The ChipCheck consortium has just received a batch of counterfeit components for inspection and investigation. We were given known genuine chips and suspected counterfeit components for comparison. Using X-ray radiography we were able to clearly conclude that the suspected counterfeits were indeed forgeries.
The one example shown here shows a U2270B IC. This is an IC for read/write base stations in contactless identification and immobiliser systems. It retails for around £4. The miss-positioned bond wires shown in the X-ray image show this chip can never function. However, our contact told us that these chips were bought in good faith as new chips. It seems that these chips were rejects from the original manufacturer and somehow they have got back into the supply chain where they are now being misrepresented as new working chips.
No comments:
Post a Comment