Testing Capabilities

In the ever changing electronic component industry, there is an increased requirement for component testing services and component verification. These services become invaluable when looking at the increased volume of counterfeit and defective components in the marketplace. It is well known that sources are going to extreme lengths to pass off counterfeit components and defective components as new and unused, original components. Not only are components being copied/counterfeited, we are also seeing genuine test reports being falsified. Allan Electronics' staff has been well trained and is very adept at the detection of counterfeit components. The in-house lab has been fitted with top-of-the-line equipment to test all component orders. The Quality Management System of Allan Electronics meets the requirements of the International standard ISO 9001:2009.
 

1. Counterfeit Component Testing

Allan Electronics offers various counterfeit component testing services to ensure the authenticity of your electronic components. We have devised a series of specific component tests that include: Visual Inspection, Marking Permanency, Decap, and Basic Electrical.

 

• Visual Inspection: Visual inspection is an effective component testing method. By utilizing optical inspection and visual inspection techniques, it is possible to determine whether or not components are new or used. Using a high powered microscope, we can detect simple tell tale signs such as body cracks, terminal, sphere or even body contamination.
• Marking Permanency: A common counterfeit practice is to simply re-print the information on the top of electronic components, by a process known as Blacktopping. By using a closely followed process, we can determine whether this has been carried out on electronic components. Normally the devices will actually have the correct part number, but the date codes, the lot codes or the speeds will be remarked to make the components appear as different items.
• Decapsulation: One of the most difficult areas of a component to counterfeit and copy is the internal die structure. Decaping removes the body of the device through a safely controlled chemical etching process that removes the tops off plastic and ceramic integrated circuits, exposing the actual die structure of the component including the bond wire in many cases. Although decapsulation is a destructive test, under a high powered microscope, we can normally see critical information on the die, such as the manufacturers name, the manufacturers logo, the part number, etc. In some extreme situations where the die has been copied, the same manufacturers die has been copied or parts have been remarked to make them look like upgraded specification parts, we can determine specific areas of the dies that will correspond only with the original die.

 

2. Defective Component Testing

Basic Electrical: The electrical test involves the testing of each contact on a component to ensure that the device matches the electrical properties specified by the datasheet. This very strong tool is used as part of our authenticity test to allow the detection of counterfeit components, which are not authentic. Defects are normally caused by:

 

• ESD damage to components
• Electrical overstress of components
• Handling issues
• Aged stock/Old date codes
• Internal physical damage caused by heat damage etc.