Towards reconfigurable optical networks on chip

The evolution of integrated circuit technology is causing system designs to move towards communication-based architectures. However, metallic interconnect networks (networks-on-chip) can be very costly in terms of power and silicon area and can thus become a bottleneck in system on chip design. Integrated optical networks-on-chip could be good candidates to overcome predicted interconnect limitations, as identified by the ITRS roadmap. This paper firstly presents a review of some potential data transport applications of integrated optical interconnect, as well as the necessary technology and passive devices. The second part of the paper concentrates on the optical network on chip concept, from system-level modelling aspects to first measured results of the passive network device.