ESIM is a simulation tool that integrates logic fault and design error simulation for logic circuits. It targets several design error and fault models, and uses a novel mix of simulation algorithms based on parallel-p...
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ESIM is a simulation tool that integrates logic fault and design error simulation for logic circuits. It targets several design error and fault models, and uses a novel mix of simulation algorithms based on parallel-pattern evaluation, multiple error activation, single fault propagation, and critical path tracing. Several experiments are discussed to demonstrate the power of ESIM.
Building a high-performance microprocessor presents many reliability challenges. Designers must verify the correctness of large complex systems and construct implementations that work reliably in varied (and occasiona...
ISBN:
(纸本)9780769504377
Building a high-performance microprocessor presents many reliability challenges. Designers must verify the correctness of large complex systems and construct implementations that work reliably in varied (and occasionally adverse) operating conditions. To further complicate this task, deep submicron fabrication technologies present new reliability challenges in the form of degraded signal quality and logic failures caused by natural radiation *** this paper, we introduce dynamic verification, a novel microarchitectural technique that can significantly reduce the burden of correctness in microprocessor designs. The approach works by augmenting the commit phase of the processor pipeline with a functional checker unit. The functional checker verifies the correctness of the core processor's computation, only permitting correct results to commit. Overall design cost can be dramatically reduced because designers need only verify the correctness of the checker *** detail the DIVA checker architecture, a design optimized for simplicity and low cost. Using detailed timing simulation, we show that even resource-frugal DIVA checkers have little impact on core processor performance. To make the case for reduced verification costs, we argue that the DIVA checker should lend itself to functional and electrical verification better than a complex core processor. Finally, future applications that leverage dynamic verification to increase processor performance and availability are suggested.
Building a high-performance microprocessor presents many reliability challenges. Designers must verify the correctness of large complex systems and construct implementations that work reliably in varied (and occasiona...
详细信息
Building a high-performance microprocessor presents many reliability challenges. Designers must verify the correctness of large complex systems and construct implementations that work reliably in varied (and occasionally adverse) operating conditions. To further complicate this task, deep submicron fabrication technologies present new reliability challenges in the form of degraded signal quality and logic failures caused by natural radiation interference. In this paper, we introduce dynamic verification, a novel microarchitectural technique that can significantly reduce the burden of correctness in microprocessor designs. The approach works by augmenting the commit phase of the processor pipeline with a functional checker unit. The functional checker verifies the correctness of the core processor's computation, only permitting correct results to commit. Overall design cost can be dramatically reduced because designers need only verify the correctness of the checker unit. We detail the DIVA checker architecture, a design optimized for simplicity and low cost. Using detailed timing simulation, we show that even resource-frugal DIVA checkers have little impact on core processor performance. To make the case for reduced verification costs, we argue that the DIVA checker should lend itself to functional and electrical verification better than a complex core processor. Finally, future applications that leverage dynamic verification to increase processor performance and availability are suggested.
We recently invented a true single-phase energy-recovering circuit family, called TSEL, that relies on a cross-coupled latch structure and two DC reference voltages to achieve low energy consumption for a broad range ...
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We recently invented a true single-phase energy-recovering circuit family, called TSEL, that relies on a cross-coupled latch structure and two DC reference voltages to achieve low energy consumption for a broad range of operating frequencies. In this paper, we explore the application of TSEL to the design of low-energy DSP circuits. Specifically, we describe and evaluate a 6,768-transistor, pipelined TSEL module that performs the 8-point Hadamard transform. In layout simulations with a standard 0.5 /spl mu/m CMOS technology, our TSEL module functions correctly for operating frequencies in excess of 280 MHz. Above 40 MHz, our TSEL design is more energy-efficient than any other energy-recovering alternative with a similar cross-coupled latch structure. At 280 MHz; it is at least 4 times more energy-efficient than a corresponding static CMOS design.
Adiabatic circuits offer a promising alternative to conventional circuitry for low energy design. Their operation is nevertheless subject to fundamental energy-speed trade-offs, just like any other physical realizatio...
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ISBN:
(纸本)9781581131338
Adiabatic circuits offer a promising alternative to conventional circuitry for low energy design. Their operation is nevertheless subject to fundamental energy-speed trade-offs, just like any other physical realization of boolean logic. Thus, adiabatic circuits with very low energy consumption at low frequencies fail to function at high operating frequencies. Conversely, high-speed adiabatic circuits tend to be dissipative at low clock rates. This paper describes SCAL, a single-phase source-coupled adiabatic logic family that operates efficiently across a wide range of operating frequencies. In layout-based simulations with 0.5 /spl mu/m CMOS process parameters, pipelined carry-lookahead adders developed in our logic function correctly from 10 MHz up to 280 MHz. Our SCAL adders are less dissipative than corresponding designs in alternative adiabatic families that remain functional across the same frequency range. Moreover, they are about as dissipative as other adiabatic circuits that are geared towards very efficient operation at low frequencies. In comparison with their CMOS counterparts, our SCAL adders are 3 to 10 times more energy efficient.
Conventional methods cannot effectively verify path delays of designs employing IP circuits (cores) whose implementation details are hidden. A delay fault ATPG method for such designs is proposed that employs a scan t...
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Conventional methods cannot effectively verify path delays of designs employing IP circuits (cores) whose implementation details are hidden. A delay fault ATPG method for such designs is proposed that employs a scan technique called selectively transparent scan (STS). Experimental results are presented which show that the STS method can robustly test paths of a specified delay range in core-based circuits, and substantially reduce test length.
The Hybrid Technology Multi-Threading project is a long-term study of the feasibility of combining several emerging technologies to reach 1 petaFLOPS within ten years. HTMT will combine high-speed superconductor proce...
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The Hybrid Technology Multi-Threading project is a long-term study of the feasibility of combining several emerging technologies to reach 1 petaFLOPS within ten years. HTMT will combine high-speed superconductor processors, semiconductor memories with built-in processors, high-speed optical interconnects, and high-density holographic storage. While there are major challenges in all aspects of this project, those in processor architecture are the focus of this paper. Fundamental differences between RSFQ circuits and conventional semiconductor circuits, including a radical jump in clock speed, make today's processor design approaches inappropriate for HTMT. Sequential instruction dispatching, even within the lowest programming unit (a strand), will lead to unacceptably high latencies, hence poor performance. We propose alternative processor designs which use fine-grain synchronizations between individual instructions in order to avoid these bottlenecks.
Today's high performance and parallel computer systems provide substantial opportunities for concurrency of execution and scalability that is largely untapped by the applications that run on them. Under traditiona...
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A model for integrated circuit design rules based on rectangle edge constraints has been proposed by Jeppson, Christensson, and Hedenstierna. This model appears to be the most rigorous proposed to date for the descrip...
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