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TSMC bets on unorthodox optical tech

spectrum.ieee.org

1–10 of 110 posts

Re: TSMC bets on unorthodox optical tech

#2
As I understand it (from designing high-speed electronics), the major limitations to data/clock rates in copper are signal integrity issues. Unwanted electromagnetic interactions all degrade your signal. Optics is definitely a way around this, but I wonder if/when it will ever hit similar limits.

Re: TSMC bets on unorthodox optical tech

#3
post #2

As I understand it (from designing high-speed electronics), the major limitations to data/clock rates in copper are signal integrity issues. Unwanted electromagnetic interactions all degrade your signal. Optics is definitely a way around this, but I wonder if/when it will ever hit similar limits.

[deleted]

Re: TSMC bets on unorthodox optical tech

#4
post #2

As I understand it (from designing high-speed electronics), the major limitations to data/clock rates in copper are signal integrity issues. Unwanted electromagnetic interactions all degrade your signal. Optics is definitely a way around this, but I wonder if/when it will ever hit similar limits.

luckily photons are boson (if we ever pushes things to this level of extreme)

Re: TSMC bets on unorthodox optical tech

#6
post #4
post #2

As I understand it (from designing high-speed electronics), the major limitations to data/clock rates in copper are signal integrity issues. Unwanted electromagnetic interactions all degrade your signal. Optics is definitely a way around this, but I wonder if/when it will ever hit similar limits.

luckily photons are boson (if we ever pushes things to this level of extreme)

[deleted]

Re: TSMC bets on unorthodox optical tech

#7
post #5

If each cable is 10gb/s and uses 1 pixel to convert into electrical signals, would that mean they need a 10 giga frame per second sensor?

I think that's just a simplifying example. They would most likely not use an image sensor, but a photodetector with a broadband amplifier.

Re: TSMC bets on unorthodox optical tech

#8
post #2

As I understand it (from designing high-speed electronics), the major limitations to data/clock rates in copper are signal integrity issues. Unwanted electromagnetic interactions all degrade your signal. Optics is definitely a way around this, but I wonder if/when it will ever hit similar limits.

The energy densities required for photon-photon interactions are so far beyond anything we need to worry about that it's a non-issue. Photons also aren't going to just ignore local potential barriers and tunnel at the energy levels and scales involved in foreseeable chip designs either.

Re: TSMC bets on unorthodox optical tech

#10
post #2

As I understand it (from designing high-speed electronics), the major limitations to data/clock rates in copper are signal integrity issues. Unwanted electromagnetic interactions all degrade your signal. Optics is definitely a way around this, but I wonder if/when it will ever hit similar limits.

isn't attenuation also an issue with copper? maybe with small electronics it is negligible given the right amps? in other words, with with no interference, electrons will face impedance and start losing information.
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