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Modeling Static Delay Variations in Push–Pull CMOS Digital Logic Circuits Due to Electrical Disturbances in the Power Supply
IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility
  • Xu Gao
  • Chunchun Sui
  • Sameer D. Hemmady
  • Joey Rivera
  • Susumujoe Yakura
  • David Pommerenke, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Abhishek Patnaik
  • Daryl G. Beetner, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Abstract

Soft errors can occur in digital integrated circuits (ICs) as a result of an electromagnetic disturbance, such as might result from an electrical fast transient (EFT). Many soft errors come from changes in propagation delays through digital logic, which are caused by changes in the on-die power supply voltage. An analytical model was developed to predict timing variations in digital logic as a result of variations in the power supply voltage. The derivation of the analytical delay model is reported. The model was validated experimentally by applying EFTs to a ring oscillator built in a test IC. The predicted and measured ring oscillator frequencies (or periods) agreed within a relative error of less than 2.0%. To further validate the approach, the model was applied to test the response of more complex circuits consisting of NAND/NOR logic gates, binary adders, dynamic logic gates, and transmission gates. The circuits were fabricated on a 0.5 μm test IC and simulated on two additional process technologies (0.18 μm and 45 nm). The model performed well in each case with a maximum relative error of 5.6%, verifying the applicability of the model for analyzing complex logic circuits within a variety of process technologies. The proposed delay model can be used by IC design engineers to predict and understand the change in the propagation delay through logic circuits due to the disturbed power supply.

Department(s)
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Research Center/Lab(s)
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Laboratory
Keywords and Phrases
  • Adders,
  • Delay circuits,
  • Digital integrated circuits,
  • Electric power systems,
  • Errors,
  • Logic design,
  • Logic gates,
  • Radiation hardening,
  • Digital logic circuit,
  • Electrical disturbances,
  • Electrical-fast-transients,
  • Electromagnetic disturbances,
  • Maximum relative errors,
  • Power supply voltage,
  • Process Technologies,
  • Propagation delays,
  • Logic circuits
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2015 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
10-1-2015
Publication Date
01 Oct 2015
Citation Information
Xu Gao, Chunchun Sui, Sameer D. Hemmady, Joey Rivera, et al.. "Modeling Static Delay Variations in Push–Pull CMOS Digital Logic Circuits Due to Electrical Disturbances in the Power Supply" IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility Vol. 57 Iss. 5 (2015) p. 1179 - 1187 ISSN: 0018-9375
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/daryl-beetner/63/