The printed circuit board (PCB) serves as a fundamental component across all electronic devices, and the assurance of its fabrication quality exerts a major influence on the final pricing of the product. Consequently, research and development (R&D) focused on optimizing inspection techniques has emerged as a expanding area of global interest. Among the various paradigms utilized for PCB evaluation, visual analysis constitutes the preponderance of contemporary methodologies. To that end, this survey aggregates the most influential investigations conducted over the past quarter-century, outlining their operational frameworks and historical progression up to the present day, with a particular emphasis on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) methodologies to enhance functional efficacy and minimize operational expenditures. Additionally, this study underscores the vital role that open-access PCB datasets play in facilitating the advancement of these techniques and establishing baseline metrics for benchmarking. Lastly, the current difficulties and obstacles confronting the discipline are delineated and analyzed.
Transparent Intelligence Publishing