# US 12,181,963 B2 · Robust circuitry for passive fundamental components > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,963 B2 - Document ID: US12181963B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/485,092 - Filed: 2021-09-24 - Published: 2023-03-30 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-24 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: Qualcomm Incorporated - Inventors: Yi-Hung Tseng; Marzio Pedrali-Noy; Charles James Persico; Mustafa Keskin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181963B2 ## CPC - G06F 11/0793: {Remedial or corrective actions (recovery from an exception in an instruction pipeline G06F9/3861; by retry G06F11/1402; for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity H04L69/40)} - H04B 1/40: Circuits - G01R 31/50: Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections (testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58) - G06F 11/0751: {Error or fault detection not based on redundancy (power supply failures G06F1/30; network fault management H04L41/06)} - G06F 11/0754: {by exceeding limits} - G06F 11/2028: {eliminating a faulty processor or activating a spare} - G06F 11/2038: {with a single idle spare processing component} - G06F 11/3058: {Monitoring arrangements for monitoring environmental properties or parameters of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring of power, currents, temperature, humidity, position, vibrations (thermal management in cooling arrangements of a computing system G06F1/206)} - G06F 13/4022: {using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network (G06F13/4009 takes precedence)} - G01R 31/2822: {of microwave or radiofrequency circuits (of attenuation, gain, e.g. using network analyzers G01R27/28)} - G01R 31/2837: {Characterising or performance testing, e.g. of frequency response (transient response G01R27/28)} - H03K 3/037: Bistable circuits - H03L 7/08: Details of the phase-locked loop - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - H03L: AUTOMATIC CONTROL, STARTING, SYNCHRONISATION OR STABILISATION OF GENERATORS OF ELECTRONIC OSCILLATIONS OR PULSES (generation of oscillations H03B) ## Abstract An apparatus is disclosed for making circuitry with passive fundamental components more robust. In example implementations, an apparatus includes at least one passive fundamental component and at least one redundant passive fundamental component. The apparatus also includes fault tolerant circuitry coupled to the at least one passive fundamental component and the at least one redundant passive fundamental component. The fault tolerant circuitry includes fault detection circuitry configured to detect a fault of the at least one passive fundamental component. The fault tolerant circuitry also includes component repair circuitry configured to disconnect the at least one passive fundamental component based on the fault. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a radio-frequency front-end comprising: at least one passive fundamental component comprising at least one radio-frequency component of a wireless interface device; and at least one redundant passive fundamental component comprising at least one redundant radio-frequency component of the wireless interface device; and fault tolerant circuitry coupled to the at least one passive fundamental component and the at least one redundant passive fundamental component, the fault tolerant circuitry comprising: fault detection circuitry configured to detect a fault of the at least one passive fundamental component; and component repair circuitry configured to disconnect the at least one passive fundamental component based on the fault. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fault tolerant circuitry comprises: a switch coupled to the at least one passive fundamental component, wherein the component repair circuitry is configured to open the switch that is coupled to the at least one passive fundamental component based on the fault. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the component repair circuitry is configured to connect the at least one redundant passive fundamental component based on the fault. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein: the fault tolerant circuitry comprises another switch coupled to the at least one redundant passive fundamental component, wherein the component repair circuitry is configured to close the other switch that is coupled to the at least one redundant passive fundamental component based on the fault. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein: the switch is coupled between the at least one passive fundamental component and a node; and the other switch is coupled between the at least one redundant passive fundamental component and the node, wherein the component repair circuitry is configured to open the switch to disconnect the at least one passive fundamental component from the node and to close the other switch to connect the at least one redundant passive fundamental component to the node. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus is configured to: propagate an alternating current (AC) signal through the node. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein: the switch is coupled between the at least one passive fundamental component and a ground; and the other switch is coupled between the at least one redundant passive fundamental component and the ground, wherein the component repair circuitry is configured to open the switch to disconnect the at least one passive fundamental component from the ground and to close the other switch to connect the at least one redundant passive fundamental component to the ground. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fault tolerant circuitry comprises: a multiplexer comprising multiple inputs and an output, the output coupled to the switch and configured to control a state of the switch. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the multiple inputs comprise a first input and a second input; and the fault tolerant circuitry is configured to provide a testing selection signal to the first input for a fault detection mode and a data-out indication signal to the second input for a mission mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fault tolerant circuitry comprises: a flip-flop coupled to a terminal of the at least one passive fundamental component, the flip-flop configured to change an output voltage value of the flip-flop based on a voltage level at the terminal of the at least one passive fundamental component. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fault tolerant circuitry comprises: a transistor coupled to the terminal of the at least one passive fundamental component, the transistor configured to refresh the voltage level at the terminal of the at least one passive fundamental component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fault tolerant circuitry comprises: a current provider configured to route current to the terminal of the at least one passive fundamental component. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the component repair circuitry is configured to: use the output voltage value of the flip-flop to determine whether to disconnect the at least one passive fundamental component and to connect the at least one redundant passive fundamental component. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fault tolerant circuitry comprises: protection circuitry coupled to the fault detection circuitry, wherein the fault detection circuitry is configured to activate the protection circuitry responsive to detection of a recursive event. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the apparatus comprises an electronic device comprising a radio-frequency section; the at least one radio-frequency component comprises a part of the radio-frequency section; and the at least one redundant radio-frequency component comprises part of the radio-frequency section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the at least one passive fundamental component comprises at least one resistor; and the at least one redundant passive fundamental component comprises at least one redundant resistor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the at least one passive fundamental component comprises at least one inductor; and the at least one redundant passive fundamental component comprises at least one redundant inductor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the at least one passive fundamental component comprises at least one capacitor; and the at least one redundant passive fundamental component comprises at least one redundant capacitor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a phase-locked loop, wherein the phase-locked loop comprises the at least one passive fundamental component and the at least one redundant passive fundamental component. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the at least one passive fundamental component comprises an array of passive fundamental components; and the at least one redundant passive fundamental component comprises an array of redundant passive fundamental components. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein: a passive fundamental component of the array of passive fundamental components has a parameter value; and a redundant passive fundamental component of the array of redundant passive fundamental components has another parameter value that is substantially equal to the parameter value of the passive fundamental component. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: the wireless interface device, wherein the wireless interface device comprises the radio-frequency front-end and the fault tolerant circuitry. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein: the at least one radio-frequency component is configured to operate at a radio frequency in a radio-frequency section of the wireless interface device; and the at least one redundant radio-frequency component is configured to operate at a radio frequency in the radio-frequency section of the wireless interface device. ### Claim 24 A method for increasing fault tolerance with passive fundamental components, the method comprising: routing current to a terminal of at least one passive fundamental component; refreshing a voltage level associated with the terminal; resetting a flip-flop coupled to the terminal; detecting the voltage level associated with the terminal after the routing, the refreshing, and the resetting; producing a voltage value based on the voltage level, the voltage value indicative of whether the at least one passive fundamental component is faulty; disconnecting the at least one passive fundamental component based on the voltage value; and connecting at least one redundant passive fundamental component based on the voltage value. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising: encoding multiple voltage values into a component usage vector, the multiple voltage values including the voltage value that is based on the voltage level; coupling the component usage vector to multiple multiplexers; and controlling a state of respective switches of multiple switches using respective multiplexers of the multiple multiplexers responsive to the component usage vector, a switch of the multiple switches configured to selectively connect or disconnect the at least one passive fundamental component. ### Claim 26 An apparatus comprising: at least one passive fundamental component comprising at least one inductor; at least one redundant passive fundamental component comprising at least one redundant inductor; and fault tolerant circuitry coupled to the at least one inductor and the at least one redundant inductor, the fault tolerant circuitry comprising: fault detection circuitry configured to detect a fault of the at least one inductor; and component repair circuitry configured to disconnect the at least one inductor based on the fault. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein: the at least one inductor comprises at least one radio-frequency component of a wireless interface device; and the at least one redundant inductor comprises at least one redundant radio-frequency component of the wireless interface device. ### Claim 28 An apparatus comprising: a phase-locked loop comprising: at least one passive fundamental component; and at least one redundant passive fundamental component; and fault tolerant circuitry coupled to the at least one passive fundamental component and the at least one redundant passive fundamental component, the fault tolerant circuitry comprising: fault detection circuitry configured to detect a fault of the at least one passive fundamental component; and component repair circuitry configured to disconnect the at least one passive fundamental component based on the fault. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein: the fault tolerant circuitry comprises: a switch coupled to the at least one passive fundamental component; and a multiplexer comprising multiple inputs and an output, the output coupled to the switch and configured to control a state of the switch; and the component repair circuitry is configured to open the switch that is coupled to the at least one passive fundamental component based on the fault and using the multiplexer. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the fault tolerant circuitry comprises: a flip-flop coupled to a terminal of the at least one passive fundamental component, the flip-flop configured to change an output voltage value of the flip-flop based on a voltage level at the terminal of the at least one passive fundamental component. ### Claim 31 An apparatus comprising: at least one passive fundamental component; at least one redundant passive fundamental component; and fault tolerant circuitry coupled to the at least one passive fundamental component and the at least one redundant passive fundamental component, the fault tolerant circuitry comprising: fault detection circuitry configured to detect a fault of the at least one passive fundamental component; component repair circuitry configured to disconnect the at least one passive fundamental component based on the fault; and a flip-flop coupled to a terminal of the at least one passive fundamental component, the flip-flop configured to change an output voltage value of the flip-flop based on a voltage level at the terminal of the at least one passive fundamental component.