Layout method for soft-error hard electronics, and radiation hardened logic cell

Abstract

This invention comprises a layout method to effectively protect logic circuits against soft errors (non-destructive errors) and circuit cells, with layout, which are protected against soft errors. In particular, the method protects against cases where multiple nodes in circuit are affected by a single event. These events lead to multiple errors in the circuit, and while several methods exist to deal with single node errors, multiple node errors are very hard to deal with using any currently existing protection methods. The method is particularly useful for CMOS based logic circuits in modem technologies (≦90 nm), where the occurrence of multiple node pulses becomes high (due to the high integration level). It uses a unique layout configuration, which makes the circuits protected against single event generated soft-errors.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61 / 011,599 filed Jan. 17, 2008; 61 / 011,989 filed Jan. 22, 2008; 61 / 068,483 filed Mar. 7, 2008; and 61 / 123,003 filed Apr. 5, 2008, which are incorporated herein by reference.GOVERNMENT SUPPORT[0002]This invention was made with Government support under W31P4Q-06-C-0097 awarded by DARPA and FA9451-06-C-0383 awarded by DTRA. The Government has certain rights in the invention.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Field of the Invention[0004]This invention comprises a layout method to effectively protect logic circuits against soft errors (non-destructive errors) and circuit cells, with layout, which are protected against soft errors. In particular, the method protects against cases where multiple nodes in circuit are affected by a single event. These events lead to multiple errors in the circuit, and while several methods exist to deal with single node errors, multiple node...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]This invention comprises a unique new layout method, which takes advantage of the overall circuit response to a single event effect, and, furthermore, comprises circuit cells, with layout, which are protected against soft errors. The method uses an arrangement of critical contact areas in such a way that single event pulses in the circuit, that are generated on multiple nodes, act to oppose each other and hence cancel (or greatly reduce the effect of the single event). In the case that a primary and secondary circuit is used to maintain, or process the signal in a circuit, addition rules, described in section 4, are used, so that no possibility remains that a error is generated in both primary and secondary circuit, and hence that the combination of primary and secondary circuit will be fully error free.

Problems solved by technology

This leads to current pulses on the circuit nets, connected to these contact areas, which, in their turn, cause voltage pulses in the circuit which can upset a sequential element (latch, flip-flop) or propagate through combinational logic and be latched in as errors at the next sequential element in the circuit.

Images