How to Achieve Physics-Powered Assurance with Zero Risk to Your Electronics Hardware
- Carlos Moreno
- Sep 26
- 2 min read
Anvil Checkpoint uses a non-invasive method to verify the integrity of electronic devices. By injecting a low-power RF signal into the target and analyzing the reflections, the system can detect differences in structure, material, and configuration. This approach is precise, non-destructive, and does not require any prior knowledge of the device under test.
Why It’s Safe: Designed to Prevent Damage
Unlike traditional hardware assurance methods that may stress or even damage sensitive components, Anvil’s operating principles ensure absolute safety for devices under test:
Ultra-low signal power
The injected RF signal is fixed at 0 dBm (1 mW) into 50 Ω, which corresponds to ~0.3 V peak. This is well below semiconductor activation thresholds (≈0.6–0.7 V for PN junctions, >1 V for MOSFET gates). No transistors are turned on, and no conduction occurs.
No biasing
Devices are tested unpowered. With no supply voltage, transistors and bias networks remain floating. Any tiny capacitive effects are transient and harmless.
Energy far below normal operation
At 0.3 V, stored energy is in the femtojoule–picojoule range, orders of magnitude less than what the device handles in normal powered operation.
High-frequency safety
At high frequencies, signals distribute across parasitic capacitances. With such low amplitude and no DC bias, there is no carrier injection, hot-carrier stress, or oxide breakdown.
Industry precedent
The same power levels are standard in Vector Network Analyzers (VNAs) and Time-Domain Reflectometry (TDR), widely used across electronics labs without causing damage
Built-In Protections Against Misuse
Anvil Checkpoint incorporates multiple safeguards to prevent accidental or intentional misuse:
Fixed, non-user-adjustable power settings
End users cannot alter RF injection levels. Even under malicious settings, damage is impossible.
Mechanical safeguards
Connectors and fixtures are designed to prevent incorrect insertion. Bed-of-nails (BoN) targets include alignment guides that allow only one correct insertion.
Self-checks before testing
The system performs stabilization and validation routines before engaging with the target.
Training & documentation
Operators receive comprehensive guidance to ensure correct setup and handling.
The Bottom Line for Hardware Assurance
Injecting a 0 dBm RF signal into an unpowered device is scientifically proven safe. The voltage is too low to trigger semiconductor junctions, the energy involved is negligible, and the method is widely recognized in electronics testing.
Anvil Checkpoint delivers advanced detection capabilities with zero risk of damaging your equipment.
