A Framework for PCB Design File Reconstruction from X-Ray CT Annotations

Reverse engineering (RE) is often used in security-critical applications to determine the structure and functionality of various systems, including printed circuit boards (PCBs). Although it has both beneficial and malicious uses, it is particularly vital within the realm of hardware trust and assurance. PCB RE enhances legacy electronic system replacement, intellectual property (IP) protection, and supply chain integrity. To contribute to the requirements of effective PCB RE, extensive research has been conducted on the analysis of PCBs using X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans, including image segmentation focusing on via and trace annotation. Applying extracted annotations, this work outlines a Python-based framework, coupled with the open-source KiCaD software, for the automated reconstruction of PCB design files. Given the via, pad and trace annotations, in addition to board dimensions, the algorithm automatically recognizes board shape, trace size, and connections to reconstruct the bare PCB accurately. This technique was tested on three distinct layers of a sample multilayer PCB with great success. Its feasibility holds great promise for future extensions to complete the entire PCB RE framework. The project source code is available for reference on GitHub.¹¹https://github.com/koblahdavid/xray_ct_reconstruction