Posted by Mike_balbuena: Wed Jun 21, 2006 7:47 pm    Post subject: Counterfeit IC's

What is the perfect FA test procedure for identifying IC counterfeit?

Thanks,
Mike B.

Posted by FARel Engr: Thu Jun 22, 2006 2:43 pm    Post subject:

Hi Mike,

The most common signs that an IC is counterfeit are: gross failure attributes that couldn't have passed testing, incomplete or off-spec package markings, tarnished leads, and other visual-mechanical attributes that are difficult to ignore. Counterfeit IC's are usually stolen goods that did not undergo the complete processing at the manufacturer's site.

Of course, the best way to check if an IC is counterfeit or not is to trace the route of how it got to the end-user from the company manufacturing that certain IC. A counterfeit IC will usually go through unauthorized channels. Just check with the manufacturer if a retailer is authorized by them or not.

BTW, please feel free to just post your FA/Rel questions in this forum, and we'll gladly address them.

Best regards,
FARel Engr

Posted by Mike_balbuena: Thu Jun 22, 2006 7:52 pm    Post subject:

Thanks FA Rel. Do you know of some manufacturers have serialzed die ID. So when we decap units we can get back to manufacturer on the ID?

What I did in our situation since there was no visible anomalies on the external of the IC was did a DMM diode check and compared line with good units in the curve tracer.

Sometimes here in US, it's very hard to trace back to original retailers. There are thousands for broker that gets IC from an online trading and resells to obsolete IC disty. Other companies trading in the broker forum are EMS who had excess units and no longer used them.

Based on your FA experience did you see any unique visual attributes that could be traced back to the OEM?

Regards,
Mike B.

Posted by FARel Engr: Tue Jun 27, 2006 1:15 am    Post subject:

Hi Mike,

Maybe we should define what we mean by 'counterfeit', and how they relate to the 'gray market' As far as most IC manufacturers are concerned, any IC that did not come from any of their authorized distributors are deemed to be from the 'gray market'. IC manufacturers generally treat counterfeit and gray market units the same way - they don't give them warranty or after-sales support.

Thus, genuine parts that are resold by unauthorized dealers lose their state of being 'genuine', and in a sense become 'counterfeit'. Aside from the gross attributes enumerated earlier, it is very difficult to distinguish most counterfeit IC's from 'gray market' units, unless you'll get support from the IC manufacturer itself. In fact, distinguishing between the two is often useless, because either way no after-sales support will be received anyway.

Given this, board manufacturers must always source their IC's from authorized dealers (as named by the IC manufacturer), so that they can always give the burden of investigation to the IC manufacturer by initiating an FA request every time they encounter a failure.

FARel Engr