this post was submitted on 12 Jun 2023
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I've seen different numbers in the same font on many circuit boards. What does it typically mean?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Usually it's the date code.

At my company that code would mean 2019 week 1 (first week of jan). We also do a shift number as a 3rd part.

It's also common for the second number to be months.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Interesting! So this would end up meaning that you'd need to send new gerbers between production runs?

Or is this one of the edits that the fab house does to the gerbers without customer intervention (once asked, of course).

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I've never really thought about how it's done on the older generation parts. On the newest it's etched by laser. We had a generation where it was stick on barcode and that was the worst.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Bonus points if you can identify what this device is without me posting the uncropped picture ;)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Well, it looks to be battery powered with illuminated push button controls. Looking like it can be clipped into a base unit or detached and used remotely.
So, my guess would be the winch and bed control for a vehicle recovery vehicle.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

A number like that is often a date code.

Cursory search from the model number turned up nothing. My guesses are judging from the LEDs, it could be a mini-camera lighting module, fancy flashlight or a drone lighting accessory.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I'm not sure! If I had to hazard a guess, it would be that the board was assembled on Jan 2019. Or I guess 19th January, technically (although this seems less likely, it makes more sense to indicate the year I think).

It could also be the batch number or assembly line number, but it seems more likely to be a date.

The board version (V2.2) and some form of product identifier (DK001-D) already seem to be there, so those are ruled out.

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