PCB reverse engineering (PCB RE) refers to the process of analyzing and recreating the design drawing and functionality of a printed circuit board (PCB) without access to its original PCB board design files or documentation including Schematic diagram, Gerber file, Layout drawing and BOM list. It involves extracting information about the PCB’s components, circuit connections, and layout, usually through physical inspection, measurements, and testing.
The purpose of PCB reverse engineering can vary, but common reasons include:
The reverse engineering PCB board process typically involves physical assessment and measurement of the PCB, such as tracing connections using multimeters, identifying components and their values, and examining the PCB layout. Advanced techniques like X-ray imaging or scanning electron microscopy may also be used to analyze the internal structures of integrated circuits.
Once the necessary information is gathered, it can be used to recreate the PCB design. This may involve creating a new schematic diagram or PCB layout in design software, selecting the appropriate components, and then manufacturing the PCB using the recreated design.