BIRTH, LIFE, AND DEATH IN MICROELECTRONIC SYSTEMS
Abstract
An ada tive vote-taker is proposed which compares the outputs of paralleled redundant system parts in a binary system and determines the most probable answer based on past performance of the separate parts. Initially, the vote-taker assigns equal significance to each redundant part, and (in a binary system) requires that a simple majority of the parts be correct. With experience, the vote-taker continually reduces the weight (significance) of the outputs from those parts that make mistakes, thereby gradually eliminating the defective parts. Thus, the vote-takers (which may also be paralleled if they are unreliable) act as automatic repairmen which delete defective parts of a system. System dependability and life expectancy can be made to exceed the dependability and average life expectancy of the component parts. The heart of an adaptive vote-taker is an element providing variable gain with memory. A variable resistor with memory (memistor) which uses electrochemical depostion or removal of copper to achieve the variable memory was successfully applied to this function. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 30, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0259538
Entities
People
- B. Widrow
- J.b. Angell
- W.h. Pierce
Organizations
- Stanford University