Self-Correcting TMR Flip-Flop for Low-Clock Error Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flip-flops in integrated circuits are susceptible to erroneous data changes due to transient events, which can lead to malfunction or failure in sensitive systems, particularly in low-power applications where clock frequency is low and errors may not be corrected for a long duration.
Innovation Solution
A triple modular redundancy (TMR) flip-flop design with multiple secondary flip-flops and an error detection circuit that rapidly corrects errors by providing an enable signal to pass an alternate data value to the output terminal, independent of the clock signal, ensuring immediate error resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If triple modular redundancy is used to protect against transient errors, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flip-flop is divided into multiple independent secondary flip-flops (typically three) that process the same input data independently. Each secondary flip-flop operates as a separate module, allowing error detection through comparison of their outputs and enabling targeted correction of erroneous units without affecting the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
An error detection circuit continuously monitors the outputs of secondary flip-flops and provides feedback signals to identify which flip-flop has entered an erroneous state. This feedback mechanism enables real-time error detection and triggers correction actions by selecting alternate data paths or resetting specific faulty flip-flops.
2Use of energy by moving object
If clock signal is used for error correction in low-power devices, then power consumption is reduced, but error correction speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The error correction mechanism dynamically adapts its operation based on error detection. When no error is detected, the system operates in low-power mode using clocked flip-flops. When an error is detected, the system dynamically switches to an unclocked mode where the erroneous flip-flop immediately accepts corrected data from alternate inputs, bypassing the clock signal requirement and enabling rapid correction without power consumption penalties.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of secondary flip-flops based on error conditions. Under normal conditions, flip-flops operate with clock signaling at low frequency for power savings. Upon error detection, the parameter changes to unclocked operation for the affected flip-flop, allowing immediate data correction regardless of clock frequency, thus resolving the speed-power tradeoff.
Data Source
AI summary
A radiation hardened flip-flop includes a plurality of secondary flip-flops. Each secondary flip-flop includes both a data input terminal and an alternate data input terminal. Each secondary flip-flop also includes an enable terminal that selectively enables use of the alternate data input terminal. The radiation hardened flip-flop includes an error detection circuit that detects whether an error is present in one or more of the secondary flip-flops and provides an enable signal to the enable terminals indicating the presence or absence of an error in one or more of the secondary flip-flops.