Overhead time is the time required for a computer system to set a programming environment that includes reading data from a computer. One of the nice things is that the mouldability is permanent. They are nonvolatile like antifuse fpgas, yet reprogrammable like sram fpgas. Silicon carbide sic nanoelectromechanical antifuse for ultralowpower one timeprogrammable otp fpga interconnects. C r seu immune set sensitive routing fpga core set characterization and mitigation in rtaxs antifuse fpgas sana rezgui, j. Application note implementation of security in actel.
Antifuse devices are 1timeprogrammable otp and the device design is stored. In contrast to the inadequate, easily cloned, sram fpgas, there are two nonvolatile fpga technologies that are even more secure than competing asic technologies. Sram means the chip programming is held in ram or flops or similar. An antifuse is an electrical device that performs the opposite function to a fuse. They are programmed by using a logic circuit diagram, or source code in a hardware description. Antifusebased fpgas antifusebased fpgas are different from the previous ones in that they can be programmed only once. Whereas a fuse starts with a low resistance and is designed to permanently break an electrically conductive path typically when the current through the path exceeds a specified limit, an antifuse starts with a high resistance, and programming it converts it. Pdf secure fpga technologies and techniques researchgate.
The logic modules are partitioned into a plurality of individually programmable groups and an isolation device may be coupled between the. Find out inside pcmags comprehensive tech and computerrelated encyclopedia. Plds come in two forms, complex programmable logic devices cplds and field programmable gate arrays fpgas both having their advantages and disadvantages with respect to the specific. In this paper we present a specific routing algorithm for the atmel 6002 fpga circuit. Hcmos gate array databook and design manual, lsi logic corporation. A fieldprogrammable gate array fpga is an integrated circuit designed to be configured by a customer or a designer after manufacturing hence the term fieldprogrammable. Why use fpgas in fuze applications antifuse fpgas in fuze and fuze safety systems heritage and outlook flash fpgas considerations for fuze safety and arming architecture and programming reliability, retention, qualification radiation power consumption heritage and outlook conclusion agenda. The architecture of an fpga is determined, in large part, by the programmable switch technology used to configure it. The authors demonstrate that fpgas and their programming model reflect the needs of stream processing problems much better than traditional cpu or gpu architectures, making them wellsuited for a wide variety of systems, from embedded systems performing. They are antifuse based fpgas and flashbased fpgas. Static memory is the most widely used method of configuring fpgas. The inherent low power attributes of t he antifuse technology, coupled with an additional low static power mode, make these devices ideal for powersensitive applications. Download fpgas for software programmers ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub.
Add to that the inherent security of the antifuse technology itself. Finally, the results from par are turned into a bit file. Fpga startup and configuration issues electronic design. We define a specific cost function and a specific way of handling the connectivity list, sorting it by two. In antifuse fpgas, as fuses are programmed, it becomes impossible to uniquely address previously programmed fuses making programming essentially a oneway function. Figure 5 on, application note ac168 implementation of security in actel antifuse fpgas u e in t ro d, competitive technology marketplace. The invention comprises an fpga having a plurality of logic modules with programmable elements. Leave a comment on antifuse programming fpgas pdf fpga field programmable gate array is an integrated circuit fpga devices are produced by a number of semiconductor basic modes of programming. A very highspeed field programmable gate array using metaltometal antifuse programming elements, proceedings custom integrated circuits. Mar 07, 2015 sram means the chip programming is held in ram or flops or similar.
Antifuse based fpgas are different from the previous ones in that they can be. The reader is introduced to concepts relevant to the entire field of fpgas using popular devices as examples. At the moment, i think of fpgas as mouldable hardware, where wires and logic gates can be moulded to whatever you want. The antifuse is a device that doesnt conduct current initially, but can be burned to conduct current the antifuse behavior is thus opposite to that of the fuse, hence the name. The fpga configuration is generally specified using a hardware description language hdl, similar to that used for an applicationspecific integrated circuit asic. A list of files included in each download can be viewed in the tool tip i icon to the right of the description. Fpgas for dummies andrew moore addeddate 20160417 23. Antifuse invented at stanford and developed by actel. Dfps and units with two or threedimensional programmable cell architectures fpgas, dpgas and the like us patent 6088795 thesis print. Pdf silicon carbide sic nanoelectromechanical antifuse for. Theyre an alternative to microcontroller design, which. Jun 01, 2016 the first thing to wrap your head around is the fact that youre not writing software which is sequential by nature, even when it may include concurrent operations, but describing hardware.
The antifuses in an antifuse fpga are programmed one antifuse at a time. Securing actel antifuse fpgas in order to secure an actel antifuse device from unwanted. Thus the architecture of the antifuse based devices makes electronic readback impossible, even if the locking mechanism is not used. Since antifuse fpgas are liveat powerup, there is no bitstream that can beintercepted, and no bitstream or programming data isever downloaded to the device, thus making device datasheet search, datasheets. An fpga comprises any number of logic modules, an interconnect routing architecture and programmable elements that may be programmed. This chapter provides an overview on programmable logic devices plds form the history of programmable logic devices to the device types. We will start with a brief introduction to the structure of fpga fabrics.
See imperial college, 2005 digital system design 3. The first thing to wrap your head around is the fact that youre not writing software which is sequential by nature, even when it may include concurrent operations, but describing hardware. Fieldprogrammable gate array technology describes the major fpga architectures available today, covering the three programming technologies that are in use and the. The present invention comprises apparatus and a method for simultaneously programming multiple antifuses in a multiple tile field programmable gate array fpga. The microsemi programmer serially identifies each antifuse that requires programming and applies a voltage in pulses to program the antifuse. Typically this bit file is then transformed in some way so that it can be loaded into a flash chip, so that the fpga can be programmed automatically when it powers up. This can be changed to accommodate updates or to even change the functionality a board or system when it is required to perform different functions. It is an open path until a programming current is forced through it by applying a high programming voltage across it. For your delectation and delight, the cd accompanying this book contains a fullysearchable copy of the design warriors guide to fpgas in adobe acrobat pdf format. Fieldprogrammable gate array technology springerlink. Other legacy devices listed may still be in full production, but there may be available pincompatible. Actel devices do not need a startup bitstream, eliminating the possibility of configuration data being intercepted.
Permanently programmed antifusebased fpgas are popular for aerospace design because they. The logic modules are partitioned into a plurality of individually programmable groups and an isolation device may be coupled between the individually programmable groups of logic modules such that each of the programmable elements in each of the plurality of individually programmable logic modules may be programmed concurrently. While antifusebased fpgas are currently among the most. The ex family of fpgas is a lowcost solution for lowpower, highperformance designs. This document describes only the recommended programming practices for antifuse devices. By professor cuthbert dribble retired hello there, and welcome to this threepart miniseries of articles that introduce a special class of electronic components known as fieldprogrammable gate arrays fpgas.
History of microsemi fpgas in safety critical applications. Antifuse field programmable gate arrays fpgas are preferred in aerospace applications due to their nonvolatility and radiation tolerance. This also prevents insystem errors and accidental data erasures that otherwise may occur during download. How does srambased fpga differ from antifusebased fpga. The technology for creating antifuses is not the same as standard silicon processes, lagged behind leading edge process nodes, cannot be guaranteed to have a 100% programming success. Antifuse programming technology an antifuse is the opposite of a regular fuse. Antifuse based fpgas use one time programmable elements antifuses so named because the are normally open circuit and when programmed create a short circuit. It describes the way logic and interconnect are implemented in various kinds of fpgas. You can copy this pdf to your computer so as to be able to access. Fpga, field programmable gate array technology is very useful within the industry. Download pdf fpgas for software programmers free online. The complete download includes all available device families.
Fieldprogrammable gate array an overview sciencedirect. Many such technologies have been considered for use in fpgas, including laser programming, pass transistors controlled by sram or eprom cells and antifuses. How to program an fpga programming fpgas electronics notes. All hdls are textual representations of a circuit, inst. Legacy devices are fpgas that microsemi no longer recommends for new designs. With secure nonvolatile fpga technologies, the design services company can become a virtual asic company and ship preprogrammed fpgas with a nominal markup or royalty charge above the cost of the unprogrammed fpga. In this section we will look at the elements of an fpga. The technology for creating antifuses is not the same as standard silicon processes, lagged behind leading edge process nodes, cannot be guaranteed to have a 100% programming success and. Antifuse devices are mainly programmed using singlesite or multisite programmers. Fpgas are antifusebased allowing them to only be one time programmable devices otps and sram based, which can be. From the application point of view, a fieldprogrammable gate array fpga is a semiconductor device that can be configured by the customer or designer after manufacturing, hence the name fieldprogrammable.
Fieldprogrammable gate array technology includes discussions of fpga integrated circuit manufacturing, circuit design and logic design. The antifuse is a device that doesnt conduct current initially, but can be burned to conduct current the antifuse behavior is thus opposite to. Peng zhang, in advanced industrial control technology, 2010 1 types and applications. Since antifuse fpgas are liveat powerup, there is no bitstream that can beintercepted, and no bitstream or programming data isever downloaded to the device, thus making device datasheet search, datasheets, datasheet search site for electronic components and semiconductors, integrated circuits, diodes and other semiconductors.
Programmable logic devices cplds field programmable logic devices fpgas sram programming antifuse programming eepromcmos technology uvepromcmos technology figure 4. Then the router does place and route par, which figures out where those pieces go and how to connect them. Nonvolatile flash and antifuse fpgas are more secure than asics. Some programming methods, implementation of security in actel antifuse fpgas application note. Designs implemented in fpgas are slower and consume more power than asic. Easy to program usually standard c very efficient for complex sequential mathintensive tasks fixed datapathwidth. Pdf interconnect devices for field programmable gate array. They use an antifuse cmos technology and once the fpga has been programmed, it cannot be reprogrammed. High reliability fpgas in fuze and fuze safety applications. Fpgas historically, fpga architectures and companies began around the same time as cplds fpgas are closer to programmable asics large emphasis on interconnection routing timing is difficult to predict multiple hops vs. A soak overprogram step is performed to ensure that the antifuse is fully programmed and that the resistance of the antifuse is uniform across the chip.
There are two components considered when computing total programming time in an antifuse fpgaoverhead time t oh and fuse time t fuse. Us20080028354a1 parallel programmable antifuse field. The combined files download for the quartus prime design software includes a number of additional software components. Fpga architectures overview portland state university. Set characterization and mitigation in rtaxs antifuse fpgas. Many different kinds of fpgas exist, with different programming technologies, different architectures and different software. Silicon carbide sic nanoelectromechanical antifuse for ultralow. Fpga fabrics 3 fpga fabrics architectures of fpgas sram. Table 1 lists the most important characteristics of these programming technologies. The complex, nonstandard fabrication process has turned out to be a key disadvantage as antifuse fpgas have lower yields and the technology has improved more slowly than sram fpgas. Flash fpgas seem to combine the best of both of the other methods.
Many such technologies have been considered for use in fpgas, including laser. Download as ppt, pdf, txt or read online from scribd. Application note implementation of security in actel antifuse. If you cannot read the numbers in the above image, reload the page to generate a new one.
To achieve a smaller download and installation footprint, you can select device support in the. Antifuse technology is nonvolatile, so it is live at powerup and inherently very secure. There are two major competing circuit technologies for configuring an fpga. To use an eprom or eeprom transistor as a programmable switch for cplds and many splds, the manufacturer places the transistor between two wires to facilitate implementation of wiredand functions. Design security in nonvolatile flash and antifuse fpgas. Fpgas are a popular choice among engineers for digital design in a wide variety of applications. Usually, the board will have an eeprom to hold the program bitstream and the fpga will load the bitstream automatically at reset. The bold lines in the diagram above after programming shows the programmed connections. Total ionizing dose tid effects and single event effects. Long term storage reliability of antifuse field programmable.
Programming technologies and architectures of fplds. Some of these devices may already have corresponding product discontinuation notices pdn, indicating that microsemi intends to cease shipment of these products in the near future. Fieldprogrammable gate array technology describes the major fpga architectures available today, covering the three programming technologies that are in use and the major architectures built on those programming technologies. You can copy this pdf to your computer so as to be able to acc. Therefore, we will discuss combinational logic and interconnect for the two major styles of fpga.