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by roamingryan 1903 days ago
Many modern FPGAs now include dedicated logic for config SRAM "scrubbing." This logic continuously checks config frame checksums to identify upsets. These can then be fixed in real-time either using the error correction properties of the checksum technique, or from the non-volatile config memory (typically NOR flash). It's also important to note that only a subset of the SRAM config bits are critical for a given application. Usually this is a small percentage of the overall array.

https://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/application_not...

If even higher levels of reliability are needed, there are rad-hard-by-design FPGA families (e.g. Xilinx Virtex 5QV). These have a special config SRAM cell that has more charge storage sites than a conventional SRAM cell. It is less area efficient than a conventional SRAM cell, but geometry of the charge storage sites ensures that a single cosmic ray can't flip the state of a majority of them. Essentially the cell can self-correct, no scrubbing required.