Reconfigurable Arithmetic Unit Testing After Logic Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for automatic vehicle driving, which rely on reconfigurable logic circuits, lack the capability to perform operation tests after reconfiguration, potentially leading to undetected errors in the logic circuit's operation.
Innovation Solution
An electronic controller system that includes a reconfigurable logic circuit, an arithmetic unit, a processing controller, and a testing unit, which executes operation tests on the arithmetic unit after reconfiguration and switches input-output connections between the processing controller and the testing unit, ensuring the logic circuit's normal operation before executing processing tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a reconfigurable logic circuit is used to execute multiple different pieces of processing sequentially, then the adaptability of the system is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because operation tests cannot be performed after reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing operation tests on the reconfigured logic circuit before actually using it for processing. The testing unit executes test patterns and verifies the correctness of the reconfigured circuit's operation, ensuring that any configuration errors are detected and corrected before the circuit is deployed for its intended processing tasks, thus preventing unreliable operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a testing unit as an intermediary between the reconfiguration process and the processing execution. This testing unit acts as a mediator that verifies the correctness of the reconfigured circuit by comparing its output with expected test results, providing a safety layer that ensures reliability without preventing the adaptability benefits of reconfiguration.
2Reliability
If operation tests are performed after reconfiguration, then the reliability is improved, but the processing time increases due to additional testing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by performing operation tests at regular intervals - specifically, each time the logic circuit is reconfigured. The testing unit is triggered periodically whenever a reconfiguration event occurs, executing tests only at these discrete moments rather than continuously, thus balancing reliability verification with time efficiency.
3Productivity
If the reconfigured logic circuit is used directly for processing without testing, then the processing speed is improved, but errors may occur undetected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing operation tests on the reconfigured logic circuit before actually using it for processing. The testing unit executes test patterns and verifies the correctness of the reconfigured circuit's operation, ensuring that any configuration errors are detected and corrected before the circuit is deployed for its intended processing tasks, thus preventing unreliable operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic controller includes: a logic circuit that is reconfigurable based on a reconfiguration instruction; an arithmetic unit that is configured in the logic circuit; a processing controller that transmits the reconfiguration instruction of the arithmetic unit to the logic circuit and that makes the reconfigured arithmetic unit execute predetermined operation; and a testing unit that executes an operation test for an arithmetic unit when the arithmetic unit is reconfigured, and that transmits the result of the operation test to the processing controller as a notice. Here, the processing controller makes the arithmetic unit execute predetermined processing based on the notice received from the testing unit.