PFI-TT: Embedded Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to secure the semiconductor supply chain

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The broader impact/commercial potential of this Partnerships for Innovation - Technology Translation (PFI-TT) project is to protect the integrity of electronic devices. Counterfeit integrated circuits are a national security threat as they can appear in mission-critical systems, such as a nuclear submarine. The current supply chain has many potential weaknesses. This project advances a technology to address counterfeits. Inserting the proposed wireless identification circuit enables a semiconductor chip to be interrogated at any point in the supply chain where tracking is valued. This tracking can be validated by manufacturers, customs, and end users, leading to a real-time “trust but verify” ecosystem that guarantees authenticity. The project will demonstrate a complete embedded radio frequency identification (RFID) block, including a unique identification number to cryptographically generate a query response from a reader at a range of approximately 0.5 cm. It can be read in under 0.2 s with minimal sensitivity to alignment. The project goals include: (1) design of a suitable antenna, (2) incorporation of a Non-Volatile Memory to store the semiconductor chip’s unique identification number, (3) removal of a voltage bias circuit, and (4) design and integration of a cryptographic identification communication system. The prototype will be built using validated circuit design techniques using a semiconductor foundry-provided design kit, fabricated into a demonstration semiconductor chip at an existing commercial foundry, and then assembled into a test and validation station.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.