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【2021 Application Example】 HRT Technology Improves Production Efficiency by 20% Through AOI Detection of Defects in VCSEL Packaging

In 2017, the launch of the iPhone X made 3D sensor technology used in Face ID highly popular, which drove the development of VCSEL, a core component in the 3D sensor module. In the detection of defects in incoming packaged VCSEL, the use of AI inference models can solve the industry's issue with low yield and improve reliability to 95%.

VCSEL technology currently can be used in many applications and various end consumer markets, including robots, mobile devices, surveillance, drones, and AR/VR. VCSELs are a good solution in applications that require high-speed modulation capabilities, such as cameras and biometrics.

VCSEL technology has broad applications, including in drones. (Pictured: Zoyi Technology's Agricultural Drone)

▲VCSEL technology has a wide range of  applications, including in drones. (Pictured: Zoyi Technology's Agricultural Drone)

VCSEL technology has a wide range of applications, AI technology assists in defect detection

HRT Technology stated that the packaged VCSEL market is also facing strong price competition from competitors, and needs to further reduce costs and enhance product competitiveness. One of the key problems is the replacement of glass lens with epoxy resin lens. The production of traditional glass lenses has high yield, but the cost is higher than that of epoxy resin lenses. Due to the cutting process of epoxy resin, the side wall of cutting lines can easily have rough edges, causing it to be oversized. The release of stress caused by heat during the mounting process will directly cause the optical lens to break.

HRT Technology pointed out that the incoming inspection of VCSEL epoxy resin lenses is very important. Under the constraints of packaging space, the space for fitting the package and optical lens is limited. Moreover, the optical lenses will be confined to a metal frame. If the dimensional tolerances are properly controlled, stress release due to heat during mounting can easily cause the optical lens to break, resulting in a yield loss of up to 10% in the VCSEL package reliability verification, resulting in an increase in production costs.

In order to solve the problems above, HRT Technology hopes to use AI to monitor the size and appearance defects of epoxy resin components in the VCSEL epoxy resin lens incoming stage, verifying whether their dimensions meet specifications, whether the cutting edges are smooth, and whether there are any defects in their appearance. Since traditional incoming material inspection requires a rough visual inspection by humans to distinguish the quality. The problem of image collection needs to be solved first to successfully collect image data.

Therefore, HRT Technology first developed an Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) device, which includes X, Y, Z three-axis motion, high-resolution cameras, and related control software to automatically record images. After collecting the image data, opencv aligns the test image and a normal image to determine differences between the two images, and then pixel mapping is used to compare the pixel area to complete initial screening. Manual labeling is carried out according to the image classification above, including: samples that are normal, have defects in appearance, or have different shape characteristics, and then algorithm training and verification is carried out. Residual neural network (ResNet) or other related algorithms are used for deep learning to identify the quality of lenses.

Implementation of AOI inspection improves production efficiency by 20% and above

Comparing the differences before and after the implementation of AI image inspection, the incoming VCSEL lens inspection before implementation only involved manual inspection of the appearance. The lens is packaged on the VCSEL package that has completed die bonding. After passing the general light up test, the final reliability test (high temperature reflow) is performed. Failed samples go into the rework process.

However, after the implementation of AOI inspection, it can screen defective lenses sooner and reduce the cost of subsequent materials input, it can also reduce the need for rework due to failure, improving yield to 95% and above in the reliability verification. This is expected to help companies reduce production costs by 10% and increase production efficiency by 20% and above.

The difference before and after the introduction of AI image inspection.

▲ The difference before and after implementing AI image detection

HRT Technology pointed out that this technology is an AI application developed based on tiny images. It uses deep learning algorithms to identify defects in the images. The trained network automatically classifies image data to predetermined categories. Defect categories can be determined through reference images, so cumbersome programming is not required.

In the industrial machine vision environment, deep learning is mainly used for classification tasks in applications, such as inspection of industrial products or identification of parts. In the future, with the development of IoT wearable devices and the trend of energy saving, the size of optoelectronic components will continue to shrink. This technology can be applied to the detection of defects in the appearance of other tiny optoelectronic components in the future.

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【導入案例】挺進智慧物流50 新竹物流醫材配送班表超高效率
Advancing to Smart Logistics 5.0: Hsinchu Logistics Delivers Medical Materials with Ultra-High Efficiency

After incorporating AI technology, traditional logistics companies have seen significant improvements in transportation efficiency and reductions in transportation costs, especially in the transfer of medical materials which involves timely service and rights of hospitals and patients The implementation of intelligent logistics can save medical material businesses the cost of constructing GDP warehouses and other expenses up to millions A major domestic logistics leader, Hsinchu Transport HCT, owns a fleet of 3,500 vehicles and a storage area of 60,000 square meters, providing customized logistics solutions including logistics, commerce, finance, information, distribution, storage, and processing The company handles up to 580,000 parcels per day, with a maximum capacity reaching 900,000 parcels, making the enhancement of transshipment efficiency crucial for HCT Medical materials transportation at hospitals need optimization of current operational processes and enhancements in systematization and intelligence Especially the transportation of hospital medical materials, which encounters various challenges Medical materials suppliers need to cater to varying customer product demands, temperature requirements, and delivery times through multiple logistics providers This highly depends on the experience and careful control of operations staff Whether it is the product shipment or actual logistics process, each step must be interconnected Any human errors can impact the service timing and rights of the hospitals and patients Thus, all concerned businesses, along with the government and hospitals, are working to optimize current operational processes and elevate the level of systematization, automation, and intelligence to minimize service errors and cost losses HCT's distribution process prior to AI implementation Currently, with the government's push for standardized platform operations on the demand side of hospitals, supply-side businesses collaborate through data coordination to improve the accuracy and efficiency of product shipments, enhancing operational quality and management benefits at the demand side At the same time, some businesses are also investing in the standardization and systematization of internal operational processes, thus enhancing operational efficiency and quality In the freight logistics sector, logistics companies' warehouse staff need to expend labor to control different logistics shipment operations If they often receive emergency task notifications for shipments to medical facilities, they usually depend on small regional logistics providers to provide customized delivery services Although this improves delivery times, it does not allow for integrated informational services The new GDP regulations for medical materials require suppliers to undergo GDP compliance certification Therefore, Hsinchu Transport, assisted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs' AI coaching program, not only extends existing logistics services compliant with GDP regulations but will also use data integration and optimized AI technologies to help medical material businesses streamline and improve their logistics operations Complex logistics issues are solved using the Simulated Annealing SA algorithm To meet the 'Good Distribution Practices for Medical Devices,' Hsinchu Transport is not only actively introducing new logistics vehicles but will also implement artificial intelligence-based mathematical optimization technologies to assist in intelligent scheduling at nationwide business points and transshipment stations They aim to optimize the routing of medical materials between business points or regions thereby enhancing efficiency in the distribution process Currently, during the transshipment process of medical materials at Hsinchu Transport, detachable tractor heads and containers are used Each business point and transshipment station differ in location design and staffing, impacting the throughput per unit of time Furthermore, daily cargo conditions size, destination vary, and due to these fluctuating and distinct demands, the deployment of tractor heads and containers changes accordingly Under these circumstances, Hsinchu Transport relies on past experiences to schedule departures at each satellite depot and adjusts daily according to the cargo needs Due to the reliance on empirical scheduling, it is often difficult to consider all variables and considerations, leaving room for improvement in the current departure schedules The cargo delivery planning inherently constitutes an NP-Hard problem, difficult to solve with traditional analytical methods Hsinchu Transport, in collaboration with Singular Infinity, utilizes the Simulated Annealing SA algorithm to find solutions The new logistic service introduced by Hsinchu Transport is 'GDP Container Shift Planning' This planning involves estimating future volumes of medical materials between stations and scheduling container truck shifts accordingly, ensuring timely and quality delivery of medical materials while maximizing operational benefits and reducing travel distances Hsinchu Transport introduces AI-optimized shift planning, constructing the most efficient route from its origin to destination Hsinchu Transport introduces 'Optimized Shift Planning' service, reducing transportation costs by 5 The introduction method involves using cloud software services Hsinchu Transport regularly inputs 'Interchange Item Tables' from station to station into the 'Optimized Shift Planning' service After setting the algorithm parameters, a GDP container shift schedule is generated At the same time, developing a Hsinchu Transport medical material scheduling system allows Hsinchu Transport's medical transport units to compile suitable schedules through the Interchange Item Tables Under the same level of service, it's estimated that this can reduce transportation costs by 5, saving medical material businesses millions in construction costs for GDP warehouses and distribution Due to its requirements for sanitation, temperature, and its fragility, the transportation and transshipment of medical materials should be minimized to reduce exposure and risk However, logistics efficiency and costs must still be considered AI designs the most efficient route for each cargo from its origin to destination, effectively completing daily transportation tasks In response to the future high development demand of industrial logistics, distribution and transshipment AI optimization will be a key issue Through this project, a dedicated project promotion organization will be established, staffed with AI technology, IT, and process domain talents After accumulating implementation experience, the application of AI will gradually expand, comprehensively optimizing and transforming Hsinchu Transport's operational system, and partnering with AIOT and various AI domain partners to accelerate and expand the achievement of benefits「Translated content is generated by ChatGPT and is for reference only Translation date:2024-05-19」

【導入案例】赫銳特科技VCSEL封裝元件瑕疵導入AOI檢測 提升產能效率20
HRT Technology Improves Production Efficiency by 20% Through AOI Detection of Defects in VCSEL Packaging

In 2017, the launch of the iPhone X made 3D sensor technology used in Face ID highly popular, which drove the development of VCSEL, a core component in the 3D sensor module In the detection of defects in incoming packaged VCSEL, the use of AI inference models can solve the industry's issue with low yield and improve reliability to 95 VCSEL technology currently can be used in many applications and various end consumer markets, including robots, mobile devices, surveillance, drones, and ARVR VCSELs are a good solution in applications that require high-speed modulation capabilities, such as cameras and biometrics VCSEL technology has a wide range ofnbsp applications, including in drones Pictured Zoyi Technology's Agricultural Drone VCSEL technology has a wide range of applications, AI technology assists in defect detection HRT Technology stated that the packaged VCSEL market is also facing strong price competition from competitors, and needs to further reduce costs and enhance product competitiveness One of the key problems is the replacement of glass lens with epoxy resin lens The production of traditional glass lenses has high yield, but the cost is higher than that of epoxy resin lenses Due to the cutting process of epoxy resin, the side wall of cutting lines can easily have rough edges, causing it to be oversized The release of stress caused by heat during the mounting process will directly cause the optical lens to break HRT Technology pointed out that the incoming inspection of VCSEL epoxy resin lenses is very important Under the constraints of packaging space, the space for fitting the package and optical lens is limited Moreover, the optical lenses will be confined to a metal frame If the dimensional tolerances are properly controlled, stress release due to heat during mounting can easily cause the optical lens to break, resulting in a yield loss of up to 10 in the VCSEL package reliability verification, resulting in an increase in production costs In order to solve the problems above, HRT Technology hopes to use AI to monitor the size and appearance defects of epoxy resin components in the VCSEL epoxy resin lens incoming stage, verifying whether their dimensions meet specifications, whether the cutting edges are smooth, and whether there are any defects in their appearance Since traditional incoming material inspection requires a rough visual inspection by humans to distinguish the quality The problem of image collection needs to be solved first to successfully collect image data Therefore, HRT Technology first developed an Automated Optical Inspection AOI device, which includes X, Y, Z three-axis motion, high-resolution cameras, and related control software to automatically record images After collecting the image data, opencv aligns the test image and a normal image to determine differences between the two images, and then pixel mapping is used to compare the pixel area to complete initial screening Manual labeling is carried out according to the image classification above, including samples that are normal, have defects in appearance, or have different shape characteristics, and then algorithm training and verification is carried out Residual neural network ResNet or other related algorithms are used for deep learning to identify the quality of lenses Implementation of AOI inspection improves production efficiency by 20 and above Comparing the differences before and after the implementation of AI image inspection, the incoming VCSEL lens inspection before implementation only involved manual inspection of the appearance The lens is packaged on the VCSEL package that has completed die bonding After passing the general light up test, the final reliability test high temperature reflow is performed Failed samples go into the rework process However, after the implementation of AOI inspection, it can screen defective lenses sooner and reduce the cost of subsequent materials input, it can also reduce the need for rework due to failure, improving yield to 95 and above in the reliability verification This is expected to help companies reduce production costs by 10 and increase production efficiency by 20 and above The difference before and after implementing AI image detection HRT Technology pointed out that this technology is an AI application developed based on tiny images It uses deep learning algorithms to identify defects in the images The trained network automatically classifies image data to predetermined categories Defect categories can be determined through reference images, so cumbersome programming is not required In the industrial machine vision environment, deep learning is mainly used for classification tasks in applications, such as inspection of industrial products or identification of parts In the future, with the development of IoT wearable devices and the trend of energy saving, the size of optoelectronic components will continue to shrink This technology can be applied to the detection of defects in the appearance of other tiny optoelectronic components in the future

【導入案例】防患於未然 麗臺科技研發心臟衰竭AI辨識技術可及早發現病徵
Preventing Problems Before They Arise: Leadtek Research Develops AI Technology for Early Detection of Heart Failure Symptoms

With the increase in the elderly population, the incidence of various chronic diseases is rising daily Among these, heart failure is not only a silent killer it has a very long disease course with a high recurrence rate, leading to increased burden on healthcare personnel However, by using medically certified electrocardiography acoustics devices, coupled with AI predictive assessment of heart failure risk and remote care systems, diagnosis can be aided significantly, helping doctors make accurate diagnoses for subsequent patient medical care or referrals Heart failure has a lengthy course and medical expenditure is five times that of diabetes If you find yourself short of breath even with minimal movement, or if you wake up from sleep needing to sit up to feel comfortable, or if you have symptoms such as swollen lower limbs, anxiety, restlessness, fatigue, or a loss of appetite, be cautious These could be signs of heart failure According to statistics, there are about 60 million people with heart failure worldwide, with 5 million new cases every year In China, nearly 290 million people suffer from cardiovascular diseases, accounting for the second leading cause of death among urban residents around 12 million of these are heart failure patients, accounting for over 59 of cardiac-related deaths The disease course of heart failure is exceptionally long, and both its recurrence and rehospitalization rates are exceedingly high, resulting in medical costs that are twice that of hypertension and five times those of diabetes According to US research statistics, the 30-day mortality rates for patients with myocardial infarction and heart failure are respectively 166 and 111, and the rehospitalization rates within 30 days are 199 and 244 The symptoms of heart failure, because they are similar to those of other diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, have an 185 misdiagnosis rate, which poses a challenging problem for healthcare institutions Leadtek, a major graphics card manufacturer, has been investing in the medical and healthcare sector since 2000 Following two heart attacks in 2011 and 2015 experienced by Chairman Lu Kunshan, Leadtek has focused on health big data, independently developing AI technology for heart failure recognition This AI application reads patients' electrocardiograms and phonocardiograms to perform anomaly detection and model prediction of heart failure risk, enabling early detection of disease symptoms Leadtek independently developed heart failure AI recognition technology to predict medical history and risk Leadtek's independently developed heart failure AI recognition technology has the following three judgment functions 1 Prediction of heart failure history Classifies electrocardiogram and phonocardiogram data into 'with hospitalization history of heart failure' and 'no history of heart failure' 2 Risk prediction of heart failure Provides a predictive risk value of heart failure occurrence based on the electrocardiogram and phonocardiogram data 3 Prediction of heart failure recurrence risk For patients with heart failure, it reads their phonocardiogram and electrocardiogram data, assessing the risk prediction of heart failure recurrence Leadtek states that the application of heart failure AI recognition technology can assist doctors in making more efficient and accurate diagnoses, facilitating subsequent medical treatment or referrals for patients As an instance, in studies of heart failure patients discharged from Taipei Veterans General Hospital, using the EMAT Electromechanical Activation Time index and SDI Systolic Dysfunction Index calculated by the synchronized electrocardiography-acoustic device as treatment guidelines resulted in a higher survival rate compared to those treated based on traditional symptoms This research has also been published in the authoritative international cardiology journal JACC, receiving recognition in the international market System manufacturers can apply heart failure AI recognition technology for other value-added applications Leadtek states that cooperating system manufacturers can choose to build their own heart failure AI risk prediction engine, uploading their system's electrocardiogram and phonocardiogram data to Leadtek's heart failure AI risk prediction engine, which then returns risk prediction values for integration by system manufacturers cooperating manufacturers as a value-added application input Not just for clinical use, the heart failure AI risk prediction engine can also be extended for use at home or in the workplace Additionally, this system can be extended to other applications, including One, hospital outpatient screening Doctors can use the electrocardiogram and phonocardiogram recorder along with the heart failure AI risk prediction model to conduct a 10-second rapid test in outpatient and emergency departments to assess a patient's cardiac history and heart failure risk Two, discharge risk assessment Doctors can use the electrocardiogram and phonocardiogram recorder along with the heart failure AI risk prediction model to assess the heart failure risk during a patient's hospital stay The test data can serve as a pre-discharge risk assessment and prognostic indicator Three, continuous home care Patients can use the electrocardiogram and phonocardiogram recorder, wearable electrocardiogram recorder, and transmit through a home transmission box gateway to measure electrocardiogram and phonocardiogram signals at home and upload them to the amor health cloud platform for heart failure AI risk prediction analysis Patients can manage their health autonomously via an APP, reviewing historical physiological trends disease management nurses can manage member health through the health management backend Web Four, home rehabilitation training Patients can wear a health bracelet to monitor activity, fatigue, circulation, and sleep, autonomously managing their health through the mobile APP and observing the risk of heart failure, engaging in exercise and rehabilitation training to aid in swift recovery The heart failure AI recognition technology system can also be extended to employee home care applications Additionally, in factories or offices, this system can also achieve employee health management goals, with applications including One, workplace safety units Provide employees with wearable electrocardiogram recorders before they start work duties Two, physiological monitoring for business executors While executing business duties or training, employees wear wearable electrocardiogram recorders for fatigue warnings, signaling whether physiological conditions allow continued execution of tasks Task segments can use data transmission boxes or apps to upload physiological monitoring information to the health management platform, assessing the heart failure risk for operations staff, with test data serving as an indicator for enterprise resource human units and public safety Three, workplace physiological monitoring center care The workplace physiological monitoring center can inspect and record employees' historicalphysiological trends through the health cloud platform Four, workplace nursing units Nursing units receiving instructions from the physiological monitoring center can provide health management advice based on employees' physiological trends nursing centers can manage employee health through the health management backend Web Five, employees can wear health bracelets to monitor activity, fatigue, circulation, and sleep, autonomously managing their health and observing the risk of heart failure through the mobile APP, engaging in exercise and rehabilitation training to aid in rapid recovery Workplace application of heart failure cloud care and big data center diagram「Translated content is generated by ChatGPT and is for reference only Translation date:2024-05-19」