Presented here is a computational system which uses free−space optical interconnect (FSOI) communication between processing elements to perform distributed calculations. Technologies utilized in the development of this system are integrated two−dimensional Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) and MSM−photodetector arrays, custom CMOS ASICs, custom optics, wire−bonded chip−on−board assembly, and FPGA−based control. Emphasis will be placed on the system architecture, processing element features which facilitate the system integration, and the overall goals of this system.
Jeremy Ekman, Christoph Berger, Fouad E. Kiamilev,