Radiation hardened register file

摘要

A radiation hardened register file renders a central processing unit intrinsically hard to the disruptive effects of nuclear radiation by providing means for establishing a valid rollback point for each computer instruction operation performed in the central processing unit. Dual data register images provide alternate locations for storing data operands in the register file. A pointer register stores a signal the truth state of which indicates which of the two images currently provides the proper place to store information presently being written and also provides an indication of the current location of assured valid signals for a recovery operation and resumption of normal computer functions subsequent to a disruptive event. Pointer save registers are used to store the latest value of the signal stored in the pointer registers, thereby also preserving valid pointer information for recovery subsequent to a circumvented disrupting event. A master pointer register stores a signal indicating which of two alternate pointer save registers currently stores the appropriate signal for selecting the proper truth state for the signal in the pointer register.