Fault Tolerant Operation of Field Programmable Gate Arrays

A method of fault tolerant reconfiguration and operation of a field programmable gate array (FPGA) during normal on-line operation includes selecting a programmable logic block as a programmable logic block under test, testing the programmable logic block under test, and detecting the existence of any faults in the programmable logic block under test. During testing, the programmable logic block under test is repeatedly reconfigured in order to test the programmable logic block completely in all possible modes of operation. Based on the results of the test, a test result indication is sent to a controller in communication with a memory for storing usage and fault status data for each programmable logic block. If a partially faulty test result indication is present, the controller determines an intended mode of operation of the partially faulty programmable logic block under test and reconfigures the logic block for further use, thus allowing a more gradual degradation of the field programmable gate array

Method for Testing Field Programmable Gate Arrays

A method of testing field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) includes the step of configuring programmable logic blocks of the FPGAs for completing a built-in self-test. Specifically, the FPGA under test may be configured to act as an iterative logic array wherein a first group of programmable logic blocks are configured as test pattern generators, output response analyzers and helper cells, and a second group of programmable logic blocks are configured as blocks under test. The blocks under test are then repeatedly reconfigured in order to completely test each block under test in all possible modes of operation. The first and second groups of programmable logic blocks are then repeatedly rearranged so that all the programmable logic blocks are established as blocks under test at least once. Following the rearrangement, the repeated reconfiguration of the blocks under test is performed once again

Method for Testing Field Programmable Gate Arrays

A method of testing field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) includes the step of configuring programmable logic blocks of the FPGAs for completing a built-in self-test. This is followed by the steps of initiating the built-in self-test, generating test patterns with the programmable logic blocks and analyzing a resulting response to produce a pass/fail indication with the programmable logic blocks. More specifically, the configuring step includes establishing a first group of programmable logic blocks as test pattern generators and output response analyzers and a second group of programmable logic blocks as blocks under test. The blocks under test are then repeatedly recongifured in order to completely test each block under test in all possible modes of operation. The programming of the first and second groups of programmable logic blocks is then reversed and the testing of each new block under test is then completed

Method of Testing and Diagnosing Field Programmable Gate Arrays

A method of testing field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) includes establishing a first group of programmable logic blocks as test pattern generators or output response analyzers and a second group of programmable logic blocks as blocks under test. This is followed by generating test patterns and comparing outputs of two blocks under test with one output response analyzer. Next is the combining of results of a plurality of output response analyzers utilizing an iterative comparator in order to produce a pass/fail indication. The method also includes the step of reconfiguring each block under test so that each block under test is tested in all possible modes of operation. Further, there follows the step of reversing programming of the groups of programmable logic blocks so that each programmable logic block is configured at least once as a block under test

What is the Path to Fast Fault Simulation?

Motivated by the recent advances in fast fault simulation techniques for large combinational circuits, a panel discussion has been organized for the 1988 International Test Conference. This paper is a collective account of the position statements offered by the panelists

BIST-based delay-fault testing in FPGAs

Abstract: We present the first delay-fault testing approach for Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), applicable for on-line testing as well as for off-line manufacturing and system-level testing. Our approach is based on Built-In Self-Test (BIST), it is comprehensive, and does not require expensive external test equipment (ATE). We have successfully implemented this BIST approach for delay-fault testing on the Lattice ORCA 2C and Xilinx Spartan FPGAs. 1