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A methodology for testing the microprocessor core of a system on chip with a x86-compatible microprocessor
Authors
	Dyabin M.I.
	Reshetnikov A.V.
	Saksonov E.A.
Date of publication
	2020
DOI
	10.31114/2078-7707-2020-3-172-179
Abstract
	This paper discusses the problem of functional testing of embedded microprocessors. A practi-cal methodology for testing the instruction set of Intel 80186 microprocessor is offered. The main principles, adopted by the authors for de-velopment of testing software for the system-on-a-chip called “Kaskad-1”, are given. Some difficulties facing the process of testing embedded microprocessor cores are noted. While testing an embedded system, the requirements for its testing software depend on the requirements for the embedded system’s reliabil-ity. In the case when a microprocessor is intended to use as part of a mission-critical system, i.e. such a system that its failure may result in serious consequences, it is necessary to use well elaborated methods for testing, based on deep theoretical justifications. But it is often the case when an embedded system’s processor failure does not result in any dangerous consequences; for such systems the difficult procedures like formal verification of their processor’s core are unnecessary. The methodology presented in this paper for testing microprocessors is focused on writing tests quickly, concurrently with the development of the hardware being tested. The core question of testing processors’ instruction sets is which input data sets should be included in tests? Con-sider two different input data sets for testing the same processor instruction. When should they be regarded as so similar as successful comple-tion of a test for one of these data sets will most probably mean the same instruction works correctly with the other input data set? We show in this paper how it is possible to find answers for such questions by considering a specific example.
Keywords
	testing, instruction set, microprocessor core, Intel 80186.
Library reference
	Dyabin M.I., Reshetnikov A.V., Saksonov E.A. A methodology for testing the microprocessor core of a system on chip with a x86-compatible microprocessor // Problems of Perspective Micro- and Nanoelectronic Systems Development - 2020. Issue 3. P. 172-179. doi:10.31114/2078-7707-2020-3-172-179
URL of paper
	http://www.mes-conference.ru/data/year2020/pdf/D070.pdf