Approximate circuits for increased reliability

DWPI Title: Integrated or digital Boolean circuit, has approximate circuits for generating output value different from value of input signals, where majority values generated by circuits correspond to resultant output signal values of reference circuit
Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe a Boolean circuit having a voter circuit and a plurality of approximate circuits each based, at least in part, on a reference circuit. The approximate circuits are each to generate one or more output signals based on values of received input signals. The voter circuit is to receive the one or more output signals generated by each of the approximate circuits, and is to output one or more signals corresponding to a majority value of the received signals. At least some of the approximate circuits are to generate an output value different than the reference circuit for one or more input signal values; however, for each possible input signal value, the majority values of the one or more output signals generated by the approximate circuits and received by the voter circuit correspond to output signal result values of the reference circuit.
Use: Integrated or digital Boolean circuit.
Advantage: The circuit uses a Boolean majority function in conjunction with the approximate circuits so as to enhance reliability of the circuit against soft errors, thus simplifying a search for potential approximate circuits.
Novelty: The circuit has a set of approximate circuits for receiving a set of input signals and generating output signals based on the input signals. A voter circuit (320) receives the output signals generated by the approximate circuits, and outputs signals corresponding to a majority value of the output signals. The approximate circuits generate an output value different from the value of the input signals of a reference circuit. The majority values generated by the approximate circuits and received by the voter circuit correspond to the resultant output signal values of the reference circuit.
Filed: 10/14/2013
Application Number: US14052896A
Tech ID: SD 12843.0
This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention.
Data from Derwent World Patents Index, provided by Clarivate
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