Patent watch: Waveform signature detects fake circuits

Phil Taylor, 06-Sep-2015

Electronic circuit Researchers in Japan have been granted a US patent on a method of fingerprinting circuits to distinguish authentic components and counterfeits.

The patent awarded to the US National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (NIAIST) covers the use of an electromagnetic or power consumption signature - recorded at the time of manufacture - that can subsequently be used to authenticate the circuit.

The patent notes that up to the 1990s manufacturing of circuits was conducted by only a few specialised makers with advanced technology, and products were mainly distributed through legitimate channels, so "problems caused by the commercial distribution of counterfeit products and shoddy items did not surface."

Now, it continues, cases of counterfeiting and reverse engineering have "grown exponentially in number" and the need for countermeasures is imperative.

Electronic circuit component authenticity determination method

Abstract: This invention provides an electronic circuit component authenticity determination method capable of determining whether an electronic circuit component is a component manufactured by an authorized manufacturer. The electronic circuit component is operated under a predetermined condition at the time of manufacturing or initialization of the electronic circuit component. The waveform of power consumption or an electromagnetic wave at the time of the operation is measured and stored as first waveform data. An authenticity determination target electronic circuit component is operated under the predetermined condition. The waveform of power consumption or an electromagnetic wave is measured and temporarily stored as second waveform data. The stored first waveform data is compared with the second waveform data. It is determined that the electronic circuit component is a genuine when the waveform data match. It is determined that the electronic circuit component is a counterfeit product when the waveform data are different.

For the full patent text see: US Patent No. 9,121,873