Layered Safety Mechanism Selection for IC Diagnostic Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ICs face challenges in achieving stringent functional safety levels, particularly ASIL-D, due to their complex nature with millions of transistors and generic or out-of-context design, making it difficult to ensure effective diagnostic coverage across all layers.
Innovation Solution
A functional safety system that automates the process of achieving a target diagnostic coverage level by recursively analyzing each layer of a target environment, identifying and implementing additional safety mechanisms based on ranking, and optimizing existing mechanisms to meet the required safety standards efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If current ICs with millions of transistors are used, then device complexity increases, but diagnostic coverage effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the IC design into multiple hierarchical layers (system layer, processor layer, IP layer, transistor layer) and applies different safety mechanism strategies to each layer. This segmentation allows comprehensive diagnostic coverage across all layers without overwhelming complexity at any single level, directly addressing the challenge of maintaining reliability in devices with millions of transistors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of safety mechanism application from uniform across-all-layers to variable-by-layer, where different diagnostic coverage levels are applied to different hierarchical layers based on their specific requirements. This parameter change enables effective diagnostic coverage in complex ICs by optimizing safety mechanisms for each layer's characteristics rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
2Adaptability or versatility
If generic or out-of-context IPs and ICs are used, then adaptability improves, but achieving functional safety becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal multi-layer safety framework that can be applied across different IC designs, IP blocks, and system contexts. This framework provides generic safety mechanisms that are adaptable to various applications while maintaining functional safety requirements, allowing the same safety approach to work across diverse contexts rather than requiring custom safety solutions for each specific design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables generic IPs and ICs to achieve functional safety by changing the parameter of safety mechanism configuration from fixed-to-application to configurable-by-layer. This allows generic components to be adapted to specific safety requirements through parameter adjustment at each hierarchical layer, bridging the gap between generic design reusability and application-specific safety needs.
3Reliability
If comprehensive safety mechanisms are implemented across all layers, then diagnostic coverage improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the safety mechanism implementation into discrete hierarchical layers, where each layer has its own optimized safety mechanisms. This segmentation prevents the overwhelming complexity that would result from implementing all safety mechanisms uniformly across the entire IC, while still achieving comprehensive diagnostic coverage through the coordinated operation of layer-specific mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by tailoring safety mechanisms to the specific requirements and characteristics of each hierarchical layer. Instead of uniform safety mechanisms throughout the IC, each layer receives appropriately optimized safety mechanisms suited to its function and failure modes, reducing overall complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
4Reliability
If multiple safety mechanisms are added to achieve target diagnostic coverage, then reliability improves, but area and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the implementation of safety mechanisms across hierarchical layers, allowing area and power resources to be distributed and optimized at each layer rather than concentrated in a single comprehensive safety subsystem. This enables achieving target diagnostic coverage with more efficient resource utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the parameter of safety mechanism selection by changing from adding all possible safety mechanisms to selectively implementing mechanisms based on hierarchical layer analysis. This parameter change enables achieving required diagnostic coverage while minimizing area and power impact through intelligent selection and placement of safety mechanisms at appropriate layers.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media for efficient safety mechanism selection for achieving functional safety. A functional safety system automates the process of achieving a target diagnostic coverage level using recursive method to sequentially analyze each layer of a target environment and add additional safety mechanisms if a target diagnostic coverage level is not met. The functional safety system implements the additional safety mechanisms based on a ranking determined based on one or more selected parameters. The parameters may indicate a preference for achieving specified goals, such as higher efficiency, increased coverage, reduced cost, reduced area, and the like. The functional safety system adds the additional safety mechanisms based on the ranking, such as by adding the highest ranked safety mechanism, followed by subsequently ranked safety mechanism.