Friday, January 14, 2011

Marking Permanency Test & Acetone Test Comments

Marking Permanency (using 3 parts Mineral Spirits and 1 part Alcohol) combined with an Acetone test for Blacktopping are two common methods to determine if a electronic components has been remarked.

It should be noted that if a component fails either of these test there is a high degree of probabality that the part in question is counterfeit.  There are cases and examples that we have witnessed where Component Manufacturers have blacktopped and remarked their product but these examples are very rare.

As a rule of thumb, any part that does not pass the marking permancy and acetone tests illustrated below should be considered suspect counterfeit.

Marking Permanency Test Explained

Today's semiconductor counterfeiters are intentionally remarking failed, refurbished, or otherwise fraudulent components with part numbers that are in high demand.  A simple Marking Permanency test can be utilized.

There are a variety of Military Specification and generally accepted manufacturing standards that stipulate that component markings must be resistant to a mixture of Mineral Spirits and Alcohol.  (I won't bore the reader of this blog with those standards)

If the marking on a component does not stand up to exposure to Mineral Spirits and Alcohol it should be considered a suspect counterfeit components.  The following photo's show a part prior to exposure:



Please note the results after exposure to Mineral Spirits and Alcohol below:



While the marking on this part did pass a marking permanency, it failed the blacktopping test shown in the next blog posting.

Acetone Test for Blacktopping Explained

Blacktopping is a counterfeiting technique, where the counterfeiter, takes components, sands them to remove the origional component marking, blacktops (or paints) them in order to hide the origional marking, and then prints them with fraudulent markings.

While the methods used to blacktop or paint the sanded parts is improving each and every day, many of today's blacktopped components can be discovered by vigorously applying acetone to the component in an effort to disolve the paint or other substances used to blacktop the product. 

The following two images are of a counterfeit part, prior to exposure to acetone.  Please note that in the microscopic image the mold cavity has the same finish and texture relative to the rest of the part.  This is a common indicator that a product has been blacktopped as the mold cavity should have a different finish and surface texture.
 

After exposure to Acetone, applied with a Q-Tip to the bottom of this part, it becomes evident that the bottom of this part has been resurfaced or blacktopped both by the change in the texture or finish on the bottom of the parts, as well as by the evidence of the paint used on the Q-Tip.  The following two photo's illustrate this example.




The final photograph, shows evidence of sanding, which is only evident after the blacktopping is removed.



Big Fourth Quarter for Intel

According to CNNMoney.com, Intel has posted their best fourth quarter in the companie's history !
With such strong quarterly results, Intel has broken records. Intel posted earnings per share of 59 cents, and had forecast earnings of 53 cents per share. Intel's data center group posted a 15% increase in revenue.
Intel President and CEO, Paul Otellini said in a written statement, " 2010 was the best year in Intel's history. We believe that 2011 will be even better."
For more infromation about Intel's accomplishments, please visit: http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/13/technology/rnings/index.htm

Thursday, January 13, 2011

AD6645ASQ105 by Analog Device Available for Sale

Oxygen Electronics has a limited amount of AD6645ASQ105 by Analog Device available for sale.  This 14-Bit, 80MSPS/105 MSPS A/D Converter was made obsolete in Feb of 2009 by Analog Device.  This product is an LQFP package.

More information about this part including photo's and a datasheet can be found at http://www.o2xygen.com/parts/AD6645ASQ105.htm.

Similar parts can be seen at:  http://www.o2xygen.com/parts/A/27.htm
And photo's of similar parts can be found at:  http://www.o2xygen.com/parts/images/A/34.htm

For more information please contact sales@o2xygen.com.


XC3090-70PG175M: Available for Purchase

XC3090-70PG175M is now available for sale. The parts are manufactured by Xilinx in August of 1995. This product was made obselete on January 15th, 2000.

For more information including data sheets and photos of the part, please visit http://www.o2xygen.com/parts/XC309070PG175M.htm

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

5962-8606305XA by TI Available from Stock

Oxygen Electronics has a limited quantity of Texas Instrument 5962-8606305XA available from stock.

For more information about the part including product photo's and a datasheet please visit http://www.o2xygen.com/parts/59628606305XA.htm

Please contact sales@o2xygen.com for more information.

ZFX86BGA388I by ZF Micro Available

Oxygen Electronics has approximately 450 each of the ZF Micro ZFX86BGA338I available from STOCK. This product is very rare.  This Integrated Circuit is the ZFX86 CPU 3.3V PBGA388 PC on a Chip and packaged in the factory origional MSL packaging.

For more information about this part please visit http://www.o2xygen.com/parts/ZFX86BGA388I.htm where you can view photo's of the product we have in stock as well as view the complete datasheet by ZF Micro.

JA80386EXTB25 by Intel Availalbe for Sale

Oxygen Electronics has a limited quantity of JA80386EXTB25 available for sale by Intel.  This Obsolete  32 Bit MPU in a TQFP is very rare.  More information about this part including product photos can be found at http://www.o2xygen.com/parts/JA80386EXTB25.htm

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Another Suspect Counterfeit Part Identified: AT29C040A90PI

Today, Oxygen Electronics received a rather large order of Suspect Counterfeit AT29C040A90PI in our White Plains Office. The suspect counterfeit parts were discovered during Visual Inspection as the part markings were not consistent with Atmel PCN SC024001.
The product that was received had identical part markings and date codes, but the parts failed the X-ray Inspection with different die sizes, different die frame sizes, and also different wire bonding.
Please note the following X-Ray results from our inspection.







For more information about this product; please visit http://www.o2xygen.com/parts/AT29C040A90PI.htm

If you have any questions or comments, please contact sales@o2xygen.com.








Monday, November 22, 2010

DMC40457NY-LY-B by Optrex Available for Sale

Oxygen Electronics has a limited quantity of a very rare LCD Module available for sales.  For more information, including a datasheet please visit: http://www.o2xygen.com/parts/DMC40457NYLYB.htm

For similar product please visit the following link:  http://www.o2xygen.com/parts/D/54.htm.

Warning: Suspect Counterfeit Parts Identified: IDT72103L50J

Oxygen Electronics recieved a small quantity of Suspect Counterfeit IDT72103L50J in our White Plains facility.  This counterfeit product was discovered as there was evidence of Blacktopping and this part failed our X-Ray inspection.

The product that was recieved had identical part markings and date codes, while the internal construction was very different.  Please note the following X-Ray results from our inspection.



For more information about this part, please visit: http://www.o2xygen.com/parts/IDT72103L50J.htm

If you have questions or comments - please contact sales@o2xygen.com

Friday, September 17, 2010

Electronica 2010

If you visit Electronica2010 in Munich pls do get in contact with Andreas Pinsker in our French office !
T+ 33 499642416
apinsker@o2xygen.com

We'd be more than happy to explain the Oxygen way of procuring components !


Thursday, September 16, 2010

Another Seller of Counterfeit Stopped!

In a press release dated September 14, 2010 the U.S. Department of Justice announced a 10-count indictment which charged the Owner and an Employee of VisionTech Components in the alleged importation and sale of counterfeit integrated circuits.

The complete press release is available at: http://www.o2xygen.com/press/doj10-233.pdf.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

CNBC Special: Crime Inc: Counterfeit Goods

Take a look at CNBC's one-hour special "CRIME INC: COUNTERFEIT GOODS" which Premieres tonight, Wed, July 14 at 9 pm ET.


CNBC's Carl Quintanilla reports that, "At around 7% of all global trade, counterfeit goods are a big business with low overhead. It makes too much money to go away any time soon. The largest underground industry in the world, counterfeit goods bring in hundreds of billions, while sapping the economy, putting lives in jeopardy, and funding organized crime in the process."

"CRIME INC.: COUNTERFEIT GOODS" will also air on:

Saturday, 7/18 at 10PM ET

Thursday, 7/22 at 8PM & 12AM ET

Sunday, 7/25 at 1AM ET

Fake handbags, watches, and perfumes are a way of the past. The largest underground industry in the world, Counterfeit Goods bring in hundreds of billions, while sapping the economy, putting lives in jeopardy, and funding organized crime in the process.
CNBC presents "Crime Inc.: Counterfeit Goods," a CNBC Original reported by CNBC's Carl Quintanilla takes viewers inside where the goods are produced and confiscated in a world of high-risk and high-reward.

The one-hour special brings you on raids with the LAPD anti-counterfeiting unit, inspections at ports, and back-room factories where counterfeits are produced. Meet a couple who was paralyzed by counterfeit Botox, a company whose whole brand was copied, and the story of a defense contractor who counterfeit defense parts that found their way into weapons depots in Iraq.

At around 7% of all global trade, Counterfeit Goods are a big business with low overhead. It makes too much money to go away any time soon.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

More Positive Semiconductor News and Analysis

iShares: S&P N Am T-Sem:  IGW 1 Year Chart
Chipmakers Get Lift From Rising Demand as reported by The Street
Severe Shortages as reported by Evertiq:  Full Story
European semiconductor sales up 1.7% in May
Philadelphia Semiconductor Intex: Chart

Semiconductor Billings Growth

According to data reported by SIA (Semiconductor Industry Association), global semiconductor billings grew from $76.34 for the first five months of 2009 to $115.66 Billion for the first five months of 2010.

Semiconductor Equipment Book-to-Bill Ratio

Data reported by SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Internationl) shows the Semiconductor Equipment Book-to-Bill ratio (3 month moving average) continues to stay in positive territory for an 11 consecuitive month.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Global Semiconductor Shipments Show Rebound

Global Semiconductors Billings - 3 Month Moving Average as Reported bot the SIA (Semiconductor Industry Association on http://www.economy.com/ shows a rebound to levels never seen before.

As shipments continue to increase, Oxygen Electronics is seeing more and more cases of allocation, long lead times, and lost stock.  While these market conditions are surely caused by increased demand, the feeling at Oxygen is that this is a supply driven market as we are seeing more and more price increases.  Provided a rebound in the global economy our feeling is that the supply driven shortage will be followed by a demand driven shortages.

Recommendations to clients and staff is to make purchasing decisions quickly as to take advantage of inventory available today.


Tuesday, June 22, 2010

APA300PQ208M By Actel Available from Oxygen Electronics

Oxygen Electronics has a limited quantity of a rare Actel APA300PQ208M available for sale.  Please contact sales@o2xygen.com for more information.  A datasheet and further description of this product can be found at the following link:  http://www.o2xygen.com/parts/APA300PQ208M.htm