Chapter 250: Complaint
When Han Yu-ju designed Dojin Tech’s HBM2E kernel system,
she incorporated a special security architecture to prevent reverse engineering and technology replication risks from data leaks.
The core concept of the design was not just DRM or source encryption, but something called Digital Poison.
The overarching principle was as follows:
[If external leakage is detected, turn the data into a weapon!]
The system inserted a cleverly designed ‘decoy code’ into the kernel linkage routine. If the copied code were connected to an actual chipset,
it would induce critical issues such as TSV signal delay, computation timing misalignment, ECC asynchronous collision, and heat control errors.
On the surface, it would function perfectly, but when actually linked to hardware, computation omissions and error accumulations would occur, causing the entire system to periodically freeze.
Additionally, a random-based floating delay algorithm was inserted to block traceback analysis if external debugging was attempted.
All this code appeared to be actual operating code, so even if the entire blueprint were stolen, complete replication would be absolutely impossible.
…….
＊＊＊
Mujinwon.
“We’ve secured them.”
At Director Choi Ha-rim’s report, a bitter smile spread across Cheon Jun-seok’s lips.
“How many have agreed to come over to our side?”
“One HBM controller architect, one TSV process engineer, and one former kernel memory manager—a total of three have come over, all with more than ten years of experience at Ahsung Electronics.”
“What about the data?”
“We’ve secured most of the data as well. Not only process-related manuals, but also optimal values for TSV depth and pitch, buffer interface tables, and ECC error correction algorithms. In particular, the kernel linkage section was directly adapted from the structure used by Dojin.”
The tablet screen Choi Ha-rim held displayed a detailed ‘HBM2E Integrated Linkage Diagram,’ which appeared to be an internal Dojin Tech document.
Cheon Jun-seok nodded with satisfaction as he reviewed the document, which specified chipset interfaces, temperature sensor linkage conditions, and error flag generation conditions in detail.
“Good. Let’s move straight into production.”
“First, you’ll need to approve the investment details.”
Choi Ha-rim handed over a list outlining the equipment and costs required for process setup.
[Total Expected Investment: 3.84 trillion won]
Cheon Jun-seok’s eyebrows rose slightly as he reviewed the contents.
“Is this much new investment really necessary? As for equipment, we already have more than enough on our side…….”
Choi Ha-rim cut him off.
“According to the developers who came over from Dojin, simply replicating the circuit isn’t enough. To fully replicate Dojin Tech’s process and performance, we need to fully expand the TSV back-end process line and replace the 3.5D packaging line with the latest equipment.”
Choi Ha-rim flipped through the list to show the details.
[Detailed Investment List]
- Expansion of TSV + Micro Bump Dedicated Back-End Line
-
80um TSV Processing Equipment (40 units)
-
Flip Chip Bonder (25 units)
-
TSV Channel Mapping Inspection Equipment (12 sets)
-
Expected Cost: 1.72 trillion won
- HBM2E Dedicated Kernel Linkage Test Equipment
-
100GHz High-Frequency Loopback Analyzer
-
ECC Collision Simulator + Thermal Stress Testbed
-
Expected Cost: 352 billion won
- Cooling/Heat Control Process Equipment
-
Copper Interposer and Heat Spreader Automatic Placement Equipment
-
High Thermal Conductivity Glue…….
-
Expected Cost:…….
- Security Maintenance and Replication Prevention System
- Debugging Blocking Meta…….
-…….
“Hmm…… the cost isn’t insignificant.”
“True, but we need to enter the HBM market as soon as possible if we’re to keep up with the AI market trends.”
As Choi Ha-rim said, the AI market was expected to grow explosively.
High-bandwidth memory technologies like HBM were a key axis that would change the industry landscape, so the moment they fell behind,
they risked being left out of the market entirely.
Thus, Cheon Jun-seok made his decision on the spot without hesitation.
“To beat Dojin in the HBM competition, this level of investment seems unavoidable. Put it on the board agenda immediately. Handle it confidentially, and as soon as it’s approved, let’s move into equipment procurement and production.”
“Yes, Vice Chairman.”
Choi Ha-rim quickly prepared the approval documents,
and board approval proceeded smoothly.
And two months later,
Ahsung Electronics’ new process line began operations.
The latest Flip-Chip bonders assembled HBM2E stacks without pause,
and TSV channel inspectors busily output data.
Thanks to bringing over Dojin’s technology and key developers, yields were stable, and performance was almost identical to Dojin’s products.
“What’s the ECC error rate?”
“Around 0.07%, within the allowable error range. Heat dissipation performance is also within standards.”
Behind Cheon Jun-seok and Choi Ha-rim, who were touring the site, dozens of quality and production managers stood in a row with tense expressions.
“When’s the first shipment scheduled?”
“Next week, to be delivered to Tesler.”
The manager in charge added,
“The HBM being delivered this time will be installed in Tesler’s autonomous driving learning platform, ‘Obsidian.’”
“Obsidian…… Is that the dedicated ‘FS (Fully Self)’ training platform Tesler is planning to implement by the end of this year?”
“Correct. It’s considered a strategic asset within Tesler, so important.”
“Then there must be no mistakes. Even if yields drop, send only the highest-performing units.”
“Yes, Vice Chairman.”
.
.
.
One week later.
Fremont, California, USA.
Tesler Supercomputing Center, Obsidian Test Room.
Engineers moved busily between the massive server racks.
New boards equipped with Ahsung’s HBM2E were connected one by one to the test benches,
and as the 20U ‘Compute Modules’ were aligned in the racks, power was immediately applied.
The status values of each node appeared on the monitors, and at the top of the dashboard UI, the words
Through the glass, Merkus and Eliason watched the scene unfold.
“Finally, everything’s ready to go.”
“I can’t believe the hardware was set up this quickly. Good work.”
Merkus patted Eliason’s shoulder with a satisfied expression.
“We managed to get the AI chips from Ensedia relatively easily with the N100, but if it weren’t for Ahsung, the HBM would have taken several more months.”
“Anyway, as long as this works properly, we can end the Luna learning slot lease.”
“The lease cost of $100 million per month was a burden.”
More than the money, what bothered Merkus most was that Dojin could indirectly monitor his training data.
That’s why he had paid a premium to Ahsung and Ensedia to secure the AI chips and memory.
But then.
“Huh?”
Eliason’s eyes suddenly widened.
[Warning: ECC Alignment Fault Detected at Node #B22]
[Error: TSV Latency Spike Detected at Cluster B]
[Fatal Error: Memory Sync Failure — System Halted]
“Wh… What’s this?”
Eliason narrowed his eyes and opened the log window.
The memory error that started at #B22 quickly spread to #B24 and #B25, and the entire cluster abruptly halted with a ‘thud.’
Urgent cries erupted from within the server room.
“Sir! ECC errors are spreading.”
“Cluster computations are all frozen!”
Eliason shouted urgently,
“Reboot the entire system before it spreads to the memory bus!”
The technicians moved quickly at his command, but the memory synchronization error had already caused fatal signal distortion, and cache resets were ineffective.
“What the hell just happened?”
When Merkus sharply asked,
Eliason cautiously replied,
“I’ll need to investigate further, but it doesn’t seem like a simple defect. Something appears to have been deliberately designed within the computation routine……”
“Speak clearly. What are you talking about?”
“……It seems there was an issue with the HBM supplied by Ahsung.”
＊＊＊
Ahsung Electronics R&D Center, Risk Room.
On the massive display, log files received from the Tesler Supercomputing Center were being analyzed in real time.
The screen repeatedly displayed critical logs in red, such as ‘ECC Error,’ ‘TSV Delay,’ and ‘Memory Synchronization Failure.’
A middle-aged technician sat in front of the monitor,
his head bowed as he tightly gripped the pen in his hand.
“……Director.”
Choi Ha-rim looked up,
then turned to Kim Dong-soo, the principal engineer beside him.
He was one of the three developers brought over from Dojin, the reverse architect who designed the HBM kernel linkage routine.
“Speak quickly. What’s the problem?”
Under pressure from Director Choi Ha-rim, Kim Dong-soo continued in a suppressed voice,
“After analyzing the logs from Tesler…… it seems there was an abnormal routine hidden within Dojin’s data.”
“Abnormal routine……?”
“Specifically, it appears that computation timing decoupling structures and TSV asynchronous loop disruption codes operated simultaneously. These were disguised as normal operation routines on the surface, but they seem to be a digital poison structure that induces errors only in replicated chipset environments.”
Choi Ha-rim’s expression hardened.
“So…… this applies to all the HBM we produced?”
“It seems the Dojin design documents we obtained weren’t the originals, but decoy designs.”
A sophisticated trap that inserts deliberate latency or computation faults under specific conditions within the processor or kernel routine, causing performance degradation or malfunction only in certain environments.
“So…… all this wasn’t a mistake, but a trap set by Dojin from the beginning?”
“It seems so.”
“Is there a solution?”
At Choi Ha-rim’s words, Kim Dong-soo bit his lip and bowed his head.
“In the current system structure…… improvement is impossible. We’d have to redesign from scratch…….”
“Are you serious right now!”
Slam!
Choi Ha-rim slammed the table hard.
The air in the risk room froze instantly.
With over 3 trillion won invested and deliveries already underway,
if it became known that errors occurred in all modules delivered to Tesler, not only would there be damages, but also delivery claims would surely follow.
But.
This was only the beginning.
As Choi Ha-rim struggled to find an alternative,
a new message alerting him to an emergency situation arrived on his phone.
[Urgent] A complaint has been filed by the Dojin Group Legal Team for ‘Misappropriation of Trade Secrets’ and ‘Violation of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.’