Configuration and Routing Effects on the SET Propagation in Flash-Based FPGAs

New insights on SET propagation in flash-based FPGAs are investigated, with regards to their technology and unique non-volatile architecture. By means of SET fault injection tests, the broadening and the filtering of SET pulse widths were demonstrated and are related to the SET pulse transition and data-path in the studied FPGA design. These basic mechanisms result in a clear dependence of the SET pulse width on the design's configuration and routing that would favor spontaneous SET filtering in most real life designs.