Nios® V Processor: Lockstep Implementation

ID 833274
Date 10/07/2024
Public
Document Table of Contents

2.2.3.4. Specialized Safety Mechanism

The fRSmartComp implements several specialized safety mechanisms. The safety mechanisms are as follows:

  1. Parity on relevant configuration registers.
  2. Write access protection (with keys) on specific configuration registers.
  3. 2-phases timeout acknowledgement procedure.
  4. Protection of internal fRSmartComp interconnects.
  5. Comparator blind window redundancy for a more robust DCLS implementation.

These safety mechanisms generate a single alarm upon detection (ALARM19). Each safety mechanism included in the fRSmartComp generates specific alarms. This information belongs to the ALARMS group of information. In addition to the alarms, side information called CONTEXT information is generated. Finally, specific counters are implemented generally to count the number of alarms that have occurred (called STATISTIC information).

The combination of the ALARM, CONTEXT, and STATISTICS information is called LOGS information. According to good functional safety practices in the framework of the fRSmartComp, this information is not reset with a DISABLE command.