ABSTRACT
Digital circuit downscaling is driven by a continuous need for integrated solutions that deliver higher performance in the smallest possible size. Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are an attractive solution for use in the implementation of digital systems, because they exploit the latest fabrication processes on complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology in order to provide the highest possible performance with power consumption as low as possible. The mechanisms behind aging in digital circuits have been well known for a long time, but a systematic exploration of their effect in FPGA devices started to become relevant, because of the continuous market demand for more performance in the most compact size. After an electronic device has been shipped to customers, it is expected to operate correctly under predefined conditions, determined during the test phase, for its full operation life cycle. However, continuous operation in line with vendor specifications is hard to achieve.
