Reverse Engineering

Jan G. Korvink

Reverse engineering
Definition

Taking an engineering system or

device hardware or software apart to:

Discover its function

Discover its construction

Discover its constitutents
Discover its secrets

www.imtek.de/simulation

Creating data to refurbish or manufacture a part

for which there is no CAD data, or for which the
data has become obsolete or lost.
Inspection and/or Quality Control - Comparing
a fabricated part to its CAD description or to a
standard item.
Creating 3D data from a model or sculpture for
animation in games and movies.
Creating 3D data from an individual, model or
sculpture for creating, scaling or reproducing
artwork.
Documentation and/or measurement of cultural
objects or artifacts in archaeology, paleontology
and other scientific fields.
Generating data to create dental or surgical
prosthetics, tissue-engineered body parts, or for
surgical planning.
Documentation and reproduction of crime
scenes.
Architectural and construction documentation
and measurement.

Jan G. Korvink / xx.xx.2008 / slide 2

The why
Ethically sound reasons

To learn from experienced engineers

and engineering (academic learning)

Product analysis
Interoperability analysis
To protect ones own intellectual
property

Lost documentation

When biologists learn and

discover how the cell works,
they are performing
sophisticated reverse
engineering

Ethically unsound reasons

To steal intellectual property

www.imtek.de/simulation

Jan G. Korvink / xx.xx.2008 / slide 3

Tools 1: Acquiring the shape of a thing

3D Scanning + CAD

With 3D scanners we can obtain the

shape of an object in CAD format

Tomographic tools such as X-ray or

MRI or acoustic imaging can be used

to get 3D information in a nondestructive manner

http://measuring-arms.faro.com

https://www.nextengine.com
http://www.david-laserscanner.com/
www.imtek.de/simulation

https://www.steinbichler.com
Jan G. Korvink / xx.xx.2008 / slide 4

Tools 1: Making a shape

3D Printing, milling, moulding,
casting

Once we have a 3D CAD file, we can

reproduce the shape in different
materials.

3D printing is tremendously helpful

here.

http://www.rapidtoday.com/
http://www.fabathome.org

http://www.zcorp.com/
www.imtek.de/simulation

http://www.desktopfactory.com/

Jan G. Korvink / xx.xx.2008 / slide 5

http://www.encee.de

Tools 2: Looking inside

Computer tomography

X-ray
MRI

http://www.bio-imaging.com

http://www.skyscan.be

www.imtek.de/simulation

Jan G. Korvink / xx.xx.2008 / slide 6

RE services
Chipworks

http://www.chipworks.com
http://www.ixento.com
http://www.muanalysis.com

www.imtek.de/simulation

Jan G. Korvink / xx.xx.2008 / slide 7

Electronic chips
Analysis of INTEL lithography

Again by Chipworks
Left Xeon, right Yonah
Pitch 160 nm and 220 nm

www.imtek.de/simulation

Jan G. Korvink / xx.xx.2008 / slide 8

Equipment & methods used

Device de-capsulation
Delayer
Image and stitch
Basic process analysis

www.imtek.de/simulation

Circuit Analysis
Structural Analysis
Functional Analysis
Process Review
Process Flow Analysis

Jan G. Korvink / xx.xx.2008 / slide 9

Imager Process Review

MEMS Process Review
Process Node Assessment
Transistor Characterization

Your own approach

My ex Braun shaver ...
Moral of the story?

Never miss an opportunity

Take things apart
Learn how they work
How they were made
Why they have a certain shape
What tricks are available
How weight/cost was saved
How manufacturing became
easy

etc.
www.imtek.de/simulation

Jan G. Korvink / xx.xx.2008 / slide 10