Electronic counterfeit detection based on the measurement of electromagnetic fingerprint Electronic counterfeit detection based on the measurement of electromagnetic fingerprint

International audienceCounterfeit integrated circuits become a big challenge for the whole electronic industry. The use of electronic counterfeits can cause reduced performance of circuits, or failure of the whole system. New efficient approaches of counterfeit device detection are always required. Since the electromagnetic emission level of integrated devices depends on various circuit parameters like technology, manufacturing and aging, the electromagnetic emission measurement could be an approach to detect the counterfeit. In this article, the principles of the methodology are explained and two case studies are presented, where three ways of analysis of data are discussed. 1. Introduction An electronic counterfeit is a device whose material, performances, or characteristics are knowingly misrepresented by the vendor, supplier, distributor, or manufacturer [1]. In recent years, there are a growing number of reported incidents related to counterfeit integrated circuits (ICs) [2] with the huge increase of global semiconductor market. The use of electronic counterfeits can cause reduced performance of circuits, such as instability of clock frequency, operating life decrease, a lower storage memory space, or failure of the whole system. The Alliance for Gray Market and Counterfeit Abatement estimates that nearly 10 percent of technological products sold in the global market are counterfeit, which represents about 100 billion dollar loss for the electronics companies every year [3]. Three major techniques exist to produce counterfeit circuits: remarking components as a higher grade and more expensive chip, re-packaging old devices up to non-qualified components, and duplicating counterfeits through inferior parts or materials [4]. The struggle against this problem relies in a better management of the supply chain and the market [5], the development of advanced authentication methods (e.g. watermarking [6]) and serialization technologies (e.g. 2-D bar code [4]). Besides, industry always looks for non-destructive, rapid and cheap method to detect the electric counterfeit. At present, a large number of detection techniques exist and are already used by industry and detection laboratories: visual inspection of the appearance of component (texture, mold mark, pitch form…) in order to detect raw counterfeit devices, decapsulation to verify the die layout, material analysis methods, like fluorescent X-ray or C-mode scanning acoustic microscope for package analysis, and different levels of electrical testing (V/I characteristics, ESD test, operation life test…) [7]