Processing device with self-scrubbing logic

DWPI Title: Processing apparatus for use in aerospace and space-based application, has external memory external to processing unit, and coupled to send configuration data to configuration memory in response to data feed signal from self-scrubber logic
Abstract: An apparatus includes a processing unit including a configuration memory and self-scrubber logic coupled to read the configuration memory to detect compromised data stored in the configuration memory. The apparatus also includes a watchdog unit external to the processing unit and coupled to the self-scrubber logic to detect a failure in the self-scrubber logic. The watchdog unit is coupled to the processing unit to selectively reset the processing unit in response to detecting the failure in the self-scrubber logic. The apparatus also includes an external memory external to the processing unit and coupled to send configuration data to the configuration memory in response to a data feed signal outputted by the self-scrubber logic.
Use: Processing apparatus for use in an aerospace and space-based application.
Advantage: The self-scrubber logic sends a heartbeat signal to reset a counter or timer such that the counter or timer does not reach a certain count, thus preventing resetting of processing unit while simply facilitate rewriting of flipped bits in the configuration memory to correct logic levels. The self-scrubber logic is internal to the processing unit, thus eliminating a need for another processing device possibly paired with another external memory to perform error checking on the former processing unit.
Novelty: The apparatus has a processing unit (105) including a watchdog unit (140) external to the processing unit and coupled to a self-scrubber logic (107) to detect a failure in the self-scrubber logic. The watchdog unit is coupled to the processing unit to selectively reset the processing unit in response to detecting the failure in the self-scrubber logic. An external memory (130) is external to the processing unit, and is coupled to send configuration data to a configuration memory (109) in response to a data feed signal outputted by the self-scrubber logic.
Filed: 7/12/2013
Application Number: US13941190A
Tech ID: SD 12505.1
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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