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* Posts by BillM1

3 publicly visible posts • joined 6 Jul 2017

Europe, US warn of fake-chip danger to national security, critical systems

BillM1
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Re: Mass Counterfeit detection solution

Inspection during manufacturing will not catch the type of counterfeiting that is being performed.

One way to counterfeit is to get any part that has gone through all of the visual inspections and testing, then rebrand the part with a different speed or commercial/industrial/military grade brand. A very simple process and can be done to any part that is integrated into any system (phone, PC, etc).

The only way to really prevent this is to incorporate information into the chip that can be read out to verify the internally stored information matches the documentation and brand on the device. This would cause all chips to have a small one time electrically programmable ROM inside that is programmed after the device has gone through all of the testing (for speed, for temp range, etc) and then program the code and blow the fuse protecting this programmable ROM from being overwritten. This technology has existed for some time but is not embedded in all ICs....maybe the time is right for this to be a standard in all chips and a defined register address where it can be read out of the chip.

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BillM1

a solution already exists...

performing visual inspection during manufacturing would not solve the counterfeiting. Most of the counterfeiting is done well after the device has been manufactured and sent to end customers. Any chip that is taken out of a system (PC, phone, game system, etc) can be used for counterfeiting.

A way to eliminate this is to incorporate some electrical, one time programmable ROM in the device that contains information about the part, speed bin info, temperature grade etc. This register needs to be read out from the IC with a short program to access and retrieve the data. This is a new standard that all chips should have included in their design. Then the end user can read out the information and make sure that it matches the documentation and brand on the IC.

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Intel: Joule's burned, Edison switched off, and Galileo – Galileo is no more

BillM1
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Re: Intel's Problem in Chief = CEO

As mentioned, Intel has done this several times pulling the rug from under their customers. Intel has done this several times in their ASIC/Foundry businesses. Intel either has or will earn a reputation of short term market evaluations and if poor killing those product lines. This actually causes a death spiral for any new Intel endeavors: customer shying away from engaging and risking their supply issues (Intel).

Quite amazing given that Intel during the PC regime would eliminate weak links/high risk suppliers to selling their PC chips. Taking over chipset business from VLSI Tech Inc and undermining the PCB makers, RAM, etc to produce an integrated mother board. Intel should look into an old mirror to understand how their customers might avoid Intel at any cost.

Unfortunately, this announcement adds more credibility to avoid Intel.

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