Reconfigurable Arithmetic Unit Testing for Reliable Electronic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic control systems for automatic driving vehicles lack the capability to perform operation tests on reconfigured logic circuits, which is essential for ensuring the normality and reliability of the circuit after reconfiguration.
Innovation Solution
An electronic controller with a reconfigurable logic circuit, an arithmetic unit, a processing controller, and a testing unit that executes operation tests on the arithmetic unit after reconfiguration and transmits the results to the processing controller, allowing the arithmetic unit to execute predetermined processing only if the test is successful.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a reconfigurable logic circuit is used to execute multiple different pieces of processing sequentially, then the device complexity is reduced, 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 reconfigurable logic circuit immediately after reconfiguration but before executing the actual processing task. The testing unit configures test circuits and inputs test data to verify the normal operation of the reconfigured arithmetic unit, ensuring that any reconfiguration errors are detected and handled before they affect the main processing workflow.
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 implements periodic action by structuring the operation test as a periodic subroutine that is triggered at specific intervals (after each reconfiguration event) rather than continuously. The testing unit periodically executes test configurations and evaluates results, allowing the system to maintain reliability checks while minimizing interference with the main processing cycle. The control unit efficiently manages the transition between processing and testing modes.
Data Source
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.