Designing and testing fault-tolerant techniques for SRAM-based FPGAs

Abstract

This paper discusses fault-tolerant techniques for SRAM-based FPGAs. These techniques can be based on circuit level modifications, with obvious modifications in the programmable architecture, or they can be implemented at the high-level description, without modification in the FPGA architecture. The high-level method presented in this work is based on Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) and a combination of Duplication Modular Redundancy (DMR) with Concurrent Error Detection (CED) techniques, which are able to cope with upsets in the combinational and in the sequential logic. The methodology was validated by fault injection experiments in an emulation board. Results have been analyzed in terms of reliability, input and output pin count, area and power dissipation.