Asynchronous Optical Mutual Exclusion Interconnect

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical interconnects for intra-chip or intra-module communication face challenges in efficiently managing contention for shared resources without centralized control, often requiring complex and resource-intensive arbitration mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

An asynchronous distributed optical mutual exclusion interconnect using waveguides and microring resonators, where microring resonators act as electrically controllable taps to manage access to a shared resource, ensuring atomic and exclusive access through a distributed semaphore architecture that rotates token priority and eliminates the need for centralized control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If external arbitration or optical queue mechanisms are used to resolve contention, then resource access control is achieved, but device complexity and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontention resolutionVSAvoidarbitration mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical interconnect system performs self-arbitration through the physical properties of light propagation and microring resonator coupling. Each node autonomously determines token acquisition based on optical signal presence, eliminating the need for external arbitration logic or control circuits. The system serves itself by using the inherent optical interference and resonance effects to enforce mutual exclusion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the arbitration function from external control mechanisms and embeds it directly into the optical transmission medium and microring resonator structure. The waveguide and microring combination inherently provides contention resolution through optical coupling effects, removing the need for separate arbitration hardware or software protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If optical queues or buffering structures are implemented, then packet contention is managed, but resource consumption and structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket contention managementVSAvoidoptical buffer resources

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical or electronic buffering mechanisms with optical field-based contention management. Instead of physically storing packets in optical buffers or queues, the system uses the temporal and spatial properties of optical signals combined with microring resonator timing to naturally sequence packet transmission and resolve contention without additional storage resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If centralized control is implemented for token management, then mutual exclusion is ensured, but system scalability and decentralization are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemutual exclusionVSAvoidsystem scalability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the token management function across multiple independent nodes in the optical network. Each node contains a microring resonator that independently participates in token acquisition and holding. The distributed nature of optical signal propagation allows each segment (node) to autonomously enforce mutual exclusion while contributing to overall system-wide token management, enabling scalability without centralized control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

This solution provides fair and efficient access to shared resources with constant amortized response time, ensuring no token request is denied more than n-1 times, where n is the number of processors, and operates without compromising mutual exclusion, even under technological constraints.

Implementation Method 1

the microring resonator functions as an electrically controllable switch that draws light out of the waveguide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResonant coupling: Resonance

Implementation Method 2

employing optical waveguides and microring resonators

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical waveguide transmission: Waveguide (optics)

Data Source

PatentUS9977206B2Asynchronous distributed optical mutual exclusion interconnect and method

Publication Date: 2018.05.22 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LOUISIANA STATE UNIV & AGRI & MECHANICAL COLLEGE

AI summary

A system and method for using the system includes a first and second waveguide and optical receiver elements coupled therebetween. The optical receiver elements include a microring configured to admit light from and transfer light to at least one of the first and second waveguides, a photodetector, coupled to the microring, configured to detect light admitted to the microring, and an enable circuit, coupled to the microring, configured to be switched between a light admitting state to enable light to be admitted to the microring and a light rejection state to prevent light from being admitted to the microring. Each optical receiver element has a relative priority and are configured to asynchronously arbitrate among themselves for a token to place one of the enable circuits in the light admitting state to enable one of the optical receiver elements to receive and transmit data.