A three-dimensional optical interconnection network with distributed control

We present a design for an optical free-space, crossbar-like interconnection network. Based on a 1 to N routeing switch, we give details of a possible set-up utilizing three-dimensional space. One switch is associated with each processing element (PE), and the routeing is done in a distributed manner by being incorporated in the action of transmission. The light is thereafter directed by multifaceted holograms. Parallel algorithms with communication locality can benefit from the uniform distribution of PEs in space, by minimizing the time latency of their communications. © 1995 Taylor & Francis Ltd.