Recent research indicates that while maintaining a basic mesh-type node layout, which has many proven practical advantages, an increase (from degree-4) in node connectivity can lead to various new and interesting networking properties. In this paper, we discuss possible optical methods to implement such a class of connectivity-enhanced mesh-based interconnect networks. Multiplexing capability that only free-space optics could efficiently offer is utilized in these methods. As particular examples, two interconnect schemes, one for a nonblocking broadcast switching, are described. While the first model, which aims to reduce he overall network diameter using extended node connectivity, offers a compact and scalable geometry and a fast routing capability, the second model, which aims to lower the switching complexity bound for nonblocking multicast interconnect applications, is extendable to multidimensional multiplexing. Advantages of using the free-space optics for implementing the two models are discussed. Some proof-of-principle experimental results are presented.

Date Published: 2 May 1994
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 2153, Optoelectronic Interconnects II, (2 May 1994); doi: 10.1117/12.174534

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2153:
Optoelectronic Interconnects II
Ray T. Chen; John A. Neff, Editor(s)