Storing processor states during nuclear events
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorRobert Christopher Baumann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In some examples, a system comprises a nuclear event detector (NED) to issue a nuclear event status signal, a primary power supply to issue a power status signal, a backup power supply, a non-volatile storage, and a processor coupled to the non-volatile storage and the NED and switchably coupled to the primary and backup power supplies. The processor is to store a state of the processor to the non-volatile storage based on the nuclear event status signal, and the processor is to selectively receive power from either the primary power supply or the backup power supply based on the nuclear event status signal and the power status signal.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a nuclear event detector (NED) to issue a nuclear event status signal;
- a primary power supply to issue a power status signal;
- a backup power supply;
- a non-volatile storage;
- and
- a processor coupled to the non-volatile storage and the NED and switchably coupled to the primary and backup power supplies, the processor to store a state of the processor to the non-volatile storage based on the nuclear event status signal, and the processor to selectively receive power from either the primary power supply or the backup power supply based on the nuclear event status signal and the power status signal.
A system comprising:
- a nuclear event detector (NED);
- a primary power supply;
- a backup power supply coupled to the primary power supply via a first switch;
- non-volatile storage;
- a processor coupled to the non-volatile storage and the NED and switchably coupled to the primary and backup power supplies via a second switch;
- a first logic element having inputs coupled to the NED and the primary power supply and an output coupled to the first switch;
- and
- a second logic element having inputs coupled to the NED and the primary power supply and an output coupled to the second switch,
- wherein the processor stores a system state to the non-volatile storage.
A method comprising:
- receiving a nuclear event status signal and a power status signal, the nuclear event status signal able to indicate a nuclear event and the power status signal able to indicate a power event;
- in response to the nuclear event status signal indicating a nuclear event and the power status signal not indicating a power event, storing a state of a processor to non-volatile storage, ceasing providing power from a primary power supply to the processor, and providing power from a backup power supply to the processor;
- in response to the power status signal indicating a power event and the nuclear event status signal not indicating a nuclear event, ceasing providing power from the primary power supply to the processor and instead providing power from the backup power supply to the processor;
- in response to the nuclear event status signal indicating a nuclear event and the power status signal indicating a power event, storing a state of the processor to non-volatile storage, ceasing providing power from the primary power supply to the processor, and providing power from the backup power supply to the processor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.