4 × 4 Integrated Switches Based on On-Chip Wireless Connection through Optical Phased Arrays

Abstract

Optical Wireless Networks on-Chip are an emerging technology recently proposed to improve the interconnection between different processing units in densely integrated computing architectures. In this work, we propose a 4 × 4 optical wireless switch (OWS) based on optical phased arrays (OPAs) for broadband reconfigurable on-chip communication. The OPA and OWS design criteria are reported. Moreover, the performances of the OWS are analyzed and optimized considering the electromagnetic propagation in on-chip multilayer structures, with different thicknesses of the cladding layer. The effect on the OWS behavior of a non-ideal distribution of the power in input to the OPA is also investigated by designing a 1 × 7 beam splitter, based on a single-stage multi-mode interference (MMI) device to be used as a single element of the OWS. Then, the MMI output signals are considered in input to the transmitting OPAs and the OWS performances are evaluated.

LNOI Wireless Switches Based on Optical Phased Arrays for On-Chip Communication

“…In optical networks, these wireless switches can be used for broadband reconfigurable on-chip communication. They can be employed to transmit optical signals using wavelength division multiplexing, enabling parallel transmission of various data channels, and to improve the interconnection between different processing units in densely integrated computing architectures [12], [19].…”

“…Using 3D-FDTD simulations, we compute the insertion loss (IL) for each receiving OPAs, and evaluate the crosstalk (XT) between the receivers. The insertion loss (IL) defined as [19]:…”

“…by applying an external bias voltage to change the refractive index of the material [17], [18]. Integrated OPAs, owing to their non-mechanical beam steering capability, have been proposed as basic building blocks for on-chip optical wireless networks [19]. Their potential for innovation and optimization in this domain is significant due to the severe limitations of wired optical links and crossbars in terms of layout complexity, power losses, latency and scalability.…”