Exploring Vulnerabilities: FPGA Power Modules and EMP Sensitivity
Geneva, Monday, 17 March 2025.
A study reveals FPGA power modules exhibit varying sensitivities to electromagnetic pulses, with high-frequency signals posing greater risks. Notably, an automatic reconfiguration during pulse injections was observed, signaling new challenges for FPGA design.
Critical Findings in Power Module Sensitivity
The groundbreaking research, published on March 16, 2025, reveals significant variations in how different FPGA power modules respond to electromagnetic pulse (EMP) threats [1]. Testing conducted on two distinct FPGA models - the JXCV5SX95T (45 nm) and XC5VSX95T (60 nm) - demonstrated that high-frequency signals consistently show greater vulnerability compared to constant signals [1]. The study’s methodology involved pulse current injection (PCI) testing across four independent power lines, providing comprehensive insights into the varying susceptibility levels of different power modules [1].
Manufacturing Process Impact and Automatic Reconfiguration
A particularly noteworthy discovery emerged regarding manufacturing processes’ influence on EMP sensitivity. The research indicates that while manufacturing processes have minimal overall impact on EMP sensitivity, their effects are specifically observable in the VCCINT power module [1]. In a significant breakthrough, researchers documented the first-ever observation of an FPGA automatic reconfiguration process during PCI experimentation when using enabled programmable read-only memory (PROM) [1]. This finding has crucial implications for understanding FPGA resilience and recovery mechanisms under EMP conditions.
Practical Implications for FPGA Design
The study highlights critical design considerations for enhancing FPGA resilience. High-value capacitors integrated into the power distribution network (PDN) demonstrated effectiveness in filtering by reducing pulse current amplitude and slowing edge transitions [1]. This research gains additional significance given MDPI’s standing as a leading publisher of peer-reviewed scientific journals [2], with the findings published in their Electronics journal, which maintains a Q2 ranking in Physics (Applied) [3].