Optical Transmitter Micro-Architecture for On-Chip Off-Chip Interconnects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current literature lacks effective micro-architectures for optical transmitters that can be used in both systems-on-chip and systems-off-chip, particularly in networks that utilize optical interconnections for IP core connections, and there is a need for a transmitter that can generate traffic requests for both network-on-chip and network-off-chip applications.
Innovation Solution
A micro-architecture for optical transmitters that includes a destination decoder, emitting modules, a de-multiplexer, a serialization module, and an optical bus inverter, which converts electrical signals into optical signals of different wavelengths, enabling efficient communication between on-chip and off-chip targets using wavelength-division-multiplexing techniques, and employs a laser diode driven by a differential stage with MOSFET transistors to modulate the current for optical emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a transmitter is designed for on-chip applications, then it can be integrated into CMOS circuits, but it cannot be used for off-chip applications requiring optical interconnections
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter is designed with a universal micro-architecture that can function in both on-chip and off-chip applications. The destination decoder, de-multiplexer, and emitting modules are configured to handle both scenarios through a single integrated design, eliminating the need for separate transmitters for different application contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmitter is divided into functional modules including a destination decoder, de-multiplexer, and multiple emitting modules. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently while maintaining overall versatility, enabling the same architecture to serve both on-chip and off-chip communication needs.
2Productivity
If wavelength-division-multiplexing is used to increase bandwidth, then more data can be transmitted simultaneously, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter uses multiple emitting modules, each dedicated to a specific wavelength channel. This segmentation allows the WDM system to achieve high bandwidth by parallel transmission across multiple wavelengths while keeping each individual module relatively simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The de-multiplexer dynamically routes electrical signals to the appropriate emitting modules based on the destination decoder's output. This dynamic control enables efficient wavelength allocation and switching, allowing the system to adapt to different transmission requirements without requiring permanent complex wiring for all possible combinations.
3Speed
If optical signals are used for high-speed communication, then transmission speed increases, but energy consumption increases due to continuous light emission
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous light emission, the transmitter uses periodic pulsed light emission controlled by the de-multiplexer. Light is emitted only when and where needed, based on the destination decoder's selection. This periodic action maintains high transmission speed while significantly reducing overall energy consumption by keeping emitters off during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system activates specific emitting modules only for the required wavelength channels and destinations. By locally controlling which emitters are active based on the destination decoder's output, the system achieves high-speed communication for active channels while minimizing energy consumption across the entire transmitter array.
4Measurement precision
If packet traffic is processed through destination decoding and de-multiplexing, then routing accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The packet processing function is segmented into parallel operations: destination decoding occurs simultaneously with de-multiplexing, and multiple emitting modules prepare their signals in parallel. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high routing accuracy through dedicated decoding logic while minimizing processing delay through parallel execution of multiple functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The destination decoder and de-multiplexer perform their routing decisions and signal routing preparation in advance, before the actual light emission occurs. This preliminary action ensures that when packet processing is needed, the routing path is already determined and ready, reducing the overall processing time while maintaining accurate destination identification.
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
Enables efficient conversion of electrical signals to optical signals for both on-chip and off-chip communication, reducing energy consumption by minimizing the number of logic '1' bits transmitted and optimizing the operation of light emitters, thus supporting high-bandwidth, noise-immune optical networks.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of emitting modules configured to convert electrical signals into optical signals of different wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
said optical emitter comprises a laser diode
Data Source
AI summary
A transmitter for generating, starting from a data-packet traffic at input, flows of information to be conveyed via optical signals with different wavelengths towards a plurality of targets in a communications network, the transmitter including: a destination decoder to identify, for each packet in the input packet traffic, a respective destination target in the plurality of targets; a plurality of emitter modules operating at different wavelengths for converting the electrical signals into optical signals; and a de-multiplexer, which is controlled by the destination decoder and is able to drive the emitter modules by sending selectively to each emitter module the electrical signals corresponding to a given packet of the input packet traffic according to the respective destination target identified by the destination decoder. A serialization module is set upstream of the de-multiplexer for converting the packet traffic into a serial flow of bits. The transmitter also includes an optional transmission optical bus inverter for implementing a source coding on the electrical signals sent to the emitter modules.