Method and apparatus for detection and identification of counterfeit and substandard electronics
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.
1. An apparatus for detecting a condition of one or more electronic devices, the apparatus comprising:
a signal output module including:
a power source configured to provide a power signal;
a modulation source configured to modulate at least one of the power signal from the power source and a ground signal to provide at least one of a modulated power signal and a modulated ground signal,
an interface and bias board, said interface and bias board being coupled to each of the modulation source and the power source, said interface and bias board configured to connect at least one of the modulated power signal and the modulated ground signal, as outputs, to a fixture receiving the one or more electronic devices,
a clock source configured to provide a clock signal, and
a bias tee that is coupled to the clock source and to the power source, the bias tee biases the clock signal and connects, as an output, a biased clock signal to the fixture;
a receiver, the receiver configured to receive the emission of electromagnetic energy from the one or more electronic devices, the emission being captured at an antenna, the one or more electronic devices being disposed in the fixture, the one or more electronic devices being connected, through the fixture, to the at least one of the modulated power signal and the modulated ground signal and the biased clock signal; and
a processing device configured to detect the condition of the one or more electronic devices based on a signature of the emission of electromagnetic energy received at the receiver.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to differentiate responses from the one or more electronic devices to detect electronic devices that do not meet a specific criterion from authentic electronic devices.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to measure an unintended emission given off by at least one known authentic part and compare a signature of the unintended emission given off by at least one known authentic part to a lot of electronic devices to determine if the lot contains electronic devices that do not meet a specific criterion.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure with a hollow interior, wherein the receiver is disposed within hollow interior.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising further comprising an enclosure with a hollow interior and the antenna, the antenna being integrated with the enclosure.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising the fixture, wherein the fixture is mounted within the hollow interior during use of the apparatus.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
an access in the enclosure to the hollow interior;
a movable access drawer selectively opening and closing the access, the fixture being attached to the movable access drawer;
an electromechanical actuator coupled to the movable access drawer and operable to move the movable access drawer in a relationship to the hollow interior; and
a robotic device positioned and operable to position the one or more electronic devices into or remove from the fixture when the electromechanical actuator moves the access drawer away from the enclosure and opens the access.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein a shape of the enclosure comprises a cube and wherein the apparatus further comprises an array of antennas disposed on interior surfaces of the cube.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more electronic devices comprises multiple pins and wherein the modulation module is configured to modulate the multiple pins with a phase shifted signal relative to each other.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing device includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
perform a pattern analysis on the signature of the emission of electromagnetic energy received at the receiver, and
compare a result of the pattern analysis against a baseline pattern.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to further determine, based on the result, whether the condition of the one or more electronic devices identifies a genuine electronic device.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the signal output module is disposed remotely from the receiver and the processing device during use of the apparatus.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to attain a preset threshold.
14. The signal output module of claim 12 , further comprising a modulation source coupled to the bias tee, the bias tee connects a modulated clock signal to the fixture.
15. The signal output module of claim 12 , further comprising an input/output source that coupled at least one of an input signal and an output signal to the fixture.
16. The signal output module of claim 12 , wherein the modulation source comprises an oscillator that generates a frequency based oscillation.
17. The signal output module of claim 12 , wherein the modulation source is configured to modulate a portion of the fixture that is configured to receive an output pin of an electronic device.
18. The signal output module of claim 12 , wherein the modulation source is configured to apply a modulation signal with a frequency that exceeds a specified frequency for an electronic device.
19. The signal output module of claim 12 , wherein the modulation source is configured to output one of a broadband noise, a narrowband noise and a pseudo-random noise.
20. A signal output module, comprising:
a power source configured to provide a power signal;
a modulation source configured to modulate at least one of the power signal from the power source and a ground signal to provide at least one of a modulated power signal and a modulated ground signal;
an interface and bias board, said interface and bias board being coupled to each of the modulation source and the power source, said interface and bias board configured to connect at least one of the modulated power signal and the modulated ground signal, as outputs, to a fixture receiving the one or more electronic devices;
a clock source configured to provide a clock signal; and
a bias tee that is coupled to the clock source and to the power source, the bias tee biases the clock signal and connects, as an output, a biased clock signal to the fixture.