We present an optical, free-space, crossbar-like N x N interconnection network based on N routing switches of the form 1 to N. The network is used to connect Processing Elements (PEs) in a large-scale, parallel computer, utilizing a 3-D space layout. Each PE controls and sets its own switch, using a distributed algorithm. The switch deflects a monochromatic, coherent light beam towards one of N possible spots. This beam, carrying information from the sending PE, is thereafter passively deflected by a system of multifacet holograms, until it reaches the target PE. Unlike other schemes, this layout uniformly fills the 3-D space with PEs. Thus, inter-PE communication can be minimized when algorithms exploit locality of reference.

Date Published: 1 August 1990
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 1281, Optical Interconnections and Networks, (1 August 1990); doi: 10.1117/12.20679

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1281:
Optical Interconnections and Networks
Hartmut Bartelt, Editor(s)