US3681578A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fault location and reconfiguration in redundant data processors
Assignee: BAE Systems Electronics Ltd
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Filing: 1970-11-13
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Granted: 1972-08-01
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Expires: 1990-11-13
Abstract
Abstract A data processing arrangement having three data processors, each with its own data store and each processing the same information is connected to a majority voting circuit. The majority voting circuit gives as an output that output of the majority of the processors. Whenever a processor output disagrees with the majority verdict above a predetermined disagreement rate an alarm is raised or the particular processor isolated. Also provided is a switch for rendering inoperative the alarm or isolating means until the rate of disagreement falls below a further predetermined level.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur Dexter Stevens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/18; G06F11/181; G06F11/183; G06F11/184
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A data processing arrangement including three data processors each with an associated working data store and each arranged to process the same information; a majority voting circuit to which the output of each processor is fed and which produces, as its output, the same output as that occurring on the majority of the processor outputs; detecting means fed with signals from said majority voting circuit, for detecting when a processor output disagrees with the majority verdict at a disagreement rate above a first predetermined level and for providing, in the event of such a detection, an alarm and/or isolation of the processor; and further detecting means, for detecting when a processor output disagrees with the majority verdict at a disagreement rate above a second predetermined level and for rendering said detecting means inoperative for a particular processor until the rate of disagreement detected by said further detecting means falls to said second predetermined level, said further detecting means being fed with said signals from said majority voting circuit following the re-connection into circuit of said particular processor after it has been disconnected or isolated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A data processing arrangement including three data processors each with an associated working data store and each arranged to process the same information; a majority voting circuit to which the output of each processor is fed and which produces, as its output, the same output as that occurring on the majority of the processor outputs; detecting means fed with signals from said majority voting circuit, for detecting when a processor output disagrees with the majority verdict at a disagreement rate above a first predetermined level and for providing, in the event of such a detection, an alarm and/or isolation of the processor; and further detecting means, for detecting when a processor output disagrees with the majority verdict at a disagreement rate above a second predetermined level and for rendering said detecting means inoperative for a particular processor until the rate of disagreement detected by said further detecting means falls to said second predetermined level, said further detecting means being fed with said signals from said majority voting circuit following the re-connection into circuit of said particular processor after it has been disconnected or isolated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said further detecting means includes switching means having two outputs, one connected to said detecting means and the other to said further detecting means said switching means being switched to said other output after reconnection of a processor and the output of said further detecting means being arranged to effect the changeover of the switching means to said one output when the disagreement rate falls to said second predetermined level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a data processing arrangement including three data processors having input connections for processing the same information and each having output means at which the processed information appears; majority voting circuit means receiving the outputs from said data processors for providing an output which is the same as that occurring on the majority of said data processor outputs, said majority voting circuit means having a disagreement signal output terminal for each of said data processors at which a disagreement signal appears whenever a corresponding data processor output disagrees with the outputs of the other two data processors; and a separate fault detection means connected with each of said disagreement signal output terminals for determining, in response to a disagreement signal rate above a first predetermined level, when an associated data processor is to be disconnected from the arrangement and for monitoring a re-connected data processor to determine when disagreement signals associated therewith fall below a second predetermined level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a data processing arrangement including three data processors having input connections for processing the same information and each having output means at which the processed information appears; majority voting circuit means receiving the outputs from said data processors for providing an output which is the same as that occurring on the majority of said data processor outputs, said majority voting circuit means having a disagreement signal output terminal for each of said data processors at which a disagreement signal appears whenever a corresponding data processor output disagrees with the outputs of the other two data processors; and a separate fault detection means connected with each of said disagreement signal output terminals for determining, in response to a disagreement signal rate above a first predetermined level, when an associated data processor is to be disconnected from the arrangement and for monitoring a re-connected data processor to determine when disagreement signals associated therewith fall below a second predetermined level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
In a data processing arrangement as defined in claim 3 wherein each said fault detection means comprises alarm means for indicating when a disagreement signal rate is above said first predetermined level, input means for rendering said alarm means inoperative, switch means, and means for actuating said switch means from a second to a first position thereof when disagreement signals fall below said second predetermined level, said switch means having one position connecting an associated disagreement signal output terminal to said alarm means and a second position connecting said input means to said alarm means and connecting said associated disagreement signal output terminal to said means for actuating.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |