Asynchronous transfer of high speed data signals through an optoelectronic vlsi switch

Abstract

A switch, of the crossbar type, in which no clock recovery is undertaken. Multiple optical fibers deliver input signals to a single semiconductor die. The die contains circuitry which selectively connects each input fiber to a respective output fiber, which carries the signals off the die, to their destinations. The communication is asynchronous: no continuous clock signal accompanies the incoming data. However, periodic sequences of clock signals accompany the incoming data, and are used by circuitry on the die in “clock recovery” routines, to generate local clock signals. The invention eliminates the need for local clock recovery: the incoming signals are routed through the die to outgoing fibers, without generation of a local clock signal on the die.