Endian Configuration Circuit with Error-Correcting Register Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic microcontrollers and microprocessors face challenges in ensuring consistent endianess configuration due to errors caused by noise, interference, and radiation, which can lead to reliability degradation and incorrect system operations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an electronic circuit with a microcontroller processor, a peripheral, an endian circuit for selective operation modes, and a detection circuit to prevent inadvertent endianess switches, along with a non-volatile memory and decoding/encoding circuits for error-resistant configuration bit management, including error correction mechanisms to maintain configuration integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If configuration bits are stored in non-volatile memory without error correction, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to noise, interference, and radiation errors
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediary encoding circuit is introduced between the configuration bits in non-volatile memory and the multibit register. This circuit encodes configuration bits into larger codewords using error-correcting codes (e.g., Hamming codes), enabling error detection and correction without requiring redundant storage locations, thus maintaining reliability while managing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter representation by encoding configuration bits into expanded multibit codewords. Instead of storing raw configuration bits directly, the system transforms them into encoded forms with built-in error correction capability, allowing the same physical storage to provide both compactness and reliability
2Reliability
If endianess configuration is implemented without detection circuitry, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to inadvertent endianess switches from faults
Solution Approach 1:
A detection circuit is implemented that continuously monitors the endianess configuration state and provides feedback to detect inadvertent switches. The circuit compares the current endianess setting against expected valid states and triggers error detection when inconsistencies are found, ensuring reliability while using minimal additional circuitry
3Reliability
If configuration bits are protected with extensive error correction codes, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to more complex circuit fabrication
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing comprehensive error correction for all configuration data, the system applies error correction selectively to critical configuration bits such as endianess settings. This partial application of error correction provides adequate protection for safety-critical parameters while avoiding the manufacturing complexity of full-system error correction implementation
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic circuit includes a microcontroller processor (410), a peripheral (420) coupled with the processor, an endian circuit (470) coupled with the processor and the peripheral to selectively provide different endianess modes of operation, and a detection circuit (140) to detect a failure to select a given endianess, whereby inadvertent switch of endianess due to faults is avoided. Other circuits, devices, systems, methods of operation and processes of manufacture are also disclosed.