Patent ID: 7865084
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: G02B,H01L

Abstract:
1. A system, comprising an array of chip modules (CMs), wherein the array includes: a first CM; a second CM coupled to the first CM; and a third CM coupled to the second CM, wherein a given CM in the first CM, the second CM and the third CM includes a semiconductor die that is configured to communicate data signals with other CMs through electromagnetically coupled proximity communication using proximity connectors; wherein the proximity connectors are proximate to a surface of the semiconductor die; wherein the first CM and the third CM are configured to optically communicate optical signals with each other via the second CM through an optical signal path; and wherein the second CM includes at least one detection element that converts a portion of the optical signals in the optical signal path into electrical signals and uses the electrical signals to determine if the signals being transmitted in the optical signal path are to be processed in the second CM,