APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR PHOTONIC COMMUNICATION AND PHOTONIC ADDRESSING

• US 20170242190A1
• Filed: 02/18/2016
• Published: 08/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Quinlan, Sion
• Granted Patent: US 9,739,939 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12109 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12121 Laser
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12123 Diode
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12142 Modulator
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12002 Three-dimensional structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12004 Combinations of two or more optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29362 Serial cascade of filters or filtering operations, e.g. for a large number of channels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2938 for multiplexing or demultiplexing, i.e. combining or separating wavelengths, e.g. 1xN, NxM
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/501 Structural aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/516 Details of coding or modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/801 using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for photonic communication and photonic addressing are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a photonic source layer that provides a plurality of photonic sources, each at a different wavelength, a plurality of second layers, and a third layer. Each of the plurality of second layers may be associated with a respective wavelength, and each of the plurality of second layers may include photonic filters tuned to their respective wavelength, a photonic modulator, and a photonic detector. The third layer may include a plurality of photonic circuits, with each of the plurality of photonic circuits associated with a respective second layer of the plurality of second layers. Additionally, each of the plurality of photonic circuits may include a photonic filter tuned to a respective wavelength associated with a respective second layer, a photonic detector and a photonic modulator. Modulated and unmodulated photonic signals may be provided from the second layers to the third layer and from the third layer to the second layers, where the respective wavelengths of the photonic signals acts like an address for each of the plurality of second layers.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

first and second photonic paths;

a first layer at least coupled to the first photonic path, the first layer configured to provide a plurality of photonic signals to the first photonic path, wherein each of the plurality of photonic signals has a different wavelength;

a plurality of second layers coupled to the first and second photonic paths, wherein each second layer of the plurality of second layers is associated with a photonic signal of the plurality of photonic signals based on a respective wavelength, wherein each second layer of the plurality of second layers comprises;

a first photonic modulator circuit coupled to the first photonic path, wherein the first photonic filter is configured to receive the plurality of photonic signals from the first photonic path, filter a photonic signal of a respective wavelength from the plurality of photonic signals and provide the plurality of photonic signals including the filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength to the first photonic path; and

a second photonic filter coupled to the second photonic path, wherein the second photonic filter is configured to receive the plurality of photonic signals from the second photonic path, filter a photonic signal of a respective wavelength from the plurality of photonic signals and provide the remaining plurality of photonic signals to the second photonic path; and

a third layer including a plurality of photonic circuits, the third layer coupled to the first and second photonic paths, each photonic circuit of the plurality of photonic circuits associated with a photonic signal of the plurality of photonic signals based on a respective wavelength such that there is a photonic circuit associated with each second layer of the plurality of second layers, wherein each photonic circuit of the plurality of photonic circuits is configured to receive the plurality of photonic signals, filter a photonic signal of a respective wavelength from the plurality of photonic signals, and provide the filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength to the second photonic path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first photonic modulator circuit comprises a first photonic filter coupled to the first photonic path, and a first photonic modulator coupled to the first photonic filter, wherein the first photonic modulator is configured to modulate the filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength and provide the modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength to the first photonic path.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each photonic circuit of the plurality of photonic circuits comprises a third photonic filter configured to filter the modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength, and provide the filtered, modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength to a first photonic detector configured to convert the filtered, modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength to corresponding electrical signals.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each photonic circuit of the plurality of photonic circuits comprises a third photonic filter configured to filter the photonic signal of the respective wavelength, and provide the filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength to a second photonic modulator configured to modulate the filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength and provide the modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength to the second photonic path.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each second layer of the plurality of second layers further comprises a second photonic detector coupled to the second photonic filter, where the second photonic detector is configured to receive the modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength from the second photonic filter and convert the filtered, modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength to corresponding electrical signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second photonic paths comprise a respective plurality of photonic through substrate vias (PTSVs), with each PTSV coupled to respective first, second, and third layers through surface couplers.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first layer comprises a plurality of photonic sources configured to provide a photonic signal of a respective wavelength.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

first and second photonic paths;

a first layer at least coupled to the first photonic path, the first layer configured to provide a plurality of photonic signals to the first photonic path, wherein each of the plurality of photonic signals has a different wavelength;

a plurality of second layers coupled to the first and second photonic paths, wherein each second layer of the plurality of second layers is associated with a photonic signal of the plurality of photonic signals based on a respective wavelength, wherein each second layer of the plurality of second layers comprises;

a first photonic filter coupled to the first photonic path, wherein the first photonic filter is configured to receive the plurality of photonic signals from the first photonic path, filter a photonic signal of a respective wavelength from the plurality of photonic signals and provide the plurality of photonic signals to the first photonic path; and

a first photonic modulator coupled to the first photonic filter, wherein the first photonic modulator is configured to modulate the filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength, and provide the modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength to the first photonic path; and

a third layer including a plurality of photonic circuits, the third layer coupled to the first and second photonic paths, each photonic circuit of the plurality of photonic circuits associated with a photonic signal of the plurality of photonic signals based on a respective wavelength, wherein each photonic circuit of the plurality of photonic circuits is configured to receive the plurality of photonic signals via the first photonic path, filter a photonic signal of a respective wavelength from the plurality of photonic signals, and convert a modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength to corresponding electrical signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each photonic circuit of the plurality of photonic circuits comprises:

a third photonic filter configured to filter the modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength; and

a first photonic detector coupled to the third photonic filter via a photonic switch, the first photonic detector configured to convert the filtered, modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength to the corresponding electrical signals.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first photonic detector comprises a first photodiode and a first transimpedance amplifier, wherein the photodiode is configured to convert the filtered, modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength to the corresponding electrical signals, and wherein the transimpedance amplifier is configured to amplify the corresponding electrical signals.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of photonic signals provided by the first layer are in an unmodulated state.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each second layer of the plurality of second layers further comprises a second photonic filter coupled to the second photonic path, wherein the second photonic filter is configured to receive the plurality of photonic signals from the second photonic path, filter a photonic signal of a respective wavelength from the plurality of photonic signals and provide the remaining plurality of photonic signals to the second photonic path.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first layer includes a plurality of photonic sources, each of the plurality of photonic sources configured to provide a photonic signal of a respective wavelength of the plurality of photonic signals.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of photonic sources is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

first and second photonic paths;

a first layer at least coupled to the first photonic path, the first layer configured to provide a plurality of photonic signals to the first photonic path, wherein each of the plurality of photonic signals has a different wavelength;

a plurality of second layers coupled to the first and second photonic paths, wherein each second layer of the plurality of second layers is associated with a photonic signal of the plurality of photonic signals based on a respective wavelength, wherein each second layer of the plurality of second layers comprises;

a first photonic modulator circuit coupled to the first photonic path, wherein the first photonic filter is configured to receive the plurality of photonic signals from the first photonic path;

filter a photonic signal of a respective wavelength from the plurality of photonic signals and provide the plurality of photonic signals including the filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength to the first photonic path;

a second photonic filter coupled to the second photonic path, wherein the second photonic filter is configured to receive the plurality of photonic signals from the second photonic path, filter a photonic signal of a respective wavelength from the plurality of photonic signals and provide the remaining plurality of photonic signals to the second photonic path; and

a first photonic detector coupled to the second photonic filter, the first photonic detector configured to receive the photonic signal of the respective wavelength, and, based on the filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength being modulated, convert the modulated filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength to corresponding electrical signals; and

a third layer including a plurality of photonic circuits, the third layer coupled to the first and second photonic paths, each photonic circuit of the plurality of photonic circuits associated with a photonic signal of the plurality of photonic signals based on a respective wavelength such that there is a photonic circuit associated with each second layer of the plurality of second layers, wherein each photonic circuit of the plurality of photonic circuits is configured to receive the plurality of photonic signals, filter a photonic signal of a respective wavelength from the plurality of photonic signals, modulate the photonic signal of the respective wavelength, and provide the filtered modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength to the second photonic path.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first photonic modulator circuit comprises a first photonic filter coupled to the first photonic path, and a first photonic modulator coupled to the first photonic filter, wherein the first photonic modulator is configured to modulate the filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength and provide the modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength to the first photonic path.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each photonic circuit of the plurality of photonic circuits comprises a third photonic filter configured to filter the photonic signal of the respective wavelength, and provide the filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength to a second photonic modulator configured to modulate the filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength and provide the modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength to the second photonic path.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first photonic detector comprises:

a photodiode coupled to the second photonic filter and configured to convert the filtered modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength to corresponding electrical signals; and

a transimpedance amplifier coupled to the photodiode and configured to amplify the corresponding electrical signals.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first and second photonic paths comprise a respective plurality of photonic through substrate vias (PTSVs), with each PTSV coupled to respective first, second, and third layers through surface couplers.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first layer comprises a plurality of photonic sources configured to provide a photonic signal of a respective wavelength.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each photonic modulation circuit comprises a tunable photonic filter tuned to filter a photonic signal of a respective wavelength and provide the filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength to a modulation circuit configured to modulate the photonic signal of the respective wavelength based on a modulation signal, the modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength providing data from a respective memory die to the logic die, wherein the modulated photonic signal of the respective wavelength is provided to the first photonic path.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each photonic detector circuit comprises a tunable photonic filter tuned to filter a photonic signal of a respective wavelength and provide the filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength to a detector circuit configured to convert the filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength to an electrical signal when the filtered photonic signal of the respective wavelength is modulated.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each photonic circuit of the plurality of photonic circuits are configured to filter and detect a photonic signal of a respective wavelength when the photonic signal of the respective wavelength is modulated, and further configured to filter and modulate a photonic signal of a respective wavelength based on a received external command.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each photonic circuit of the plurality of photonic circuits are configured to filter and modulate a photonic signal of a respective wavelength based on a received external command.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, each of the first and second photonic paths comprise a plurality of photonic through substrate vias (PTSVs), and wherein each PTSV of the plurality of PTSVs forms a waveguide.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of photonic sources is a laser.

20-1. An apparatus, comprising:

a photonic source layer including a plurality of photonic sources, each of the plurality of photonic sources providing a photonic signal of a different wavelength, wherein the plurality of photonic signals are provided to a first photonic path;

a plurality of memory die, each memory die of the plurality of memory die comprising a photonic modulation circuit coupled to the first photonic path, and further comprising a photonic detection circuit coupled to a second photonic path, wherein each memory die of the plurality of memory die is associated with and addressed by a respective wavelength of a photonic signal; and

a logic die coupled to the first and second photonic paths, the logic die including a plurality of photonic circuits, each photonic circuit of the plurality of photonic circuits associated with a respective wavelength of a photonic signal, and wherein each photonic circuit of the plurality of photonic circuits is associated with the first and second photonic paths, and

wherein each of the plurality of photonic signals is provided to the third layer by the first photonic path, and wherein the plurality of photonic signals are provided to the second photonic path by the third layer.