Self-correcting computer
US7467326B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 17, 2003 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 16, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2201/88
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The fault-tolerant or self-correcting computer system is disclosed. The computer system that is provided with various sets of protections against failures that may be caused by space radiation, for example. Improved reliability of the system is achieved by scrubbing of the components on a regular schedule, rather than waiting for an error to be detected. Thus, errors that may go undetected for an extended period are not allowed to propagate and further damage the system. Three or more processors are provided to operate in parallel, and a controller is provided to receive signals from the processors and, using a voting logic, determines a majority signal value. In this manner, the controller can detect an error when a signal from one of the processors differs from the majority signal. The system is also provided with a scrubbing module for resynchronizing the processors after a predetermined milestone has been reached. The milestone may be a predetermined time interval or any other event that may be defined by a user.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.