Taggant-Free Secure Component Identification

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to develop an innovative approach to detect counterfeit and remarked electronic components. The proposed solution would provide a covert, non-destructive, non-contact method for measuring and encoding information about the unique surface microstructure of each component into a Virtual Mark, read at the time of manufacture. The mark requires no consumables, no changes to the materials currently used in component manufacture and packaging, and no secret formulations or codes vulnerable to loss or theft. Through the development of a numerical model and laboratory measurements in Phase I, PSI will demonstrate the feasibility of capturing the mark, the uniqueness and repeatability of the mark, and show that it is robust against normal handling and exposure to solvents but will reject components after surface abrasion and remarking. A Phase II effort will produce a TRL 5 device able to operate at production volumes, speeds and tolerances, and which will recognize one unit out of 1,000,000 with a confidence of 99.98%.