Method and apparatus for detection and identification of counterfeit and substandard electronics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9851386-B2
Application number	US-201414199687-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2014
Priority date	Mar 2, 2012
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting a condition or authenticity of one or more electronic devices includes an enclosure having an antenna integrated therewithin, a fixture mounted within a hollow interior of the enclosure, the fixture being configured to receive the one or more electronic devices and connect one or more signals to each of the one or more electronic devices and a sensor and controller assembly connected to the antenna and configured to process a signature of an emission of a radiofrequency (RF) energy from of one or more electronic devices having the one or more signals connected thereto.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus for detection and/or identification of counterfeit and/or substandard electronic devices, said apparatus comprising:
(a) an enclosure including a base and a peripheral wall having at least one of a pyramid shape, a cubical shape, a rectangular shape, a tapered conical shape, a tapered triangular shape and defining a hollow interior of said enclosure;
(b) a fixture mounted within said hollow interior of said enclosure, said fixture configured to receive one or more electronic devices therewithin;
(c) three and only three connections configured to apply three and only three signals to three pins on each of the one or more electronic devices received within said fixture, wherein each of said three and only three signals is applied to a selectively distinct pin;
(d) means for modulating at least one of said three signals;
(e) an antenna being at least one of mounted on an interior surface of said peripheral wall, integrated into a thickness of said peripheral wall of said enclosure or an enclosure structure itself designed to act as said antenna, said antenna operable to capture an emission of a radiofrequency (RF) energy from the each of one or more electronic devices received within said fixture and having said modulated signals applied thereto; and
(f) a sensor and controller assembly connected to said fixture and said antenna and configured source said three and only three signals, to process a signature of said captured emission and determine a condition of the each of the one or more electronic devices based on said signature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said three and only three connections include connections to power, clock and ground pins of the each of the one or more electronic devices.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a combination of said enclosure and said antenna is configured to at least one of shield said hollow interior from effects of external environmental emissions of RF energy and to capture the RF energy that is generated internal to said hollow interior.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said sensor and controller assembly is operable to differentiate counterfeit and/or substandard electronic devices from authentic electronic devices.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said selectively distinct pin is one of an input to and an output from the each of the one or more electronic devices.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said means for modulating said three signals is operable to provide one of pulse modulation, phase modulation, FM modulation, AM modulation and any combinations thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said enclosure comprises a drawer mounted for a movement, in a generally horizontal plane during use of the apparatus, to selectively allow access into said hollow interior, said fixture being mounted on an interior portion of said drawer.

8. An apparatus for detecting a condition of one or more electronic devices, said apparatus comprising:
(g) an integrated antenna enclosure having an antenna integrated therewithin, said antenna being at least one of mounted on an interior surface of a peripheral wall of said integrated antenna enclosure, integrated into a thickness of said peripheral wall or an integrated antenna enclosure structure itself designed to act as said antenna;
(h) a fixture mounted within a hollow interior of said enclosure, said fixture being configured to receive the one or more electronic devices and connect one or more signals to each of the one or more electronic devices;
(i) said antenna operable to capture an emission of a radiofrequency (RF) energy from the each of one or more electronic devices received within said fixture and having said modulated signals applied thereto; and
(d) a sensor and controller assembly mounted externally and connected to said integrated antenna enclosure and configured to process a signature of said emission of said radiofrequency (RF) energy from the each of one or more electronic devices having said one or more signals connected thereto and determine the condition of the each of one or more electronic devices based on said signature.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said fixture is configured to apply three and only three signals to three pins on the each of the one or more electronic devices received within said fixture, wherein each of said three and only three signals is applied to a selectively distinct pin.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising means for modulating at least one of said three and only three signals.

11. A method comprising the steps of:
(a) mounting one or more electronic devices within a hollow interior of an integrated antenna enclosure, said integrated antenna enclosure comprising an antenna;
(b) applying three and only three connections to power, clock and ground pins of each of said one or more electronic devices at least one of which may or may not be modulated;
(c) capturing, with said antenna, emission of a radiofrequency (RF) energy from each of said one or more devices having said modulated signals applied thereto; and
(d) detecting and/or identifying, with a sensor and controller assembly connected to said antenna and receiving said captured emission, one of an authentic, a counterfeit and a substandard condition of said each of said one or more electronic devices.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step (b) includes the step of selecting each of said power, clock and ground pins as an input pin or an output pin of said one or more electronic devices.

13. An apparatus for detecting a condition of one or more electronic devices, said apparatus comprising:
(a) a shielded enclosure including at least one of a single conformal antenna and an array of at least one conformal antennas being integrated therewithin;
(b) a fixture mounted within a hollow interior of said shielded enclosure, said fixture being configured to provide a means for temporarily affixing the one or more electronic devices providing an input or an output signal to at least one pin in the one or more electronic devices under test;
(c) a sensor and controller assembly connected to said shielded enclosure and configured to process a signature of an emission of a radiofrequency (RF) energy from the each of one or more electronic devices having said input or said output signal connected thereto;
(d) automated algorithms executed by a processing device disposed within said sensor and controller assembly that automatically provide, based on said signature, assessments of a condition of the one or more electronic devices being disposed within said fixture and being tested within said shielded enclosure; and
(e) a means for automatically providing a visual display of a determined condition of the one or more electronic devices to a user.

14. An apparatus for detection and/or identification of counterfeit and/or substandard electronic devices, said apparatus comprising:
(a) an enclosure including a base and a peripheral wall having at least one of a pyramid shape, a cubical shape, a tapered conical shape and a tapered triangular shape and defining a hollow interior of said enclosure;
(b) a fixture mounted within said hollow interior, said fixture configured to receive one or more electronic devices there within, wherein said fixture provides a registration to be made at a precisely same location in said enclosure;
(c) at least one connection configured to apply at least one input to at least one pin on each of the one or more electronic devices mounted within said fixture, wherein said connection is applied to at least one of clock, power and ground;
(d) an antenna mount

Assignees

• Keller Iii Walter John
• Portune Andrew Richard
• Chornenky Todd Eric
• Davis William Anthony
• Nokomis Inc

Inventors

• Keller Iii Walter John
• Portune Andrew Richard
• Chornenky Todd Eric
• Davis William Anthony

Classifications

• G06F21/73

  by creating or determining hardware identification, e.g. serial numbers · CPC title

• G01R31/002 Primary

  where the device under test is an electronic circuit · CPC title

• H01L2924/0002

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L2924/00

  Electricity · mapped topic

• Y04S40/20

  Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security · CPC title