Fault grading of software-based self-test procedures for dependable automotive applications

Today, electronic devices are increasingly employed in different fields, including safety- and mission-critical applications, where the quality of the product is an essential requirement. In the automotive field, on-line self-test is a dependability technique currently demanded by emerging industrial standards. This paper presents an approach employed by STMicroelectronics for evaluating, or grading, the effectiveness of Software-Based Self-Test (SBST) procedures used for on-line testing microcontrollers to be included in safety-critical vehicle parts, such as in airbags and steering systems.