Testing For Permanent Faults in FIFO Buffers of NOC Routers

Abstract

This project represents a transparent technique of test for detection of  hard latent faults which build up in first input first output buffers (FIFO) of routers when they are operated in field by NoC. This method consists of repeating tests in regular time intervals to prevent growth of faults. The proposed test algorithm has been integrated into router channel interface and in-field test has been done with self-similar data traffic. The working of the NoC after adding the test circuitry has been investigated in terms of throughput and the area overhead is calculated by synthesizing into hardware. In addition, a test technique for router has been presented which makes use of the header flits in transporting the test patterns.