Patent ID: 7376295

Claim:
A processor comprising: at least a first IC chip located on a first substrate, a second IC chip located on a second substrate, and a third IC chip located on a third substrate; a first light transmitter located on the first substrate, and adapted to receive a first electrical signal from the first IC chip and to generate an optical signal at an optical output in relation to the first electrical signal; a first light receiver located on the second substrate, the first light receiver having an optical input and being adapted to generate a second electrical signal in relation to the amount of light received at its optical input, the second electrical signal being electrically coupled to the second IC chip; a second light receiver located on the third substrate, the second light receiver having an optical input and being adapted to generate a third electrical signal in relation to the amount of light received at its optical input, the third electrical signal being electrically coupled to the third IC chip; and a first optical deflector having an optical input coupled to the optical output of the first light transmitter to receive an optical signal therefrom, a first optical output optically coupled to a first output waveguide that enables light to be conveyed to the first light receiver, a second optical output optically coupled to a second output waveguide that enables light to be conveyed to the second light receiver, and an electrical input configured to receive a first control signal in electrical form from an IC chip located on the first substrate, the first optical deflector adapted to couple the optical signal received at its optical input more to its first optical output than its second optical output when the first control signal from the IC chip located on the first substrate has a first state, and more to its second optical output than its first optical output when the first control signal from the IC chip located on the first substrate has a second state.