Distribution of Failures in an Array of Cells

Consider a system which is an array of cells in which the system function is performed by the rows. The level of performance of the system depends on the failure rate of the cells and on the distribution of the failed cells in the array. For example, a system may operate at only 50 percent efficiency if 3 or more cells in a row are failed. This paper presents a procedure for computing the probabilities of various failure distributions in the array rows for a given number of failed cells. Combined with a failure model for the individual cells, the results can be used to compute probabilities about performance of the array. Cell failures are assumed to be statistically independent and identically distributed.