Soft error detection

US8890083B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Phil C. Paone · Rochester, US
• David P. Paulsen · Dodge Center, US
• John E. Sheets, II · Zumbrota, US
• Gregory J. Uhlmann · Rochester, US
• Kelly L. Williams · Rochester, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 23, 2012
• Grant date: Nov 18, 2014
• Expiry date: May 10, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01T1/247
• WIPO field: Environmental technology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An apparatus includes a first radiation detector to generate a first signal when a first radiation level is exceeded and a second radiation detector to generate a second signal when a second radiation level is exceeded. The second radiation level is greater than the first radiation level. A first circuit is susceptible to soft errors at the first radiation level and a second circuit is susceptible to soft errors at the second radiation level. A control unit may suspend use of the first circuit and activate use of the second circuit if the first signal is received and the second signal is not received. The first and second circuits may be memory cells or logic circuits.