EP0348329A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Serial optical interconnect bus for logic cards and the like
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1989-05-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-05-23
Abstract
Abstract An optical serial data bus for connecting logic cards (15) used in a data processing system. The bus uses semiconductor lasers (21) and PIN diodes (20) as transmitters and receivers, transmitting through free space without the use of lenses or other optical elements. Each logic card communicates only with the adjacent cards on either side to minimize the transmission distance.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy Roy Block
- 👤 Ronald Lee Soderstrom
- 👤 Gerald Michael Heiling
- 👤 Charles Joseph Rocca
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:48
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/80; H04B10/801; H04B10/803
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
In a data processing system having a plurality of logic cards parallel mounted in a supporting frame, optical serial data bus means connecting said cards characterized in that: a. each of said cards so connected contains a first, electrically connected, optical data receiver-transmitter pair, with the optical transmitter on a first side of said card, and a second, electrically connected, optical data receiver-transmitter pair, with the optical transmitter on a second, opposite side of said card; b. said first optical transmitter-receiver pairs are positioned on said logic cards to provide alignment therebetween when said cards are mounted in a supporting frame; c. said second optical transmitter-receiver pairs are positioned on said logic cards to provide alignment therebetween when said cards are mounted in a supporting frame; d. each of said optical receivers is positioned to receive data optically transmitted in free space from a single one of said logic cards; e. each of said optical transmitters is positioned to transmit data optically in free space to a single one of said logic cards; f. whereby said first pairs co-act to provide data transmission between said logic cards in a first direction, and said second pairs co-act to provide data transmission between said cards in a second direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
In a data processing system having a plurality of logic cards parallel mounted in a supporting frame, optical serial data bus means connecting said cards characterized in that: a. each of said cards so connected contains a first, electrically connected, optical data receiver-transmitter pair, with the optical transmitter on a first side of said card, and a second, electrically connected, optical data receiver-transmitter pair, with the optical transmitter on a second, opposite side of said card; b. said first optical transmitter-receiver pairs are positioned on said logic cards to provide alignment therebetween when said cards are mounted in a supporting frame; c. said second optical transmitter-receiver pairs are positioned on said logic cards to provide alignment therebetween when said cards are mounted in a supporting frame; d. each of said optical receivers is positioned to receive data optically transmitted in free space from a single one of said logic cards; e. each of said optical transmitters is positioned to transmit data optically in free space to a single one of said logic cards; f. whereby said first pairs co-act to provide data transmission between said logic cards in a first direction, and said second pairs co-act to provide data transmission between said cards in a second direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical data bus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second pairs on the logic cards at the ends of said frame are electrically connected to form a loop.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical data bus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second pairs on the logic cards at the ends of said frame include optical connections to form a loop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical data bus according to claim 3 wherein said optical connections comprise mirror means supported on said frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical data bus according to claim 3 wherein said optical connections comprise fiber optic elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A optical data bus according any one of claims 1-5 wherein said optical transmitters comprise semiconductor lasers operating in the 780nm range.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical data bus according to claim 6 wherein said optical receivers comprise PIN diodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
126 words
A planar logic card for use in a data processing system characterized in that: a. a first side of said logic card has a first semiconductor laser and a first optical receiver, positioned thereon at first and second spaced apart locations; b. a second side of said logic card has a second semiconductor laser and a second optical receiver, positioned thereon at third and fourth spaced apart locations geometrically corresponding to said second and first locations, respectively; c. first circuit means electrically connects said first laser and said second optical receiver; and, d. second circuit means electrically connects said second laser and said first optical receiver, whereby said card is adapted to utilize, modify or relay data optically transmitted to said first or second optical receivers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
126 words
A planar logic card for use in a data processing system characterized in that: a. a first side of said logic card has a first semiconductor laser and a first optical receiver, positioned thereon at first and second spaced apart locations; b. a second side of said logic card has a second semiconductor laser and a second optical receiver, positioned thereon at third and fourth spaced apart locations geometrically corresponding to said second and first locations, respectively; c. first circuit means electrically connects said first laser and said second optical receiver; and, d. second circuit means electrically connects said second laser and said first optical receiver, whereby said card is adapted to utilize, modify or relay data optically transmitted to said first or second optical receivers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
A planar logic card according to claim 9 characterized in that said logic card is polarized to restrict mounting to a single position, whereby said first, second, third and fourth locations are respectively positioned abutting the third and fourth locations of a card adjacent said first side and abutting the first and second locations of a card adjacent said second side, to receive data optically transmitted in free space from said adjacent cards and to transmit data optically in free space to said adjacent cards.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A logic card according to claim 9 wherein said semiconductor lasers operate in the region of 780nm, and said optical receivers are PIN diodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A logic card according to claim 9 or 10 wherein said first laser and said second optical receiver are located at the same first coordinate on opposite sides of said card.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A logic card according to claim 11 wherein said second laser and said first optical receiver are located at the same second coordinate, spaced apart from said first coordinate, on opposite sides of said card.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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