Optical Interconnects And Crossbar Switching For High Speed Data Communications

Abstract

Requirements of advanced generations of computers and signal processors dictate not only high computational speed but highly parallel architectures. These highly parallel systems require significant communication at gigabit data rates with high fanout capabilities. These systems also require multiple switching of high rate data paths to facilitate efficient functioning of parallel architectures. To realize these requirements, medium scale integration (MSI) level gallium arsenide (GaAs) optoelectronic integrated circuits (ICs) have been developed to overcome the limitations associated with conventional electrical interconnections. Digital GaAs circuits have been integrated with optoelectronic detectors to achieve high speed, high bandwidth, optoelectronic ICs for board level optical data communications. Performance of optical and receivers is given as well as data obtained in 1:8 demultiplexed receivers. These chips are being interfaced with high speed very large scale integration (VLSI) silicon ICs to form optical fiber crossbar switches (OFCS). Performance of 8 X 8 crossbar switches is given. These circuits operate with data rates of 200 MHz and reconfiguration times of 60 nanoseconds. Optical fiber crossbar switches up to 24 X 24 arrays are planned.