Research On Architecture Of On-chip Photonic Switching Array And Routing Algorithm

Current trends in high performance micro-processor systems suggest that the interconnection needs of NoC(Network-on-Chip)are increasing, as the scale of systems and the number of nodes become larger. Traditional electrical interconnection has the disadvantages of low bandwidth and high latency, which make it hardly meet the requests of NoC in the future. Optical interconnection is an emerging technology in recent years which is based on silicon-photonic devices. Taking light wave as message carrier, it owns the advantages of low latency and high bandwidth. Optical interconnection can solve the problem of latency and power dissipation, and has a good view of development.A photonic switching array is the key component of optical interconnection networks, which has an important influence on the network ’s performance. The photonic switching array is made up by PSEs and waveguides, and it can support different routings between nodes. As the manufacturing of photonic devices develops, the performance of photonic switching array improves and the design of its structure and function is pluralism.In this paper we focus on the array’s structure and function and propose a Pisces 4×4 photonic switching array. By researching and analyzing, we prove that the Pisces has the same function with the Crossbar in the same scale, but its device cost and mean routing insertion loss is much lower. Then we find a way to extend the Pisces to any larger scale by the concept of grafting. We also optimize the Pisces and deduce the array’s mean insertion loss. In order to solve the latency and conflict problem of NoC s, we propose a deterministic routing algorithm based on TDM mechanism. By the way of parallelism routing, we improve the algorithm’s efficiency and using situation of the network. At last we do a test by PhoenixSim based on OMNe T++. We analyse the result of the test and give out our conclusion that the Pisces is better than Crossbar synthetically.The proposition ofPisces 4×4 photonic switching array and determined routing algorithm provides a new reference for the future optical interconnectiondesign and also have a positive meaning to improve the performance of NoCs.