Digital optical interconnects for networks and computing systems

Abstract

A novel model for a massively parallel digital optical link is proposed. The model predicts the link performance, sensitivity and power consumption. The model can be used to study the design space or the operating space for a given design. It includes a novel method to evaluate the effect of jitter, clock offset and skew, and it can be used to assist link budget. In this paper, the model is used to study a smart-pixel-based interconnect. Its predictions compare very well with measurements found in the literature.