A hybrid-SEED smart pixel array for a four-stage intelligent optical backplane demonstrator

Abstract

This paper describes the VLSI design, layout, and testing of a Hybrid-SEED smart pixel array for a four-stage intelligent optical backplane. The Hybrid-SEED techinology uses CMOS silicon circuitry with GaAs-AIGaAs multiple-quantumwell modulators and detectors. The chip has been designed based on the Hyperplane architecture and is composed of four smart pixels which act as a logical 4-bit parallel optical channel. It has the ability to recognize a 4-bit address header, inject electrical data onto the backplane, retransmit optical data, and extract optical data from the backplane. In addition, the smart pixel array can accommodate for optical inversions and bit permutations by appropriate selections of multiplexers. Initial data pertaining to the electrical performance of the chip will be provided and a complete logical description will be given.

Architecture of a Terabit Free-Space Intelligent Optical Backplane

“…The optical design and testing aspects are described in [24]. The VLSI layout and testing of the first generation smart pixel arrays are described in [27]. Extensible Optical Hardware Modules are described in [11,26].…”

Two-dimensional parallel pipeline smart pixel array cellular logic (SPARCL) processors-chip design and system implementation

“…Since the I/O ports operate at on-chip clock rates and are densely integrated (28 000 MQW's/cm ), this technology can achieve very high aggregate bandwidth (>1 Tb/s cm ) between the core VLSI circuits of chips connected with free-space optical links. OE/VLSI technology has spawned the creation of several advanced free-space digital optoelectronic systems [8]- [14]. Perhaps the most sophisticated is a 256 256 ATM switch chip with more than 4000 optical I/O's operating at 200 Mb/s [15].…”

Design and implementation of a two-stage optical-power-supply spot array generator for a modulator-based free-space interconnect

“…Free-space optical interconnects represent a candidate technology to alleviate some of the interconnection bottlenecks currently experienced by high performance electronic systems at the board to board and backplane level [1, 2,3]. The two most widely investigated technologies for free-space optical data transmission are multiple quantum modulators (MQW) and arrays of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs).…”