Total ionizing dose shutdown system and method
US12107583B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 4, 2024 |
| Grant date | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 4, 2044 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K5/2472
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Systems and methods for shutting down a functional circuit in response to a predetermined total ionizing dose of radiation employ at least two redundant sensing circuits operated in integrate and measure phases by one or more sequencer-type hardware or software controllers. NMOS TID sensors having leakage currents increasing monotonically with dose may be biased during integrate phases, with bias voltages or duty cycles adjusted to achieve a calibrated responsivity. TID measurements are compared to a corresponding reference, latched to generate overexpose signals, and tested for agreement. Disagreement triggers remeasurement to prevent erroneous shutdown until a minimum number of overexpose signals agree that TID exceeds the predetermined threshold. A disable circuit accepts the redundant overexpose signals and generates a signal to disable a functional circuit. Redundancy and remeasurement protect against unwarranted shutdowns due to radiation-induced single-event effects or other circuit transients or failures.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.