Analysis of a 3-D Computer Optical Scheme with Bi-Directional Interconnects

Abstract

Computer interconnections based on optics have an advantage over electronic connections due to the ability of light to travel through space without interference with other light beams. Highly parallel computers will require highly parallel communications, and such communications cannot be supported with conventional electronic implementations because of the technological limitations of electrical interconnection in terms of area, latency, and power dissipation [1]. In Fig. 1 the conceptual design of a 3-D computer system with bi-directional interconnects is presented. This interconnection system allows for feedback of the signals within the computer system, which is an essential part of a Von Neumann machine as well as an important aspect of many algorithms, from the Fast Fourier transform to polynomial evaluation. This optoelectronic 3-D system is being pursued by the Optoelectronic Computing Systems Center (OCSC) at the University of Colorado to prove the utility and viability of 3-D computers [2].