Abstract: Due to design variations, process variations, manufacturing variations, and other factors, memory of a certain type manufactured by one manufacturer often exhibits a unique pattern of performance characteristics relative to the patterns of the same type of performance characteristics exhibited by memory from other manufacturers. A system for identifying counterfeit memory is trained to learn the different patterns of performance characteristics for different manufacturers of memory. Thereafter, the system may analyze the performance of a given memory device to determine whether the memory device has been manufactured by a particular manufacturer. Thus, the system is capable of determining whether the memory device is counterfeit (e.g., has been manufactured by an unexpected manufacturer).

Abstract: A system for testing memory includes logic that is configured to perform various normal memory operations (e.g., erase, read and write operations) on a memory device and to determine operational parameters associated with the memory operations. As an example, the amount of time to perform one or more memory operations may be measured, or a number of errors resulting from the memory operations may be counted or otherwise determined. One or more of the operational parameters may then be analyzed to determine whether they are in a range expected for counterfeit memory. If so, the logic determines that the memory under test is counterfeit (e.g., is recycled or counterfeit) and provides a notification about the authenticity of the memory. The logic may also estimate the age of the memory based on the operational parameters.

Abstract: Due to design variations, process variations, manufacturing variations, and other factors, memory of a certain type manufactured by one manufacturer often exhibits a unique pattern of performance characteristics relative to the patterns of the same type of performance characteristics exhibited by memory from other manufacturers. A system for identifying counterfeit memory is trained to learn the different patterns of performance characteristics for different manufacturers of memory. Thereafter, the system may analyze the performance of a given memory device to determine whether the memory device has been manufactured by a particular manufacturer. Thus, the system is capable of determining whether the memory device is counterfeit (e.g., has been manufactured by an unexpected manufacturer).