Optical interconnection apparatus

Abstract: A matrix of optical functional devices are divided into plural device units. Each of the device units includes at least two optical functional devices having light transmitting coatings (10₁₁, 10₁₂, 10₂₁, 10₂₂). The coatings have transmission factors which are different from each other. Light signals emitted through the coatings from the at least two optical functional devices in each unit are received by a corresponding light receiving device (20) among light receiving devices arranged in a one-dimensional pattern. In each device unit optical functional devices to be driven are selected, so that a coupling degree between each device unit and the corresponding light receiving device is changed.

Description: This invention relates to an optical interconnection apparatus, and more particularly to, an optical interconnection apparatus using a matrix of optoelectronic devices. In these days, optical input and output apparatus, optical transmission apparatus, optical switching apparatus, optical signal processing apparatus, etc. having a large amount of signal capacity and a property of high speed are required to be put into a practical use, as information society has been highly advanced. In this point, a computer consisting of electronic circuits has a limitation. Therefore, an optical computer using the high speed of light and the parallel property thereof is expected to be developed. On the other hand, a neural network using optical interconnection is intensively studied to provide a practical structure. In this neural network, unit elements each defined as "neuron" are connected by interconnections, so that an output signal is obtained from input signals by changing coupling degrees among neurons. That is, all of input signals are added to provide a sum which is compared with a threshold value to provide an output signal. At the present stage, one type of a neural network is structured by integrated electronic devices. In this neural network, an interconnecting portion of the electronic devices may be replaced by optical devices. Another type of a neural network is structured totally by optical functional devices. In any structure, an extremely large number of interconnections must be done to provide a large scaled neural network. In this point,light provides effective means for interconnections among neurons of a neural network, because the spatial transmission of information can be carried out by use of light, and a high density of interconnections can be realized due to no mutual interference of light signals. In an optical neural network, spatial light modulating devices must be provided to change a coupling degree for each interconnection. For this purpose, liquid crystal displays are only used in the optical neural network. However, the liquid crystal displays have a disadvantage in that an operating speed is ordinarily as slow as several m sec., so that a high speed operation can not be realized. Otherwise, such devices as using non-linear materials or semiconductors are utilized as optical processing devices having high operating speeds in the optical neural network. However, these devices have a disadvantage in that the high density formation of device arrangement is difficult to be realized, and because a technology for arranging the devices in a predetermined pattern is not sufficiently developed, and electric power consumption is large. In this situation, attention has been paid to an optoelectronic device with low electric power consumption which is based on an optical thyristor. This device has been described in a report entitled "A new double heterostructure optoelectronic switching device using molecular beam epitaxy" on pages 596 to 600 of "Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 59, No. 2, 1986", and in a report entitled "Double heterostructure optoelectronic switch as a dynamic memory with low-power consumption" on pages 679 to 681 of "Applied Physics Letter, Vol. 52, No. 9, 29 February, 1988". Arbitrary connections using optical interconnections having a large number of parallel connections which have been carried out by input signals are realized by using functions of light emission, light response, and information storage of the above described optoelectronic device. Here, an optical interconnection apparatus using a matrix of optoelectronic devices will be explained, as described in a paper "3a-ZA-2" on page 795 of "Extended abstracts, The 36th Spring Meeting, 1989, The Japan Society of Applied Physics and Related Societies, No. 3" held on April 1 to 4 of 1989. This optical interconnection apparatus comprises a matrix of optoelectronic devices and a light receiving structure. The matrix includes NXN optoelectronic devices arranged in a matrix pattern, and the light receiving structure includes N light receiving devices arranged in a one-dimensional pattern to face the NXN optoelectronic devices. In this optical interconnection apparatus, arbitrary optical interconnection are realized by driving predetermined optoelectronic devices which are selected from the NXN optoelectronic devices by applying predetermined signals to signal lines selected from N X-axis lines and N Y-axis lines. In this operation, each optoelectronic device has ON state and OFF state corresponding to binary code states of "0" and "1", so that the optoelectronic devices operate as spatial light modulators. Thus, spatial light modulated signals are supplied to the light receiving devices. This optical interconnection apparatus has an advantage in that it operates with a speed much higher than that of an optical interconnection apparatus using liquid crystal displays. However, this optical interconnection apparatus has a disadvantage in that coupling degrees are only set in the connection of information by the binary values of "0" and "1". Considering that this optical interconnection apparatus is applied to an optical neural network, an optical arithmetic and calculating apparatus, etc., it is desired that coupling degrees change continuously between "0" and "1". Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an optical interconnection apparatus which operates with a high speed, which allows arbitrary optical interconnections, and which allows coupling degrees of light information to be changed continuously between "0" and "1". These objects are solved with the features of the claims. In this invention, optoelectronic devices with low electric power consumption which are based on optical thyristors are arranged in a two-dimensional pattern to provide a light emitting matrix. Driving terminals of the same kind for each device are connected to a signal line in each column and each row by use of common electrodes, so that interconnections of a matrix pattern are obtained. Each device has functions of light emission, threshold, and information storage, and is set into ON state by the application of a voltage larger than a threshold value across two terminals thereof. This ON state is held by the application of a holding voltage smaller than the turning-on voltage across the two terminals. The device which is under ON state emits light by the application of a predetermined additional voltage across the two terminals. This light emission is not obtained in devices which are not under ON state. Accordingly, if the devices which are arranged in a matrix pattern are sequentially addressed to be selectively turned on, light emission is obtained from the selected devices by applying a predetermined signal voltage thereto. The emitted lights are supplied to light receiving devices which are arranged in a one-dimensional pattern, so that signals can be transmitted to designated destinations. In particular, optoelectronic devices which are arranged in a matrix pattern are divided by plural sets of optoelectronic devices. Here, each set is defined to be a device unit, in which each device is provided with a coating having a predetermined transmission factor different from others. As a result, when devices are selected to emit light in the device unit, a coupling degree can be changed in the mode of changing light signal intensity. For instance, it is assumed that first, second, third, and fourth devices of the device unit are provided with no coating, and first to third coatings of supplying output lights of 1/2 intensity, 1/4 intensity and 1/8 intensity relative to the intensity of the output light in case of no coating, respectively. The first to fourth devices are addressed to be selectively turned on in accordance with a coupling degree, and a predetermined signal voltage is commonly applied to the selected devices among the first to fourth devices. Consequently, coupling degrees of sixteen (2⁴) steps are obtained by changing the selection of the four devices at the time of addressing. When the device unit includes n optoelectronic devices in number, coupling degrees of 2 n steps can be obtained. This invention will be explained in conjunction with appended drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional optical interconnection apparatus; Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an optical interconnection apparatus in a preferred embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a matrix of optoelectronic devices and a light receiving structure in the preferred embodiment; Fig. 4 is a plan view showing coatings provided on the matrix of the optoelectronic devices in the preferred embodiment; Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an optoelectronic device used in the preferred embodiment; and Fig. 6 is a timing chart showing operation in the preferred embodiment. Before explaining an optical interconnection apparatus in the preferred embodiment according to the invention, the conventional optical interconnection apparatus will be explained in Fig. 1. This conventional optical interconnection apparatus comprises a matrix 41 of NXN optoelectronic devices 41₁₁, 41₁₂, 41₁₃, 41₁₄, ....., and a light receiving structure 42 of light receiving devices 42₁, 42₂, 42₃ and 42₄ arranged in a one-dimensional pattern to face the matrix 41, where the number N is four. In the matrix 41, the optoelectronic devices 41₁₁, 41₁₂, 41₁₃, 41₁₄, ..... are connected to signal lines X₁, X₂, X₃ and X₄ for input signals by each column, and to signal lines Y₁, Y₂, Y₃ and Y₄ for address synchronous signals by each row. Otherwise, the light receiving devices 42₁, 42₂, 42₃ and 42₄ are connected to signal lines Z₁, Z₂, Z₃ and Z₄ for output signals in the light receiving structure 42, respectively. In operation, address synchronous signals are sequentially applied to each row of the optoelectronic devices 41₁₁, 41₁₂, 41₁₃, 41₁₄, ..... by the signal lines Y₁, Y₂, Y₃ and Y₄, while destination address signals are selectively applied to each column thereof in synchronism with the address synchronous signal by the signal lines X₁, X₂, X₃ and X₄. If it is assumed that the four optoelectronic devices 41₁₂, 41₂₄, 41₃₁ and 41₄₃ are selectively turned on, light emission is obtained from the selected devices, when information signals are applied thereto at predetermined timings. Light signals thus obtained are received by the light receiving devices 42₁, 42₂, 42₃ and 42₄ of the light receiving structure 42, as illustrated by dotted arrows in Fig. 1. Then, output signals are supplied through the signal lines Z₁, Z₂, Z₃ and Z₄ to a following signal processing stage. However, this conventional optical interconnection apparatus has the disadvantage as explained before, although it is not repeatedly described here. An optical interconnection apparatus in the preferred embodiment will be explained in Figs. 2 to 4. This optical interconnection apparatus comprises a matrix 10 of 4X4 optoelectronic devices 10₁₁, 10₁₂, 10₁₃, 10₁₄ ..... which are arranged in a two-dimensional pattern, and a light receiving structure 20 of light receiving devices 20₁ and 20₂ which are arranged in a one-dimensional pattern to face a light emitting surface of the matrix 10. The matrix 10 is connected through matrix signal lines X₁, X₂, X₃ and X₄ to an input signal circuit 3, from which destination address signals for designating destinations of information signals, and information signals to be transmitted to the designated destinations are sequentially supplied to selected optoelectronic devices of the matrix 10, and is connected through matrix signal lines Y₁, Y₂, Y₃ and Y₄ to an address synchronous signal circuit 4, from which address synchronous signals are sequentially supplied to the matrix 10 by each row. The light receiving devices 20₁ and 20₂ of the light receiving structure 20 are connected through output signal lines Z₁ and Z₂ to an output signal circuit 5, in which output signals supplied from the light receiving structure 20 are processed. The input signal circuit 3, the address synchronous signal circuit 4, etc. are controlled by a control unit 6. The matrix 10 is divided into four device units 10₁, 10₂, 10₃ and 10₄ by vertical and horizontal lines 11 and 12, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. Each of the four device units 10₁, 10₂, 10₃ and 10₄ includes 2X2 optoelectronic devices. For instance, the device unit 10₁ includes the optoelectronic device 10₁₁ having no coating, and the optoelectronic devices 10₁₂, 10₂₁ and 10₂₂ having coatings of transmission factors for supplying output lights having intensities of 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8, respectively, relative to that of an output light obtained from the optoelectronic device 10₁₁. The device units 10₂, 10₃ and 10₄ have the same structure as the device unit 10₁. Therefore, coupling degrees of sixteen steps are obtained for light signals supplied from the matrix 10 to the light receiving structure 20. Such a coating is provided on an optoelectronic device, for instance, by evaporating a metal such as Cr, etc. thereon. Fig. 5 shows one type of an optoelectronic device having a thyristor structure which is applied to the matrix 10. This optoelectronic device comprises epitaxial layers which are grown on a semi-insulating GaAs substrate 33 by molecular beam epitaxy. These epitaxial layers are an n-GaAs buffer layer 34, an n-Al 0.4 Ga 0.6 As layer 35, a p-GaAs layer 36, an n-GaAs active layer 37, a p-Al 0.4 Ga 0.6 As layer 38, and a p-GaAs layer 39. This optoelectronic device further comprises an anode electrode 31 provided on the p-GaAs contact layer 39, a cathode electrode 32 provided on the n-GaAs buffer layer 34, an n-gate electrode 41 provided on the n-GaAs layer 37, and a p-gate electrode 42 provided on a Zn-diffusion region 40 provided through the n-GaAs layer 37 into the p-GaAs layer 36. This optoelectronic device is a device having properties of a threshold value and light emission, and is turned on to shift into an operating state by the application of a voltage equal to or higher than the threshold value across the anode and cathode electrodes 31 and 32 thereof. This operating state is held by applying a voltage equal to or higher than a holding voltage across the anode and cathode electrodes 31 and 32. In this operating state, the optoelectronic device emits light by the application of a predetermined voltage lower than the threshold voltage and higher than the holding voltage thereto. Otherwise, an optoelectronic device which is not turned on due to no application of the threshold voltage thereto does not emit light, even if the predetermined voltage is applied across the anode and cathode electrodes 31 and 32 thereof. The optoelectronic device which is under the operating state is controlled to be back to non-operating state by the application of a voltage lower than the holding voltage. This optoelectronic device is of a response speed as high as several hundred MHz. The n and p gate electrodes 41 and 42 function as electron and hole extractors to achieve high-speed turn-off. In operation, the address synchronous signals 5 are supplied from the address synchronous signal circuit 4 to the matrix signal lines Y₁, Y₂, Y₃ and Y₄, and the destination address signals A and information signals I are supplied from the input signal circuit 3 to the matrix signal lines X₁, X₂, X₃ and X₄, as shown in Fig. 6. The address synchronous signals S are of a pulse voltage -Vs, and are applied through the matrix signal lines Y₁, Y₂, Y₃ and Y₄ to the matrix 10 in time-division as shown by t₁, t₂, t₃ and t₄. On the other hand, the destination address signals A are of a pulse voltage Va larger than a holding voltage Vh, and are applied to selected signal lines among the matrix signal lines X₁, X₂, X₃ and X₄ corresponding to selected optoelectronic devices in each row of the matrix 10 at each time division t₁, t₂, t₃ or t₄. At the divisional time t₁, for instance, a voltage (Va + Vs) obtained by adding the voltage Vs of the address synchronous signal S and the voltage Va of the destination address signal A is applied to the optoelectronic devices 10₁₁ and 10₄₁. This voltage (Va + Vs) is set to be larger than a threshold voltage Vth which is ordinarily 2 to 5 V, so that the optical functional devices 10₁₁ and 10₄₁ is turned on to shift into the operating state. At the divisional times t₂, t₃ and t₄, the optoelectronic devices 10₁₂, 10₂₂ and 10₃₂, 10₂₃ and 10₃₃, and 10₁₄ and 10₃₄ are turned on to shift into the operating state, respectively, as apparent from the timing chart of Fig. 6. This operating state is held in the optoelectronic devices thus turned on by the application of a holding voltage of approximately 1.4 V thereto. In this circumstance, the information signals I are applied through the matrix signal lines X₁, X₂, X₃ and X₄ to the optoelectronic devices of the matrix 10 in a signal line selected mode at timings as shown in Fig. 6. Thus, light signals are emitted from the optoelectronic devices which are under the operating state. More precisely, the information signals I are applied to the matrix signal lines X₁ and X₂ simultaneously, and to the matrix signal lines X₃ and X₄ simultaneously. As a result, the optoelectronic devices 10₁₁, 10₁₂ and 10₂₂ emit light signals which are modulated by the respective transmission factors in the device unit 10₁ of the matrix 10. These light signals thus modulated are received by the light receiving device 20₁ of the light receiving structure 20, so that the sum of the light signals are obtained therein to be supplied through the output signal line Z₁ to the output signal processing circuit 5. At the same time, the optoelectronic devices 10₁₄ and 10₂₃ emit modulated light signals in the device unit 10₂ of the matrix 10. These modulated light signals are received by the light receiving device 20₂ of the light receiving structure 20, so that the sum of the light signals are obtained therein to be supplied through the output signal line Z₂ to the output signal processing circuit 5. In the same manner, modulated light signals emitted from the device units 10₃ and 10₄ of the matrix are received by the light receiving devices 20₁ and 20₂ of the light receiving structure 20, respectively. As described above, two inputs are connected to two outputs by the changeable coupling degrees, so that an optical interconnection apparatus having the load-sum function to provide an output signal generated by adding inputs is obtained. As a matter of course, when it is required that the steps of coupling degrees are increased in number, the number of optoelectronic devices included in device units of a matrix is increased. Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiment for complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modification and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.

Claims: An optical interconnection apparatus comprising: a matrix (10) of optoelectronic devices (10₁₁ to 10₄₄) each having at least first and second driving terminals, said first driving terminals being connected to a common electrode in a respective row of said matrix (10), and said second driving terminals being connected to a common electrode in a respective column; and a light receiving structure (20) of light receiving devices (20₁ and 20₂) arranged in a one-dimensional pattern, said light receiving devices receiving light signals emitted from said optoelectronic devices (10₁₁ to 10₄₄) ; wherein said matrix (10) is divided into plural device units (10₁ to 10₄) each comprising at least two of said optoelectronic devices and being optically coupled to a corresponding one of said light receiving devices (20₁ and 20₂) and said at least two optoelectronic devices in each of said plural device units (10₁ to 10₄) have light transmitting coatings each having a different transmission factor. An optical interconnection apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a control unit (6) for controlling said at least two optoelectronic devices in each device unit (10₁ to 10₄) to be turned on and then emit light signals and wherein said at least two optoelectronic devices are turned on in time-division, and emit said light signals simultaneously.

Inventors: KASAHARA KENICHI C O NEC CORPO, KAWAI SHIGERU C O NEC CORPORAT, OGURA ICHIRO C O NEC CORPORATI, TASHIRO YOSHIHARU C O NEC CORP, KASAHARA, KENICHI, C/O NEC CORPORATION, KAWAI, SHIGERU, C/O NEC CORPORATION, OGURA, ICHIRO, C/O NEC CORPORATION, TASHIRO, YOSHIHARU, C/O NEC CORPORATION
Applicants: NIPPON ELECTRIC CO, NEC CORPORATION
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G02F3
IPC codes: G01J1, G06N1, H01L33, G06E3, H04Q3, G06N3, G06F15