Hardware technologies integrated circuits

Titled DesignAssurance Guidance for Airborne Electronic Hardware , this document addresses hardware such as Circuit Board Assemblies custom micro-coded components [e.g., ASICs and Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)] integrated technology... 

Complex Electronic Hardware All devices that are not simple are considered to be complex. See the definition of Simple Hardware [EASA CM-SWCEH-OOl]. Complex Electronic Hardware Includes custom micro-coded components (such as ASICs, PLDs and associated macro functions) and integrated technology components (such as hybrids and multichip modules). RTCA-DO-254 (para 1.6) advises that hardware should be examined hierarchically at the levels of integrated circuit, board and LRU for complexity, including addressing functions that may not be testable, such as unused modes in multiple usage devices and potentially hidden states in sequential machines . An item constructed entirely from simple items may itself be complex. Complexity is an attribute of systems or items which makes their operation difficult to comprehend. Increased system complexity is often caused by such items as sophisticated components and multiple interrelationships. 

Shi Cheng is a Research Engineer at the Hardware Radio Division at Ericsson, Stockholm, Sweden, and he currently also holds a Researcher position at the Department of Integrated Devices and Circuits at the School of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. 

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