Tightly-Coupled Multi-Layer Topologies for 3-D NoCs

Three-dimensional Network-on-Chip (3-D NoC) is an emerging research topic exploring the network architecture of 3-D ICs that stack several smaller wafers for reducing wire length and wire delay. Although the network topology of 3-D NoC has been explored for a couple of years, there is still only a narrow range of choices. In this paper, we propose a class of 3-D topologies called Xbar-connected Network-on-Tiers (XNoTs), which consist of multiple network layers tightly connected via crossbar switches. To make the best use of the short delay and high density of inter-wafer links, XNoTs topologies have crossbar switches that connect different layers and their cores. The planar topology on every layer can be independently customized so as to meet the cost-performance requirements, as far as network connectivity is at least guaranteed with the bottom layer. We also propose their routing algorithm, which guarantees deadlock-freedom by restricting the inter-layer packet transfer from a lower...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: ICPP
• Authors: Hiroki Matsutani, Michihiro Koibuchi, Hideharu Amano
• Keywords: 3-d Ics, 3-d Noc, 3-D Topologies, Distributed And Parallel Computing, ICPP 2007