Self-checking computer circuitry
US4541094A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 21, 1983 |
| Grant date | Sep 10, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/1028
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Circuitry for a fault-tolerant computer is disclosed which circuitry is constructed in two identical halves. Each half, by itself, is not a functionally-complete circuit, however, the two identical halves can be connected together to provide a functionally-complete circuit. Each of the two circuit halves is considerably less complex than a functionally-complete circuit yet, when connected together, the two halves provide fault detection capabilities equivalent to a computer system in which the outputs of two functionally-complete, redundant circuits are compared to detect faults. In particular, each inventive circuit half contains a complete data processing and control unit but only one half of the memory which is necessary for a functionally-complete unit. The processing units on each circuit half operate simultaneously on identical data and the same address information is provided to the memories on each circuit half. To provide error detection, address information and data sent from each control unit to its associated memory is compared between circuit halves. In addition, information provided to the circuits over an external bus or generated by the control unit is encoded with …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.