Error-detecting and correcting FPGA architecture

1. A method for correcting programming bit errors in a memory block in a configuration memory having ECC bits in an FPGA including:

determining whether an integrity check bit is set;

if the integrity-check bit is set, performing an integrity check to detect bit errors;

if a single-bit error is detected, determining whether the error is an erroneous erased value or an erroneous programmed value;

if the bit error is an erroneous erased value, reprogram the memory location containing the erroneous erased value;

if the bit error is an erroneous programmed value, saving the memory block data in a non-volatile memory block, erasing the configuration memory block containing the error and reprogramming the configuration memory block containing the error using the corrected bit;

if there is more than one error, setting an error flag.

2. The method of claim 1 , performed during a boot-up sequence of the integrated circuit including the configuration memory.

3. The method of claim 1 further including reading the status of the error flag through an I/O port on the FPGA.

4. The method of claim 3 further including initiating a full reprogramming cycle for the FPGA if the error flag is set.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein reading the status of the error flag through an I/O port on the FPGA comprises reading the status of the error flag through a JTAG port on the FPGA.