Optical Interconnects for 3D Computer Architectures.

This report details a novel approach for integrating optical interconnects into Air Force computer systems to increase system performance. Computer systems from the average personal desktop models to specialized supercomputers are limited in performance by the electronic wiring used to transport information between processing circuitry. Using light instead of electronics to transport information inside a computer can greatly increase overall system operating speed. A modular optical interconnect architecture was designed and demonstrated which is applicable for use in a variety of computer architectures multichip module or wafer scale integration. The interconnect scheme uses a diffractive optic to image an array of light emitting diodes LEDs on one board to a corresponding array of photodetectors on a second hoard. This optical solution can replace 16 electronic wires running between the two hoards.