Abstract: In 2019, CALCE was contracted by DMEA to lead an investigation of counterfeit microelectronic detection and authentication technologies. This study, which concluded in December 2020, included a comparative evaluation of side channel methods, machine vision technologies, and conventional laboratory testing based on the SAE AS6171 standard. In partnership with DMEA and SMT Corporation, CALCE led a blind study using eleven different microelectronic parts, for which both authentic and counterfeit parts (including clones) were provided to the test organizations participating in the study. This presentation will summarize the results of the investigation. The findings were analyzed statistically and used to quantify the accuracy of counterfeit detection of the various methods. Side channel and machine vision methods were assessed with respect to their suitability for part authentication, wherein part signatures could be logged into a database when their chain of custody to the original component manufacturer was still established. The side channel and machine vision methods were also assessed with respect to their technology readiness for real-world implementation.

Bio: Dr. Michael H. Azarian is a Research Scientist at the Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE) at the University of Maryland. He is Chair of the SAE G-19A Test Laboratory Standards Development Committee. Dr. Azarian holds a holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, a Masters degree in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science from Carnegie Mellon, and a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University. Dr. Azarian’s primary research interests are detection, prediction and analysis of failures in electronic components and assemblies. He has over 150 publications on electronics reliability and packaging, prognostics and health management, and tribology, and holds 6 U.S. patents. He also chairs the working group responsible for the IEEE 1624 standard on organizational reliability capability of suppliers of electronic products. Prior joining CALCE in 2004 he spent over 13 years in industry.