DocumentCode :
2700084
Title :
A new method for on-line state machine observation for embedded microprocessors
Author :
Pflanz, M. ; Galke, C. ; Vierhaus, H.T.
Author_Institution :
CE Res. Group, Tech. Univ. Cottbus, Germany
fYear :
2000
fDate :
2000
Firstpage :
34
Lastpage :
39
Abstract :
In this paper we propose an efficient method to observe a processor state machine and to detect illegal states within one clock-cycle. The strategy is based on a comparison of an encoded vector VCP1, representing the real state, and a predicted vector YCP2, representing the expected state. The practical applicability of the concept was evaluated on several experimental processor designs. We implemented check-units for 8-, I6- and 32-bit microprocessors and DSPs with sets of 32 up to 214 instructions and a deterministic control-flow. The applicability to processors with a higher complexity is demonstrated by a check unit for state machine on-line observation of a pipelined microprocessor with superscalar data-path and hardware-implemented hazard control. To minimize the overhead we investigated different strategies to modify check units. A reduction of hardware overhead can be reached by application specific reduction of processor state machines. For more complex processors we propose a reduction of the overhead by partitioning of the state space
Keywords :
embedded systems; logic design; microprocessor chips; DSPs; clock-cycle; deterministic control flow; embedded microprocessors; encoded vector VCP1; hardware overhead; online state machine observation; processor state machine; superscalar data-path; vector YCP2; Automatic testing; Buffer storage; Delay effects; Encoding; Fault detection; Microprocessors; Process design; Production; State-space methods; System testing;
fLanguage :
English
Publisher :
ieee
Conference_Titel :
High-Level Design Validation and Test Workshop, 2000. Proceedings. IEEE International
Conference_Location :
Berkeley, CA
Print_ISBN :
0-7695-0786-7
Type :
conf
DOI :
10.1109/HLDVT.2000.889556
Filename :
889556
Link To Document :
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