Berger Code Based Concurrent Online Self-Testing of Embedded Processors

In this paper, we propose an approach to detect the temporary faults induced by an environmental phenomenon called single event upset (SEU). Berger code based self-checking checkers provides an online detection of faults in digital circuits as well as in memory arrays. In this work, a concurrent Berger code based online self- testable methodology is proposed and integrated in 32-bit DLX Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) processor on a single silicon chip. The proposed methodology is implemented and verified for various arithmetic and logical operations of the DLX processor. The FPGA implementation of the proposed design shows that a meager increase in hardware utilization facilitates online self- testing to detect temporary faults.