Functional Safety Circuit Using Check Codes for Low-Overhead Chip Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in implementing functional safety protection for modules in chips, particularly due to potential functional abnormalities that can affect reliability, such as those caused by electromagnetic interference, without incurring significant area overhead or power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A functional safety protection circuit comprising a configuration module, protected module, check operation module, and functional safety detection module, which uses a reference check code and target check code generated based on a configuration instruction to detect functional abnormalities through a simple circuit structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If functional safety protection is implemented for modules in chips, then reliability is improved, but area overhead and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses check codes (reference check code and target check code) as simplified copies or representations of the actual module functionality. Instead of duplicating entire modules for safety checking, the invention creates compact check code sequences that represent the expected behavior, enabling safety verification with minimal area overhead while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the safety verification problem from checking entire module outputs to checking specific parameter representations (check codes). By changing the verification parameter from full functional output to condensed check code sequences, the system achieves reliability protection with reduced area and power consumption
2Reliability
If functional safety protection is implemented for modules in chips, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses check codes as energy-efficient representations of module functionality. Instead of continuously monitoring full module outputs which would consume significant power, the system generates and compares compact check code sequences that capture essential functionality, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the verification parameter from comprehensive functional output to condensed check code representations. This parameter transformation reduces the computational and energetic burden of safety verification while preserving the ability to detect functional abnormalities
3Reliability
If complex safety protection mechanisms are used, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex safety protection mechanisms with simplified check code generation and comparison. Instead of implementing elaborate redundant circuits or complex verification logic, the system uses straightforward check code sequences that can be generated and compared with simple circuitry, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the safety verification approach by changing from complex functional verification to simple check code parameter comparison. This parameter change enables reliability protection through straightforward circuit operations rather than complex mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a functional safety protection circuit, a chip, a functional safety protection method, and a medium. The functional safety protection circuit includes: a configuration module, where the configuration module is configured to obtain a first configuration instruction and a reference check code associated with the first configuration instruction; a protected module, where the protected module is configured to generate first target information based on the first configuration instruction; a check operation module, where the check operation module is configured to perform a preset check operation on the first target information to obtain a target check code associated with the first configuration instruction; and a functional safety detection module, where the functional safety detection module is configured to determine a first functional safety detection result of the protected module based on the reference check code and the target check code.