Efficient direct cell replacement fault tolerant architecture supporting completely integrated systems with means for direct communication with system operator

摘要

A data processing system containing a monolithic network (10) of cells (100) with sufficient redundancy to allow an array of cells to be organized where said array would, if made with the same processes but without spare cells (100'), contain on the average a plurality of defective cells, with a yield in excess of 50% of arrays where all defective array cells are logically replaced by correctly functioning spare cells, where said sufficient redundancy includes a spare cell arrangement that provides a specified number of spare cells that are potential replacements for any given array cell, with fewer than that specified number of times as many spare cells as array cells in the network as a whole; where each spare cell that replaces an array cell duplicates or utilizes every internal function and every external connection of said array cell so that said spare cell interacts with the rest of said data processing system in a manner logically identical to the way said array cell would have had it not been defective; and where said array cells also have at least one of the following properties:
(a) any given array cell is directly addressable through a single off/on addressing signal for each physical array dimension, said addressing signal for a given physical dimension traveling through a carrier that propagates said addressing signal directly to each array cell at the same index as said array cell in said physical dimension, said array cell receiving said addressing signal through a connection dedicated to said array cell;(b) each array cell has input means to receive a signal directly from at least one neighboring array cell and output means to send a signal directly to at least one other neighboring array cell In each of at least three total dimensions, at least two of which are physical dimensions, with said signals between a given pair of neighboring array cells being sent through a dedicated carrier connecting solely said pair of array cells or said pair of array cells and their potential replacements.