Two awards for Algotronix

Do you recall our recent "How To" design article How to defend against the cloning of your FPGA designs. The idea was to include a small core that, on power-up, caused the FPGA to output a digital signature in the form of a thermally modulated pattern that could be picked up with a temperature sensor. Known as DesignTag technology, this technique can be used uncover counterfeit or remarked semiconductor components.

Well, the inventors of this technology, the folks at Algotronix, Edinburgh, UK were recently presented with two prestigious awards recognizing their contribution to the industry.

On Monday 3 November, the company received the Institution of Engineering and Technology's (IET) Innovation Awards 2008 for Electronics. This wa sclosely followed on Thursday, 6 November, which saw Algotronix scoop the Emerging Technology Company of the Year Award from the National Microelectronics Institute (NMI).

Commenting on the two awards, Tom Kean, Algotronix Managing Director, said, "What a fantastic week! It is incredible to receive recognition from two such highly esteemed organisations and a glowing commendation of the innovation in small UK companies."

Paul Dillien, from High Tech Marketing, which provides sales and marketing services for Algotronix adds: "The DesignTag technology has been proven on FPGAs, and we are now looking to partner with semiconductor vendors who are suffering financial loss from counterfeit components. This development will unleash the full potential to uncover fake or remarked devices that are having such a negative impact on our industry."