Optical Interface Module Light Division for Memory Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed semiconductor devices require faster communication buses, but electrical channels suffer from signal distortion, noise, and delay, limiting operational speed and reliability, while optical communication buses face increased manufacturing costs and power consumption due to multiple light sources.
Innovation Solution
An optical memory system with optical interface modules that include an input-output light distribution unit, electrical-to-optical conversion, and coherent optical-to-electrical conversion units, allowing for efficient optical communication by reducing the number of light sources needed through light division for modulation and reception, enabling low-power, high-reliability communication without increasing system size or design burden.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple light sources are used for optical communication in high-speed memory systems, then communication speed and reliability are improved, but manufacturing cost and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single light source is designed to serve multiple memory modules simultaneously through optical signal distribution networks, allowing one light source to perform the function that would traditionally require multiple separate light sources, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining communication reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Optical signal distribution networks and coupling mechanisms are introduced as intermediaries to efficiently transfer optical signals from a shared light source to multiple memory modules, enabling the light source to serve multiple functions without direct connection to each module
2Productivity
If multiple light sources are used for optical communication, then communication capacity is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is designed as a universal component that can serve multiple memory modules through optical distribution, reducing the total number of light sources needed and thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining high communication capacity across the system
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple optical communication channels are merged to share a common light source infrastructure, combining what would traditionally be separate light source requirements into a single shared resource, reducing overall system cost
3Device complexity
If electrical channels are used for memory communication, then system simplicity is maintained, but signal distortion and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
Electrical signal transmission channels are replaced with optical signal transmission channels, substituting the mechanical/electrical field with the optical field to eliminate issues like signal distortion and noise while maintaining system functionality, achieving higher signal reliability without significantly increasing complexity
4Adaptability or versatility
If each memory module has its own light source, then communication independence is improved, but system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of dedicating a light source to each memory module, a single light source is designed to serve multiple modules through optical distribution networks, reducing system size while maintaining the ability of each module to communicate independently through its allocated optical signals
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The optical memory system achieves efficient and reliable high-speed communication by reducing the number of light sources, lowering power consumption, and maintaining system scalability without size or design complexity increases.
Implementation Method 1
an input-output light distribution unit configured to divide received light to produce transmission light and reception light
Implementation Method 2
an electrical-to-optical conversion unit configured to perform optical modulation based on the transmission light and an electrical transmission signal to generate an optical transmission signal
Implementation Method 3
a coherent optical-to-electrical conversion unit configured to perform a coherent reception based on the reception light and an optical reception signal to generate an electrical reception signal
Data Source
AI summary
An optical memory module comprises one or more memory devices configured to store data, and one or more optical interface modules configured to perform optical communication between the memory devices and an external device. Each of the optical interface modules comprises an input-output light distribution unit configured to divide received light to produce transmission light and reception light, an electrical-to-optical conversion unit configured to perform optical modulation based on the transmission light and an electrical transmission signal to generate an optical transmission signal, and a coherent optical-to-electrical conversion unit configured to perform a coherent reception based on the reception light and an optical reception signal to generate an electrical reception signal.