Chip forensics has become an important aspect of law enforcement for retrieving data from data carriers. Improving data encryption techniques, smaller technology nodes and increasing chip design complexity instigate the constant need for new software and hardware hacking methods. The work presented in this thesis investigates the potential of a new hardware hacking method named backside contacting. This method aims to connect a probe to one of the bottom interconnects through the backside to listen to the signals sent over that interconnect.
For this purpose, a recipe has been developed. This recipe is a workflow of numerous processes and steps. Several methods like delayering, cross-sectioning and infra-red (IR) imaging were developed to obtain information about the layout and technology of the chip. Atomic layer deposition (ALD), induction coupled plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (ICPECVD) and a focussed ion beam (FIB) were used to create structures on the die, in order to realize a backside interconnect. Finally, various setups were built to test the chip throughout the recipe.
The study shows that each step is possible without losing the data on the chip. The yield of surviving chips after each step, however, should be increased to establish a full backside contact while keeping the chip alive. The study also indicates that there remains considerable potential for improvement within each step. The results are promising and justify further research into the method of backside contacting.
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Due to the current trend of urbanization more people will come and live in cities than ever before. This increases the need to monitor the urban environment, to be able to improve the living conditions of the urban dwellers. Our project combines the need to monitor the local environment, with a portable, self-powered and wireless weather station. The final design consists of a solar powered and WiFi-connected weather station with autonomous functionality for one year. For our research, the focus was on the Netherlands. Part of such a project is the power management which will be dealt with in this thesis.
In the thesis, different maximum power point tracking algorithms will be discussed and compared. Furthermore, some more research is done in the hardware design, the use of different evaluation boards and battery configurations. Finally, a prototype using the incremental conductance algorithm is constructed and tested. Simulations lead to an efficiency of around 80%, which means autonomous functionality for a minimum of one year. The physical system had a lower efficiency, but autonomous functionality for one year was still achieved.
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