Electronic Circuit Anti-Tamper Conformal Coating Navy SBIR FY2013.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2013.2 Topic No.: N132-118 Topic Title: Electronic Circuit Anti-Tamper Conformal Coating Proposal No.: N132-118-0434 Firm: GVD Corporation 45 Spinelli Place Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138-1046 Contact: W. O'Shaughnessy Phone: (617) 661-0060 Web Site: www.gvdcorp.com Abstract: GVD and its partners propose to develop an active anti-tamper conformal coating based on GVD's proprietary polymer thin film vapor deposition technology. There is an immediate need to for improved anti-tamper (AT) technologies to protect critical program information (CPI) found in the software of weapon systems used by the US Military and its allies. Current state-of-the-art AT coatings applied to circuit boards containing CPI do not protect from electrical probing attacks and do not offer adequate heat dissipation of a board's powered electronics. GVD offers polymer coatings that are grown directly on the surface of a circuit board from the vapor phase at low temperature without use of solvents and without the need for post-deposition drying or curing. Because GVD coatings are ultra-thin (typical thickness range is from 50nm to 5�m) they do not significantly inhibit heat dissipation from electronics. GVD will use its process to design a coating architecture that meets all requirements by combining coatings of various functionalities. In Phase I, we will demonstrate material properties needed to achieve the targeted anti-tamper functionality. This will include the ability to counter both direct probing measures as well as non-invasive attacks. We will also demonstrate the feasibility of GVD's AT concept through analytical modeling and materials testing. Finally, we will develop a plan for risk reduction for further development, prototyping, and scale-up to be carried-out during Phase II. Benefits: GVD's technology will protect military electronics containing critical program information from tampering and reverse engineering activities and will preserve a technological advantage for the US Navy on the battlefield. GVD's AT technology may also be used to protect classified, sensitive, or proprietary information in other commercial sectors including banking, telecommunications, and more. Return