RAM Partitioning for Continuous Failure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory failure detection apparatuses are limited in their ability to detect failures across all areas of RAM, particularly in safety instrumented systems, where undiagnosed failures can lead to operational disruptions and increased safety integrity level (SIL) risks, and current solutions either require costly ECC functions or halt system operation for extensive periods during detection.
Innovation Solution
A failure detection method and apparatus that partitions the RAM into areas and executes sequential failure detection during predetermined sampling periods, allowing for continuous operation while detecting failures across all RAM areas, including those affecting sensor apparatus operations, without the need for ECC functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If memory failure detection is performed on all RAM areas, then detection coverage is improved, but system operation is halted for extensive periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the RAM into multiple partitioned areas and performs failure detection sequentially on each partition during different sampling periods. This segmentation allows the system to detect failures across all RAM areas without halting operation for extended periods, as detection is distributed across multiple time slots rather than requiring a single continuous halt.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic failure detection by cycling through different partitioned areas of RAM at predetermined sampling periods. The controller alternates between performing detection on different partitions across multiple periods, enabling continuous periodic monitoring of all RAM areas while maintaining system operation between detection cycles.
2Reliability
If ECC function is used for memory failure detection, then detection capability is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service failure detection mechanism where the controller uses its existing processing resources to perform detection operations on partitioned RAM areas without requiring external ECC hardware. The controller executes detection algorithms using available computational resources, eliminating the need for costly dedicated ECC memory modules while maintaining detection capability.
3Productivity
If sequential failure detection is performed on partitioned areas, then system operation continuity is improved, but detection completeness may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary failure detection on partitioned areas during idle periods within sampling cycles before the system needs to access those areas for normal operation. By proactively detecting potential failures in each partition during predetermined sampling periods, the system ensures detection completeness while maintaining operation continuity, as areas are verified before being needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A failure detection apparatus (10) includes a RAM (125) and a controller (122) configured to execute processing related to detection of a physical quantity in a predetermined sampling period (T1). The RAM (125) includes partitioned areas generated by partitioning the entire area of the RAM (125). The controller (122) is configured to execute sequential failure detection on a portion of the partitioned areas during a time when the controller (122) is not executing the processing in each of the sampling periods (T1).