Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Chemical process control or monitoring system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-13
2001-08-14
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Chemical process control or monitoring system
C700S283000, C700S291000, C700S301000, C700S302000, C250S363070, C250S370070, C250S339110, C250S341800, C250S344000, C702S134000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275747
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microcomputer and its access speed control method, which is useful when applied to a microcomputer used in electronic equipment of various instruments disposed in a high dose radiation-exposed environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a high dose radiation-exposed environment, electronic parts of electronic equipment deteriorate under the influence of radiation. Since function and performance of the electronic parts decline, their long-term use has been impossible.
A conventional microcomputer, in particular, has its semiconductor parts (IC, LSI) rapidly deteriorated by radiation, resulting in marked changes in the characteristics of the semiconductor parts. Consequently, decline in the function and performance of the microcomputer, and its operating defects may occur. Thus, the conventional microcomputer cannot be used for a long period (2 years or more) in a high dose radiation-exposed environment, and had to be used in a radiation-free environment.
FIG. 5
is an explanation drawing showing an example of use of a conventional microcomputer.
As shown in this drawing, only a working instrument
32
is installed in a high dose radiation-exposed environment (area A in the drawing) surrounded by a shielding member
33
. A microcomputer
31
for controlling this working instrument
32
is installed in a radiation-free environment outside the shielding member
33
(area B in the drawing). To transmit electrical signals between the working instrument
32
in the radiation-exposed environment and the microcomputer
31
in the radiation-free environment, many (e.g., 200 to 300) electrical signal cables
34
, over a long distance (e.g., about 100 m), are wired from the working instrument
32
to the microcomputer
31
.
As described above, the conventional microcomputer
31
cannot be used in a radiation-exposed environment. Therefore, the working instrument
32
, in a radiation-exposed environment, and the microcomputer
31
, in an environment not exposed to radiation, must be electrically connected together by the electrical signal cables
34
. This has posed the following problems:
{circle around (1)} An increase in the number of the electrical signal cables
34
in the radiation-exposed environment has necessitated a large radiation-exposed environment area (such as cells of nuclear power related facilities), induced cost buildup, and made maintainability poor.
{circle around (2)} Since the electrical signal cables
34
in the radiation-exposed environment becomes longer, weak signals such as sensor signals cannot be transmitted, or transmission accuracy decreases.
{circle around (3)} The microcomputer
31
cannot be carried on a mobile member in the radiation-exposed environment. Hence, neither a complicated task nor a high precision task can be accomplished by using the mobile member, thus making it difficult to mechanize operations in the radiation-exposed environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished in light of the foregoing earlier technologies. Its an object of the present invention is to provide a microcomputer usable for a long period of time even in a high dose radiation-exposed environment, and its access speed control method.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a microcomputer having a radiation measuring unit, a storage unit, and a main arithmetic unit is provided. The microcomputer comprises:
a radiation measuring unit which measures a dose of radiation which the microcomputer receives;
a storage unit which stores preset data indicative of a relationship between the dose of radiation and an access speed; and
a main arithmetic unit which controls the access speed on the basis of the measured dose of radiation and the preset data.
According to a second aspect of the invention, an access speed control method of a microcomputer having a radiation measuring unit, a storage unit, and a main arithmetic unit is provided. The method comprises:
measuring a dose of radiation which the microcomputer receives;
pre-establishing data indicative of a relationship between the dose of radiation and an access speed; and
controlling the access speed on the basis of the measured dose of radiation and the pre-established data.
The microcomputer may further comprise a peripheral control unit, wherein the main arithmetic unit, the peripheral control unit, and the storage unit are integrated on a single chip.
The access speed control method may further comprise integrating the main arithmetic unit, a peripheral control unit, and the storage unit on a single chip.
In the microcomputer, the storage unit may store the preset data in a form of a table.
In the microcomputer, the preset data may be determined by testing.
In the microcomputer, the preset data may be set such that the access speed is reduced as the dose of radiation increases.
In the access speed control method, the pre-establishing step may include the step of obtaining the data by testing.
In the access speed control method, the data may be pre-established such that the access speed is reduced as the dose of radiation increases.
According to a third aspect of the invention, a robot used in a radiation-exposed environment is provided. The robot comprises:
a microcomputer disposed in the radiation-exposed environment, the microcomputer having,
a radiation measuring unit which measures a dose of radiation which the microcomputer receives,
a storage unit which stores preset data indicative of a relationship between the dose of radiation and an access speed, and
a main arithmetic unit which controls the access speed based on the measured dose of radiation and the preset data; and
a working instrument disposed in the radiation-exposed environment and controlled by the microcomputer.
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Ishibashi Yuzo
Kawamura Kiyoshi
Kuroda Yoshikatsu
Wada Takao
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Marc McDieunel
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.
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