Approximate circuits for increased reliability

摘要

Embodiments of the invention describe a Boolean circuit having a voter circuit and a plurality of approximate circuits each based, at least in part, on a reference circuit. The approximate circuits are each to generate one or more output signals based on values of received input signals. The voter circuit is to receive the one or more output signals generated by each of the approximate circuits, and is to output one or more signals corresponding to a majority value of the received signals. At least some of the approximate circuits are to generate an output value different than the reference circuit for one or more input signal values; however, for each possible input signal value, the majority values of the one or more output signals generated by the approximate circuits and received by the voter circuit correspond to output signal result values of the reference circuit.

主权项

1. A Boolean circuit comprising:
a plurality of approximate circuits each based, at least in part, on a reference circuit, wherein each of the plurality of approximate circuits receives a plurality of input signals and generates one or more output signals based on values of the received input signals; and a voter circuit to receive the one or more output signals generated by each of the plurality of approximate circuits, and to output one or more signals corresponding to a majority value received for each of the one or more output signals generated by the plurality of approximate circuits; wherein at least some of the plurality of approximate circuits are coupled to generate an output value different than the reference circuit for one or more values of the plurality of input signals, and wherein, for each possible value of the received input signals, the majority values of the one or more output signals generated by the plurality of approximate circuits and received by the voter circuit correspond to output signal result values of the reference circuit.