Optical interconnects: the challenge

As the integrated circuit complexity and speed increase, interconnects become the main bottleneck in microelectronics processes for further improvements of the performances. Optics is considered as a possible alternative solution to meet the expected requirements, and has already proven its advantages for distances which progressively shorten from optical telecommunications towards inter-boards, and then interchip connections. This paper focuses on the potentialities of optical solutions for intrachip interconnects. (C) 2000 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.