Compact and High-Speed Hsiao-Based SEC-DED Codec for Cache Memory

Abstract

Recently, there have been continuous rising interests of multi-bit error correction codes (ECCs) for protecting memory cells from soft errors which may also enhance the reliability of memory systems. The single error correction and double error detection (SEC-DED) codes are generally employed in many high-speed memory systems. In this paper, Hsiao-based SEC-DED codes are optimized based on two proposed optimization algorithms employed in parity check matrix and error correction logic. Theoretical area complexity of SEC-DED codecs require maximum 49.29%, 18.64% and 49.21% lesser compared to the Hsiao codes [M. Y. Hsiao, A class of optimal minimum odd-weight-column SEC-DED codes, IBM J. Res. Dev. 14 (1970) 395–401], Reviriego et al. codes [P. Reviriego, S. Pontarelli, J. A. Maestro and M. Ottavi, A method to construct low delay single error correction codes for protecting data bits only, IEEE Trans. Comput.-Aided Des. Integr. Circuits Syst. 32 (2013) 479–483] and Liu et al. codes [S. Liu, P. Reviriego, L. Xiao and J. A. Maestro, A method to recover critical bits under a double error in SEC-DED protected memories, Microelectron. Reliab. 73 (2017) 92–96], respectively. Proposed codec is designed and implemented both in field programmable gate array (FPGA) and ASIC platforms. The synthesized SEC-DED codecs need 31.14% lesser LUTs than the original Hsiao code. Optimized codec is faster than the existing related codec without affecting its power consumption. These compact and faster SEC-DED codecs are employed in cache memory to enhance the reliability.