Cosmic ray detectors for integrated circuit chips

Abstract

A cosmic ray detector includes a cantilever with a first tip. The detector also includes a second tip and circuitry to provide a signal indicative of a distance between the first and second tips being such as would be caused by a cosmic ray interaction event.

1 . A cosmic ray detector comprising:
 a cantilever with a first tip;   a second tip; and   circuitry to provide a signal indicative of a distance between the first and second tips being such as would be caused by a cosmic ray interaction event.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first tip is a scanning tunnel microscope structure tip. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is a current measuring circuitry to measure current between the first and second tips. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first and second tips changes in response to interacting with an acoustic wavefront. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cantilever length and stiffness are designed to achieve a characteristic change the distance between the first and second tips in response to a cosmic ray interaction event, but not otherwise. 
   
   
       6 . A chip comprising:
 an active region including first circuitry;   a substrate supporting the active region; and   a first cosmic ray detector.   
   
   
       7 .- 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . The chip of  claim 6 , wherein the first cosmic ray detector includes:
 a cantilever with a first tip;   a second tip; and   circuitry to provide a signal indicative of a distance between the first and second tips being such as would be caused by a cosmic ray interaction event.   
   
   
       12 . The chip of  claim 11 , wherein the first tip is a scanning tunnel microscope structure tip. 
   
   
       13 . The chip of  claim 11 , wherein the circuitry to provide a signal is a current measuring circuitry to measure current between the first and second tips. 
   
   
       14 . The chip of  claim 6 , wherein the first cosmic ray detector includes a strain gage. 
   
   
       15 . The chip of  claim 6 , wherein the first cosmic ray detector includes a distributed P-N junctions to gather charge. 
   
   
       16 . The chip of  claim 6 , wherein the first cosmic ray detector includes a photon detectors. 
   
   
       17 . The chip of  claim 6 , wherein the first cosmic ray detector is an acoustic wave detector. 
   
   
       18 .- 19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . A system comprising:
 a first chip comprising:   an active region including first circuitry;   a substrate supporting the active region; and   a package to package the chip, wherein the package includes a first cosmic ray detector.   
   
   
       21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first cosmic ray detector includes:
 a cantilever with a first tip;   a second tip; and   circuitry to provide a signal indicative of a distance between the first and second tips being such as would be caused by a cosmic ray interaction event.   
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the first tip is a scanning tunnel microscope structure tip. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the circuitry to provide a signal is a current measuring circuitry to measure current between the first and second tips. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first cosmic ray detector includes a strain gage. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first cosmic ray detector includes a distributed P-N junctions to gather charge. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first cosmic ray detector includes a photon detectors. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first cosmic ray detector is an acoustic wave detector.