Patent ID: 8639975

Claim:
Apparatus for processing data comprising: processing circuitry configured to perform one or more processing operations to generate a result value, said processing circuitry operating under a set of operating parameters, said processing circuitry having: (i) an error resistant portion configured to have a first probability of an error in operation for said set of operating parameters; and (ii) an error prone portion configured to have a second probability of an error in operation for said set of operating parameters, said first probability being lower than said second probability; error detection circuitry coupled to said error prone portion of said processing circuitry and configured to detect an error in operation of said error prone portion corresponding to at least one bit of one or more bits of said result value generated by said error prone portion having an incorrect value; and parameter control circuitry coupled to said error detection circuitry and configured to adjust one or more of said set of operating parameters to maintain a non-zero error rate in errors detected by said error detection circuitry; wherein said one or more bits of said result value generated by said error prone portion are such that any error therein is tolerated and said apparatus continues operation without said error prone portion correcting said error.