Tip-on-a-chip: automatic dotting with glitter ink pen for individual identification of tiny parts

This paper presents a new identification system for tiny parts that have no space for applying conventional ID marking or tagging. The system marks the parts with a single dot using ink containing shiny particles. The particles in a single dot naturally form a unique pattern. The parts are then identified by matching microscopic images of this pattern with a database containing images of these dots. In this paper, we develop an automated system to conduct dotting and image capturing for mass-produced parts. Experimental results show that our "Tip-on-a-chip" system can uniquely identify more than ten thousand chip capacitors.