Patent ID: 7154195

Claim:
A digital signal voting circuit for each device in a multiple device system of the kind having a plurality of devices connected in parallel, the voting circuit comprising: a first comparing means for comparing a decision output signal of the voting circuit, and the cumulative effect of the decision output signals of the voting circuits in parallel devices, with a reference threshold signal representative of a predetermined proportion of the devices in the system, and generating a first comparison result signal when the decision output signal is greater than the reference threshold signal; and, a logic means having a first input for receiving a control signal from the associated device and a second input for receiving said first comparison result signal and for generating said decision output signal whenever the signal on either one of the first and second inputs changes state; wherein each said first comparing means in all of the remaining voting circuits of each of the other parallel devices will generate a first comparison result signal when the cumulative effect of the decision output signals excess the reference threshold signal at an avalanche point whereby, in use, all of the other devices will automatically respond once said predetermined proportion of devices has responded.