WO2001015346A1

WO2001015346A1 - Wireless multipoint connectivity architecture between boards

Info

Publication number: WO2001015346A1
Application number: PCT/IL2000/000433
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zvi Kam
Original assignee: Yeda Research And Development Co. Ltd.
Priority date: 1999-08-19
Filing date: 2000-07-23
Publication date: 2001-03-01
Also published as: AU6012700A

Abstract

A computer processor board including a substrate having formed therein a plurality of apertures, light communicators associated with at least some of the apertures, and at least one controller, mounted on the substrate in communication with the light communicators.

Description

WIRELESS MULTIPOINT CONNECTIVITY ARCHITECTURE BETWEEN

BOARDS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to computer processors generally and more particularly to optical communications in computer processors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Optical communications between computer processors are known. The following

U.S. Patents are believed to represent the state of the art:

4,063,083; 4,358,858; 4,393,515; 4,449,206; 4,850,044; 5,423,007; 4,963,729;

4,763,247; 5,1 13,403; 5,144,465; 5,247,593; 5,237,434; 4,499,607; 5,568,574;

4,161.650; 4,494,185; 4,566,134; 4,499,608.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide an improved computer processor board and computer processor assembly.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a computer processor board including: a substrate having formed therein a plurality of apertures; light communicators associated with at least some of the apertures; and at least one controller, mounted on the substrate in communication with the light communicators. Preferably, the light communicators include at least one of: light modulators associated with at least some of the apertures; and partial light reflectors associated with at least some of the apertures. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one controller is in optical communication with the light communicators via electro-optical transducers.

Preferably, the light communicators include both the light modulators and the partial light reflectors. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the partial light reflectors provide an output to light detectors which are preferably mounted thereon but may be mounted on the substrate.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the light detectors communicate with the at least one controller.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a computer processor assembly including: a plurality of computer processor boards arranged for mutual optical communication therebetween, each including: a substrate having formed therein a plurality of apertures; light communicators associated with at least some of the apertures; and at least one controller, mounted on the substrate in communication with the light communicators.

Preferably, the computer processor assembly also includes a collimated light source assembly operative to direct a multiplicity of laser beams through registered apertures in multiple ones of the plurality of computer processor boards for providing optical communication between the computer processor boards.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light communicators include at least one of: light modulators associated with at least some of the apertures; and partial light reflectors associated with at least some of the apertures. In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light communicators include both: light modulators associated with at least some of the apertures; and partial light reflectors associated with at least some of the apertures.

Preferably, the controller is in optical communication with the light communicators via electro-optical transducers.

Preferably, the partial light reflectors provide an output to light detectors which are preferably mounted on the reflectors but may be mounted on the substrate. Preferably, the light detectors communicate with the at least one controller.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the partial light reflectors operate to read optical communications carried on the laser beams, while permitting such communications to reach boards downstream thereof.

Preferably, the light modulators operate to provide optical communications via the laser beams to boards downstream thereof.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light source assembly provides light beams extending in opposite directions through each board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description in which:

Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a computer processor board constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration of one embodiment of a light communicator forming part of the computer processor board shown in Fig. 1 ;

Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C are simplified pictorial illustrations of three types of another embodiment of a light communicator forming part of the computer processor board shown in Fig. 1 ;

Figs. 4 A and 4B are simplified pictorial illustrations of two types of yet another embodiment of a light communicator forming part of the computer processor board shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a light distribution board useful in association with plural computer processor boards of the type shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a computer processor assembly incorporating plural computer processor boards of the type shown in Fig. 1 and at least one light distribution board of the type shown in Fig. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to Fig. 1 , which is a simplified pictorial illustration of a computer processor board constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The computer processor board of Fig. 1 preferably comprises a substrate 10, preferably having formed therein a plurality of apertures 12. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, light communicators 14 are associated with at least some of the apertures. The light communicators may be of various types, such as, for example, light modulators 16, such as that shown in Fig. 2, first angle partial light reflector and detector assemblies 18, such as that shown in Fig. 3A and second angle partial light reflector and detector assemblies 20, such as that shown in Fig. 3B, and other communicators such as communicators 21, 17 and 19, shown in Figs. 3C, 4A and 4B respectively.

Preferably, at least one controller 22 mounted on the substrate 10 in communication with the light communicators 14 for controlling the operation of the light modulators 16 and receiving data and control inputs from partial light reflector and detector assemblies 18 and 20. Communication between controller 22 and the other elements on substrate 10 is normally effected by conductors formed on the substrate 10 in a conventional manner.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2, which is a simplified pictorial illustration of one embodiment of a light communicator forming part of the computer processor board shown in Fig. 1, namely a light modulator 16. The light modulator preferably comprises devices such as multi-quantum well or Mach-Zehnder interferometer modulators.

The light modulator is arranged to overlie an aperture 12 and to modulate light, preferably collimated laser light, passing therethrough, thereby providing information content to that light.

Reference is now made to Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C, which are simplified pictorial illustrations of three types of another embodiment of light communicators forming part of the computer processor board shown in Fig. 1 , namely partial light reflector and detector assemblies 18, 20, and 21 respectively. As can readily be seen, assemblies 18 and 20 differ from each other in terms of the direction from which light impinges thereon.

Turning to Fig. 3 A, it is seen that partial light reflector and detector assembly 18 comprises a base 30 onto which is formed a 45 degree inclined relatively thin glass plate 32, typically of thickness 0.2 mm, which is coated so as to be about 99% transmissive and about 1% reflective. A detector 34 is arranged to receive light which impinges onto glass plate 32 from the underneath thereof, in the sense of Fig. 3A after having passed through aperture 12, and which is reflected by glass plate 32. Preferably a suitable filter (not shown) is provided to limit the light impinging on detector 34 to light of a particular wavelength which is modulated by light modulators 16 and which passes through apertures 12 on substrates 10.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that the detector 34 is fixedly mounted with respect to the glass plate 32, thereby obviating the need for alignment therebetween during installation or use. The output of detector 34 is coupled via suitable conductors and leads to one or more controllers 22 or other circuitry on substrate 10.

Turning to Fig. 3B, it is seen that partial light reflector and detector assembly 20 comprises a base 40 onto which is formed a 45 degree inclined relatively thin glass plate 42, typically of thickness 0.2 mm, which is coated so as to be about 99% transmissive and about 1% reflective. A detector 44 is arranged to receive light which impinges onto glass plate 42 from above, in the sense of Fig. 3B before passing through aperture 12, which is reflected by glass plate 42. Preferably a suitable filter (not shown) is provided to limit the light impinging on detector 44 to light of a particular wavelength which is modulated by light modulators 16.

It is appreciated that reflector and detector assemblies 18 and 20 may be identical, if suitable leads for mounting thereof in plural orientations are provided.

Turning to Fig. 3C it is seen that a combination of reflector and detector assemblies 18 and 20, such as in reflector and detector assembly 21, may receive light from above and below the plane of substrate 10 via a single aperture.

Reference is now made to Figs. 4A and 4B, which are simplified pictorial illustrations of two types of yet another embodiment of a light communicator forming part of the computer processor board shown in Fig. 1.

As distinct from the light communicators shown in Figs. 2, 3A and 3B, which are single channel, single function communicators, e.g. either modulators or reflector/detectors, the light communicators shown in Figs. 4A and 4B are multiple channel, multiple function communicators, which provide both modulator and reflector/detector functionalities for multiple channels.

Thus it is appreciated that Fig. 4A shows a multichannel light modulator 46. The multichannel light modulator 46 preferably comprises a plurality of devices such as multi-quantum well or Mach-Zehnder interferometer modulators, arranged side by side on a substrate so as to overlie a row of apertures 12 and to modulate light passing therethrough, preferably collimated laser light, independently for each channel, e.g. each collimated light beam passing through a different aperture.

Preferably formed onto modulator 46 there is provided a 45 degree inclined relatively thin glass plate 48, typically of thickness 0.2 mm, which is coated so as to be about 99% transmissive and about 1% reflective. A plurality of detectors 50 are arranged to receive light which impinges onto glass plate 48 from the underneath thereof, in the sense of Fig. 4 A after having passed through individual apertures 12, and which is reflected by glass plate 48. Preferably suitable filters (not shown) are provided to limit the light impinging on detectors 50 to light of a particular wavelength which is modulated by multichannel light modulator 46 on a separate substrate 10, and which passes through apertures 12 on substrates 10.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that the detectors 50 are fixedly mounted with respect to the glass plate 48, thereby obviating the need for alignment therebetween during installation or use. The outputs of detectors 50 are coupled via suitable conductors and leads to one or more controllers 22 or other circuitry on substrate 10.

Turning to Fig. 4B, it is seen that a multichannel light modulator 56, which may be identical to multichannel light modulator 46, is provided. A 45 degree inclined relatively thin glass plate 58, typically of thickness 0.2 mm, which is coated so as to be about 99% transmissive and about 1% reflective. Detectors 60 are arranged to receive light which impinges onto glass plate 58 from above, in the sense of Fig. 4B, before passing through apertures 12, which light is reflected by glass plate 58. Preferably suitable filters (not shown) are provided to limit the light impinging on detectors 60 to light of a particular wavelength. It is appreciated that the multiple channel, multiple function communicators shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, may be identical, if suitable leads for mounting thereof in plural orientations are provided.

It is also appreciated that the multiple channel, multiple function communicators may provide simultaneous light modulation and partial light reflection on multiple light channels. Normally, however both modulation and partial light reflection do not occur simultaneously on a given channel, although this is not impossible.

Reference is now made to Fig. 5, which is a simplified pictorial illustration of a light distribution board useful in association with plural computer processor boards of the type shown in Fig. 1. The light distribution board, here designated by reference numeral 70, typically comprises at least one source of collimated light, such as a solid state or gas laser 72 which is mounted onto a substrate 74 and which emits a beam 76 of collimated light of a predetermined wavelength.

The beam preferably impinges on a series of partial light reflectors 78, each of which typically comprises a 45 degree inclined relatively thin glass plate, typically of thickness 0.2 mm, which is coated so as to be about 98% transmissive and about 2% reflective. The partial light reflectors 78 each preferably direct light through a series of partial light reflectors 80 some or all of which may be associated with modulators 82 and detectors 84. The operation of the laser 72, and any modulators 82 may be governed by one or more controller 86, which may also receive data or other inputs from any of detectors 84. Reference is now made to Fig. 6, which is a simplified pictorial illustration of a computer processor assembly incorporating plural computer processor boards of the type shown in Fig. 1 and at least one light distribution board of the type shown in Fig. 5.

The computer processor assembly, here designated by reference numeral 100 preferably comprises a light distribution board 102, which may be identical to that described hereinabove with reference to Fig. 5. Disposed in a stack aligned with light distribution board 102, and typically arranged thereunder in the illustrated embodiment are a plurality of computer processor boards 104 which may include the structure and functionality described hereinabove with reference to Figs. 1 - 4B as well as any other suitable logic, memory or other functionality. It is a particular feature of the present invention that communication between the individual computer processor boards 104 may be provided via the optical communicators associated with mutually registered multiple apertures therein, thus providing a plurality of high bandwidth parallel communication channels.

In the illustrated embodiment, where only a single light distribution board 102 is provided, there may be provided at the opposite end of the stack from the light distribution board, a light reflection board 106 having reflectors 108 for receiving light in a given direction along a given channel defined by registered apertures 12 and transmitting it in an opposite direction along an adjacent channel 110 or along the same channel 1 12. Alternatively, communication between computer processor boards 104 may be enabled in only one direction.

It is appreciated that the structure shown and described herein provides a computer of extremely efficient design, particularly for parallel processing.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of various features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to a person skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.

Claims

C L A I M S What is claimed is:

1. A computer processor board comprising: a substrate having formed therein a plurality of apertures; light communicators associated with at least some of the apertures; and at least one controller, mounted on the substrate in communication with said light communicators.

2. A computer processor board according to claim 1 and wherein said light communicators include at least one of: light modulators associated with at least some of said apertures; partial light reflectors associated with at least some of said apertures.

3. A computer processor board according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one controller is in optical communication with said light communicators via electro-optical transducers.

4. A computer processor board according to claim 2 and wherein said light communicators include both said light modulators and said partial light reflectors.

5. A computer processor board according to claim 2 and wherein said at least one controller communicates with said light modulators.

6. A computer processor board according to claim 2 and wherein said partial light reflectors provide an output to light detectors.

7. A computer processor board according to claim 6 and wherein said light detectors communicate with said at least one controller.

8. A computer processor board according to claim 6 and wherein said detectors are mounted on said reflectors.

9. A computer processor board according to claim 1 and wherein said light communicators include: light modulators associated with at least some of said apertures; and partial light reflectors associated with at least some of said apertures.

10. A computer processor board according to claim 9 and said light communicators include light modulators and partial light reflectors both associated with a plurality of apertures.

1 1. A computer processor assembly comprising: a plurality of computer processor boards arranged for mutual optical communication therebetween, each comprising: a substrate having formed therein a plurality of apertures; light communicators associated with at least some of the apertures; and at least one controller, mounted on the substrate in communication with said light communicators.

12. A computer processor assembly according to claim 1 1 and also comprising a collimated light source assembly operative to direct a multiplicity of laser beams through registered apertures in multiple ones of said plurality of computer processor boards for providing optical communication between said computer processor boards.

13. A computer processor assembly according to claim 12 and wherein said light communicators include at least one of: light modulators associated with at least some of said apertures; and partial light reflectors associated with at least some of said apertures.

14. A computer processor assembly according to claim 12 and wherein said at least one controller is in optical communication with said light communicators via electro-optical transducers.

15. A computer processor assembly according to claim 13 and wherein said light communicators include both said light modulators and said partial light reflectors.

16. A computer processor assembly according to claim 13 and wherein said at least one controller communicates with said light modulators.

17. A computer processor assembly according to claim 13 and wherein said partial light reflectors provide an output to light detectors.

18. A computer processor assembly according to claim 17 and wherein said light detectors communicate with said at least one controller.

19. A computer processor assembly according to claim 12 and wherein said partial light reflectors operate to read optical communications carried on said laser beams, while permitting such communications to reach boards downstream thereof.

20. A computer processor assembly according to claim 12 and wherein said light modulators operate to provide optical communications via said laser beams to boards downstream thereof.

21. A computer processor assembly according to claim 12 and wherein said light source assembly provides light beams extending in opposite directions through each board.

22. A computer processor assembly according to claim 17 and wherein said detectors are mounted on said reflectors.

23. A computer processor assembly according to claim 12 and wherein said light communicators include: light modulators associated with at least some of said apertures; and partial light reflectors associated with at least some of said apertures.

24. A computer processor board according to claim 20 and said light communicators include light modulators and partial light reflectors both associated with a plurality of apertures.