Reliable System Specification for Self-Checking Data-Paths

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel system-level method for enhancing data-path reliability in circuits by redefining operator functionalities, demonstrated on a FIR circuit, with analysis of feasibility, fault coverage, and overheads.

Contribution

It proposes a new system specification technique for self-checking data-paths that is transparent to designers and applicable at the system level.

Findings

Effective fault detection coverage demonstrated on FIR circuit

Minimal performance degradation observed

Overheads are manageable for practical implementation

Abstract

The design of reliable circuits has received a lot of attention in the past, leading to the definition of several design techniques introducing fault detection and fault tolerance properties in systems for critical applications/environments. Such design methodologies tackled the problem at different abstraction levels, from switch-level to logic, RT level, and more recently to system level. Aim of this paper is to introduce a novel system-level technique based on the redefinition of the operators functionality in the system specification. This technique provides reliability properties to the system data path, transparently with respect to the designer. Feasibility, fault coverage, performance degradation and overheads are investigated on a FIR circuit.