Soft error location and sensitivity detection for programmable devices
US7702978B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 18, 2007 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 28, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K19/17764
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that detect whether a soft error that occurs in stored configuration data is a false positive that can be ignored such that reloading configuration data or other remedial measures are not unnecessarily performed. One example provides an integrated circuit including an error detection circuit and a sensitivity processor. The error detection circuit detects the presence of errors. The sensitivity processor determines whether a detected error can be ignored, or whether remedial action, such as providing an error flag, reconfiguring the device, or correcting the error, should be commenced. The sensitivity processor may make this determination based on whether the error occurred in a memory cell that configures unused circuitry. The sensitivity processor may make use of an error log to track known errors that may be ignored, so that this determination does not need to be done each time the configuration data is checked.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.