Sense and nonsense of logic-level optical interconnect: reflections on an experiment

Jan M. Van Campenhout; Marnik Brunfaut; Wim Meeus; Joni Dambre; Michiel De Wilde

doi:10.1117/12.450436

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13 December 2001 Sense and nonsense of logic-level optical interconnect: reflections on an experiment

Jan M. Van Campenhout, Marnik Brunfaut, Wim Meeus, Joni Dambre, Michiel De Wilde

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Proceedings Volume 4455, Micro- and Nano-optics for Optical Interconnection and Information Processing; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.450436
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2001, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Centimeter-range high-density optical interconnect between chips is coming into reach with current optical interconnect technology. Many theoretical studies have identified several good reasons why to use such types of interconnect as a replacement of various layers of the traditional electronic interconnect hierarchy. However, the true feasibility and usefulness of optical interconnects can only be established by actually building and evaluating them in a real system setting. This contribution reports on our experience in using short-range high-density optical inter-chip interconnects. It is based on the design and construction of a fully functional optoelectronic demonstrator system. We discuss the rationale for building the demonstrator in the first place, the implications of using many low-level optical interconnections in electronic systems, and the degree to which our expectations have been fulfilled by the demonstrator. The detailed description of the architecture, design and implementation of the demonstrator is not presented here, but can be found elsewhere in this issue.

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Jan M. Van Campenhout, Marnik Brunfaut, Wim Meeus, Joni Dambre, and Michiel De Wilde "Sense and nonsense of logic-level optical interconnect: reflections on an experiment", Proc. SPIE 4455, Micro- and Nano-optics for Optical Interconnection and Information Processing, (13 December 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.450436

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