Dependability related impacts of the utilization of FPGA’s in space projects
Sarno, Maria; Cianci, Corrado; Caterino, Roberta
THALES ALENIA SPACE

Space projects have been increasingly using FPGA devices for the last years. Post programming antifuse failure recently experienced demonstrate that programmed antifuse may suffer latent damage during programming leading to infant mortality. In terms of dependability analysis, this means that reliability established for the blank devices may be compromised through the programming step. This has triggered the need to investigate the dependability related impacts of the utilization of FPGA’s in space projects, with the goal to solve the problem in future. The study started from data selection and data analysis in order to state the dependence of failures from factors related with the device: test conditions, design, temperature, applied voltage, frequency, technology, programming algorithm, process to get a programmed FPGA. An analysis of the failure mechanism in antifuse related device was developed including an electrostatic simulation on the electric field into the antifuse before the programming phase. Analysis tools (FMECA, Derating) and engineering rules (diversification, redundancy) in presence of systematic failures have been evaluated. New methods have been investigated to enhance FPGA’s dependability with proposal for future studies.