Fast Low Complexity Reed Solomon Codec for Space and Avionics Ramdisk Applications
M. Stephen Hodgart, H. A. B. Tiggeler · ESASP · 1998
We describe an application of the RS code to the routine error protection of large RAM memory for satellites in low Earth orbit. Errors are normal in this environment an estimated 1000 soft errors per day for 128 Mbytes of memory being typical. There is a need to free up the CPU from most or all of the required encoding and decoding, and use a dedicated codec. The device is mostly transparent to the routine transfer of data between CPU and RAM disc Our choice of codec uses FPGA technology. The application requires correction of a maximum of two (byte) errors per block of 512 bytes of data. This limited number of corrections obviates the need for standard decoding methods. A form of direct decoding is adopted that allows very considerable simplification of the codec with a low internal clock rate and low physical complexity