Abstract

As electronic integrated circuit technology advances, problems of signal communication play an increasingly critical role [1]. Transmission of signals within a single chip and between chips presents limitations in power dissipation and timing. Replacing critical electronic signal transmission lines with optical signal paths can result in the following advantages: 1) Fewer layers of metalization and polysilicon on the chip; 2) Elimination of clock skew due to limited electronic signal transmission speed; 3) Faster point to point communication; 4) Reduction of the necessary electrical pinouts per chip; 5) Direct access to locations away from the perimeter of the chip; 6) Access to critical signal injection points for testing; 7) Custom configuration during assembly to bypass failed elements; and 8) A path toward dynamic reconfiguration of processing element connections.

© 1986 Optical Society of America