Architecture-level fault-tolerance for biomedical implants

Robert M. Seepers*, Christos Strydis, Georgi N. Gaydadjiev

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volumeConference contributionScientificpeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of a new fault-tolerant RISC-processor architecture suitable for a design framework targeting biomedical implants. The design targets both soft and hard faults and is original in efficiently combining as well as enhancing classic fault-tolerance techniques. The proposed architecture allows run-time tradeoffs between performance and fault tolerance by means of instruction-level configurability. The system design is synthesized for UMC 90nm CMOS standard-process and is evaluated in terms of fault coverage, area, average power consumption, total energy consumption and performance for various duplication policies and test-sequence schedules. It is shown that area and power overheads of approximately 25% and 32%, respectively, are required to implement our techniques on the baseline processor. The major overheads of the proposed architecture are performance (up to 107%) and energy consumption (up to 157%). It is observed that the average power consumption is often reduced when a higher degree of fault tolerance is targeted. It is shown that test sequences can effectively be scheduled during the available program stalls and that nearly all soft faults are tolerated by using instruction duplication. The main advantages of the proposed architecture are the high portability of the introduced architecture-level fault-tolerance techniques, the flexibility in trading processor overheads for required fault-tolerance degree as well as affordable area and power consumption overheads.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings - 2012 International Conference on Embedded Computer Systems
Subtitle of host publicationArchitectures, Modeling and Simulation, IC-SAMOS 2012
Pages104-112
Number of pages9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012
Event2012 International Conference on Embedded Computer Systems: Architectures, Modeling and Simulation, IC-SAMOS 2012 - Samos, Greece
Duration: 16 Jul 201219 Jul 2012

Publication series

NameProceedings - 2012 International Conference on Embedded Computer Systems: Architectures, Modeling and Simulation, IC-SAMOS 2012

Conference

Conference2012 International Conference on Embedded Computer Systems: Architectures, Modeling and Simulation, IC-SAMOS 2012
Country/TerritoryGreece
CitySamos
Period16/07/1219/07/12

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