Niccolo Battezzati

Reconfigurable Field Programmable Gate Arrays for Mission-Critical Applications Niccolo Battezzati 2011 edition

Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index. Jacket Description/Back: Reconfigurable Field Programmable Gate Arrays for Mission-Critical Applications by: Niccolo Battezzati Luca Sterpone Massimo Violante This book describes the challenges faced by designers when implementing a mission- or safety-critical application using re-configurable FPGAs and it details various techniques to overcome these challenges. In addition to an overview of the key concepts of re-configurable FPGAs, it provides a theoretical description of the failure modes that can cause incorrect operation of re-configurable FPGA-based electronic systems. It also outlines analysis techniques that can be used to forecast such failures and covers the theory behind solutions to mitigate fault effects. This book also reviews current technologies available for building re-configurable FPGAs, specifically SRAM-based technology and Flash-based technology. For each technology introduced, theoretical concepts presented are applied to real cases. Design techniques and tools are presented to develop critical applications using commercial, off-the-shelf devices, such as Xilinx Virtex FPGAs, and Actel ProASIC FPGAs. Alternative techniques based on radiation hardened FPGAs, such as Xilinx SIRF and Atmel ATF280 are also presented. This book is an invaluable reference for anyone interested in understanding the technologies of re-configurable FPGAs, as well as designers developing critical applications based on these technologies. Describes challenges faced when implementing a mission- or safety-critical application using re-configurable FPGAs and offers techniques to overcome these challenges; Provides an overview of the key concepts of re-configurable FPGAs, as well as a theoretical description of their failure modes; Presents analysis techniques that can be used to forecast failures and covers the theory behind solutions to mitigate fault effects; Reviews current technologies available for building re-configurable FPGAs and applies theoretical concepts to real cases."Table of Contents: 1. Introduction -- References -- Part I. Basic Concepts -- 2. Reconfigurable Field Programmable Gate Arrays: Basic Concepts -- 2.1. FPGA Architectures -- 2.2. FPGA Configuration Technology -- 2.2.1. Floating Gate Technology -- 2.2.2. Antifuse Technology -- 2.2.3. SRAM Technology -- 2.3. The Logic Block -- 2.3.1. Fine-Grain Logic Blocks -- 2.3.2. Coarse-Grain Logic Blocks -- 2.4. The Routing Architecture -- 2.4.1. The Switching Elements -- 2.5. The Input/Output Blocks -- 2.6. The Configuration Memory -- 2.7. An Overview of the Architecture of Modern FPGAs -- 2.7.1. Logic Resources -- 2.7.2. Interconnection Resources -- 2.7.3. Memory Resources -- 2.7.4. Arithmetic Resources -- 2.7.5. Processing Resources -- 2.7.6. Interfacing Resources -- References -- 3. Reconfigurable Field Programmable Gate Arrays: Failure Modes and Analysis -- 3.1. The Impact of the Environment on the Device -- 3.1.1. Radiation Environments -- 3.1.2. Radiation Characteristics -- 3.1.3. Physical Effects -- 3.1.4. From the Effect to the Fault -- 3.1.5. Fault Models in FPGAs -- 3.1.6. SEUs and MCUs Effects on the FPGA's Routing Resources -- 3.1.7. SEUs and MCUs Effects on the FPGA's Logic Resources -- 3.1.8. Topological Modifications Induced by SEUs and MCUs -- 3.2. Analysis Techniques -- 3.2.1. Life Testing -- 3.2.2. Accelerated Radiation Testing -- 3.2.3. Fault Injection -- 3.2.4. Analytical Techniques -- References -- 4. Reconfigurable Field Programmable Gate Arrays: Hardening Solutions -- 4.1. Overview on the Design Process for FPGA Applications -- 4.1.1. FPGA Design -- 4.1.2. Application Design -- 4.2. Techniques for FPGA Manufacturer -- 4.2.1. Mitigation Techniques for SEL -- 4.2.2. Mitigation Techniques for TID -- 4.2.3. Mitigation Techniques for Single Memory Elements -- 4.2.4. Mitigation Techniques for Programming Elements -- 4.2.5. Mitigation Techniques for Memories -- 4.2.6. Mitigation Techniques for Logic Elements -- 4.2.7. Mitigation Techniques for Input/Output Elements -- 4.3. Overview of Techniques for FPGA User -- 4.3.1. In-Chip Mitigation Techniques -- 4.3.2. Off-Chip Mitigation Techniques -- References -- Part II. Practical Concepts -- 5. Reprogrammable FPGAs for Mission-Critical Applications -- 5.1. Introduction -- 5.2. Radiation-Tolerant Reprogrammable FPGAs -- 5.2.1. Virtex-4 QV Products -- 5.2.2. Actel RT ProASIC3 -- 5.3. Radiation-Hardened Re-programmable FPGAs -- 5.3.1. Atmel ATF280 -- References -- 6. Putting Mitigation Techniques at Work -- 6.1. Mitigation Techniques for SRAM-Based Devices: The Xilinx Virtex Case Study -- 6.1.1. Single Event Upsets Consideration -- 6.1.2. Multiple Cell Upsets Considerations -- 6.2. Mitigation Techniques for Flash-Based Devices: The Actel ProASIC3 Case Study -- 6.2.1. Single Event Transient Characterization -- 6.2.2. Single Event Transient Mitigation -- References -- 7. System-Level Considerations -- 7.1. Introduction -- 7.2. The Target Radioactive Environment -- 7.3. The Impact of the Target Radioactive Environment -- 7.4. The Impact of the Target Application -- 7.5. System-Level Considerations -- References -- 8. Conclusions -- Subject Index. Publisher Marketing: Embedded systems applications that are either mission or safety-critical usually entail low- to mid- production volumes, require the rapid development of specific tasks, which are typically computing intensive, and are cost bounded. The adoption of re-configurable FPGAs in such application domains is constrained to the availability of suitable techniques to guarantee the dependability requirements entailed by critical applications. This book describes the challenges faced by designers when implementing a mission- or safety-critical application using re-configurable FPGAs and it details various techniques to overcome these challenges. In addition to an overview of the key concepts of re-configurable FPGAs, it provides a theoretical description of the failure modes that can cause incorrect operation of re-configurable FPGA-based electronic systems. It also outlines analysis techniques that can be used to forecast such failures and covers the theory behind solutions to mitigate fault effects. This book also reviews current technologies available for building re-configurable FPGAs, specifically SRAM-based technology and Flash-based technology. For each technology introduced, theoretical concepts presented are applied to real cases. Design techniques and tools are presented to develop critical applications using commercial, off-the-shelf devices, such as Xilinx Virtex FPGAs, and Actel ProASIC FPGAs. Alternative techniques based on radiation hardened FPGAs, such as Xilinx SIRF and Atmel ATF280 are also presented. Thispublication is an invaluable reference for anyone interested in understanding the technologies of re-configurable FPGAs, as well as designers developing critical applications based on these technologies."