The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 05, 2010
Filed:
Oct. 03, 2005
John Rapp, Manassas, VA (US);
Chandan Mathur, Manassas, VA (US);
Scott Hellenbach, Amissville, VA (US);
Mark Jones, Centreville, VA (US);
Joseph A. Capizzi, Sterling, VA (US);
John Rapp, Manassas, VA (US);
Chandan Mathur, Manassas, VA (US);
Scott Hellenbach, Amissville, VA (US);
Mark Jones, Centreville, VA (US);
Joseph A. Capizzi, Sterling, VA (US);
Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US);
Abstract
A computing machine comprises an electronic circuit operable to perform a function, a programmable integrated circuit such as an FPGA, and a processor. The processor is operable to detect a failure of the electronic circuit and to configure the programmable integrated circuit to perform the function of the electronic circuit in response to detecting the failure. Alternatively, the computing machine comprises a hardwired pipeline operable to perform a function and a processor operable to detect a failure of the pipeline and to perform the function in response to detecting the failure. By allowing a first type of circuit (e.g., an FPGA) to take over for a failed second type of circuit (e.g., a processor), such a computing machine can be fault-tolerant without having redundant versions of each component, and may thus be less expensive and smaller than computing machines of comparable computing power.