrically insulating layer structures <NUM>, for instance prepreg layers.

<FIG> illustrates different information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>", <NUM>‴ of a traceability system <NUM> (as the one shown in <FIG>) for component carrier related bodies <NUM> and illustrates how a partially defective information carrying structure 109a, 109b, 109c can be correctly identified according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

In a top row of <FIG>, four different information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>", <NUM>‴ are illustrated which carry different information and are assigned to different component carrier related bodies <NUM> and/or to different layer structures <NUM> to <NUM> of a component carrier related body <NUM>. The different information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>", <NUM>‴ relate to codes applied on a specific layer structure of a layer stack <NUM> of a respective component carrier related body <NUM>, as stored by software, for instance in database <NUM>. Now referring specifically to information carrying structure <NUM>, it may occur that this information carrying structure <NUM> is not properly readable by an optical reader <NUM> because of defects of the information carrying structure <NUM> itself or of a reading process by reader <NUM>. In a bottom row of <FIG>, three faulty codes are shown as partially defective information carrying structures 109a, 109b, 109c. As compared to information carrying structure <NUM>, partially defective information carrying structure 109a shows a scratched code structure, partially defective information carrying structure 109b illustrates that part of the structure is missing, and partially defective information carrying structure 109c shows how a non-related material is accidentally covering the information carrying structure <NUM> and/or the reader <NUM>.

In order to properly identify a read partially defective information carrying structure 109a, 109b, 109c as representing information carrying structure <NUM> (rather than one of information carrying structures <NUM>', <NUM>", <NUM>‴), reader device <NUM>, control unit <NUM> and/or any other processor of traceability system <NUM> may apply an algorithm in terms of artificial intelligence to correctly identify the read partially defective information carrying structure 109a, 109b or 109c as the information carrying structure <NUM>.

In this context, scanner or reader <NUM>, control unit <NUM> and/or any other processor of traceability system <NUM> may be configured or equipped with one or more of the following elements of functionality:.

<FIG> illustrate cross-sectional views of component carrier related bodies <NUM> according to exemplary embodiments of the invention with laterally displaced information carrying structures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> arranged in such a way that each pair of information carrying structures (i.e. <NUM> plus <NUM>, <NUM> plus <NUM>, <NUM> plus uppermost <NUM>, uppermost <NUM> plus middle <NUM>, middle <NUM> plus lowermost <NUM>) relating to adjacent pairs of layer structures (<NUM> plus <NUM>', <NUM> plus <NUM>', <NUM> plus <NUM>', <NUM> plus <NUM>, <NUM> plus <NUM>, <NUM>. ) are readable by an optical reader <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, each of the information carrier structures <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> is laterally displaced with regard to each other of the information carrier structures <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, each of the information carrier structures <NUM> to <NUM> is laterally displaced with regard to each other of the information carrier structures <NUM> to <NUM>, and each of the information carrier structures <NUM> is laterally displaced with regard to each other of the information carrier structures <NUM>. However, there is no lateral displacement between a respective one of the information carrier structures <NUM> to <NUM> and a respective one of the information carrier structures <NUM>. This is however not disturbing, because the shown arrangement still allows the optical reader <NUM> to read - during manufacture - a respectively uppermost information carrier structure and - through one of the layer structures - an adjacent lower other information carrier structure.

Referring to <FIG>, the shown arrangement of the information carrier structures <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> is similar as in <FIG> with the difference that, according to <FIG>, only two respective pairs (<NUM> plus <NUM>, <NUM> plus <NUM>, <NUM> plus <NUM>) of information carrier structures show a lateral displacement. This is however also not disturbing, because the shown arrangement still allows the optical reader <NUM> to read - during manufacture - a respectively uppermost information carrier structure and - through one of the layer structures - an adjacent lower other information carrier structure.

Thus, if there are for example six information carrying structures <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> as in <FIG>, they can be all displaced (as in <FIG>), partially displaced (as in <FIG>), or - in order to save space - can be horizontally alternatively displaced (for instance in a half-half configuration as shown in <FIG>).

Claim 1:
A component carrier related body (<NUM>), wherein the component carrier related body (<NUM>) comprises:
a stack (<NUM>) comprising a plurality of electrically conductive and/or electrically insulating layer structures (<NUM> to <NUM>);
at least two information carrying structures (<NUM> to <NUM>) formed vertically displaced with respect to each other's placement in a stacking direction and on at least two different layer structures (<NUM> to <NUM>);
wherein at least two of the at least two information carrying structures (<NUM> to <NUM>) are laterally displaced with respect to each other's placement in a direction perpendicular to a stacking direction in a plan view of the stack (<NUM>),
wherein the at least two of the at least two information carrying structures (<NUM> to <NUM>) are laterally displaced with respect to each other's placement in a direction perpendicular to a stacking direction without overlap in the plan view of the stack (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the at least two information carrying structures (<NUM> to <NUM>) can be simultaneously read by a reader device (<NUM>, <NUM>') with a viewing direction perpendicular to a main surface of the component carrier body, the main surface being perpendicular to the stacking direction.