Simulation of SEU transients in CMOS ICs

Author

Kaul, N. ; Bhuva, B.L. ; Kerns, S.E.

Author_Institution

Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville, TN, USA

Volume

38

Issue

6

fYear

1991

fDate

12/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1514

Lastpage

1520

Abstract

An efficient computer simulation algorithm set, SITA, predicts the vulnerability of data stored in and processed by complex combinational logic circuits to SEU. SITA is described in detail to allow researchers to incorporate it into their error analysis packages. Required simulation algorithms are based on approximate closed-form equations modeling individual device behavior in CMOS logic units. Device-level simulation is used to estimate the probability that ion-device interactions produce erroneous signals capable of propagating to a latch (or an output node), and logic-level simulation to predict the spread of such erroneous, latched information through the IC. Simulation results are compared to those from SPICE for several circuit and logic configurations. SITA results are comparable to this established circuit-level code, and SITA can analyze circuits with state-of-the-art device densities (which SPICE cannot). At all IC complexity levels, SITA offers several factors of 10 savings in simulation time over SPICE

Keywords

CMOS integrated circuits; circuit analysis computing; combinatorial circuits; integrated circuit testing; integrated logic circuits; ion beam effects; logic testing; transients; CMOS ICs; SEU transients; SITA; SPICE; closed-form equations; combinational logic circuits; computer simulation algorithm; device level simulation; erroneous signals; error analysis packages; ion-device interactions; logic-level simulation; simulation time; Circuit simulation; Combinational circuits; Computational modeling; Computer simulation; Error analysis; Logic devices; Packaging; Prediction algorithms; Predictive models; SPICE;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/23.124140

Filename

124140