CALCE Obtains Power Spectrum Analysis System from Chiplytics

Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE) has a new addition to its equipment, the Power Spectrum Analysis (PSA) system. The core technology of the system is developed by Sandia National Laboratories and is the flagship product of Chiplytics Inc.

Chiplytics is a FedTech startup backed by Scout VC and the New Mexico Vintage Fund working with Sandia National Laboratories to commercialize Power Spectrum Analysis (PSA) to detect counterfeit microelectronics. PSA is a rapid, non-invasive electrical testing technique that stimulates a microelectronics device to extract unique power signatures that reveal subtle differences between devices that traditionally go undetected. The Chiplytics team has converted Sandia's PSA system into a cost-effective, handheld version for commercial viability that has shown promise through early pilot testing.

To better understand the reliability and authenticity of electronic components and to assess the repeatability and limits of the system, and identify areas for improvement, Chiplytics is collaborating on research with the University of Maryland's Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE). The Chiplytics PSA system includes a USB-based Test and Measurement device with additional circuitry that can probe up to 40 selectable pins of the device under test; a Desktop Application used to operate the system and automate data collection across multiple units; and a Web Application and API access that enables large amounts of PSA data to be managed and analyzed in a scalable fashion.

CALCE looks forward to utilizing this system to understand electronic components and systems further and provide our research team with hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology.

For more information about the research and equipment usage at CALCE. Please contact Dr. Michael Azarian and Dr. Diganta Das.

Published May 16, 2023