Abstract:
A computer system (100) includes a volatile memory and at least one processor (102). The volatile memory includes a protected storage segment (PSS - 112) configured to store firmware-authentication program code for authenticating firmware of the computer system. The at least one processor is configured to receive a trigger to switch to a given version of the firmware, to obtain, in response to the trigger, a privilege to access the PSS, to authenticate the given version of the firmware by executing the firmware-authentication program code from the PSS, to switch to the given version of the firmware upon successfully authenticating the given version, and to take an alternative action upon failing to authenticate the given version.
Abstract:
A method for distributed allocation of data paths in an optical network (100) including optical switches (30, 32, 130) connected by optical links (44, 140), includes receiving a request for a data path for connecting a source node (10) and a destination node (20). In in response to the request, one or more queries are sent, the queries corresponding to one or more candidate optical circuits that connect the source node and the destination node, the queries requesting one or more processors (230) to configure the optical switches along the candidate optical circuits to reserve optical channels on the optical links of the candidate optical circuits for the requested data path. An optical circuit is identified from among the candidate optical circuits, in which all the optical channels for the requested data path have been reserved successfully. The requested data path is established over the identified optical circuit.
Abstract:
An optoelectronic device (20) includes thin film structures (56) disposed on a semiconductor substrate (54) and patterned to define components of an integrated drive circuit, which is configured to generate a drive signal. A back end of line (BEOL) stack (42) of alternating metal layers (44, 46) and dielectric layers (50) is disposed over the thin film structures. The metal layers include a modulator layer (48), which contains a plasmonic waveguide (36, 99, 105) and a plurality of electrodes (30, 32, 34, 96, 98, 106), which apply a modulation to surface plasmons polaritons (SPPs) propagating in the plasmonic waveguide in response to the drive signal. A plurality of interconnect layers are patterned to connect the thin film structures to the electrodes. An optical input coupler (38, 82) is configured to couple light into the modulator layer, whereby the light is modulated by the modulation of the SPPs, and an optical output coupler (38, 82) is configured to couple the modulated light out of the modulator layer.
Abstract:
A network interface controller (30) that is connected to a host (34) and a packet communications network. The network interface controller (30) includes electrical circuitry configured as a packet processing pipeline (72) with a plurality of stages (76, 78, 80, 82). It is determined in the network interface controller (30) that at least a portion of the stages (76, 78, 80, 82) of the pipeline (72) are acceleration-defined stages (78, 80). Packets are processed in the pipeline (72) by transmitting data to an accelerator (74) from the acceleration-defined stages (78, 80), performing re- spective acceleration tasks (86, 90) on the transmitted data in the accelerator (74), and returning processed data from the accelerator (74) to receiving stages (80, 82) of the pipeline (72).
Abstract:
A substrate carrier and a mechanism for moving the substrate carrier through a chemical vapor deposition system are provided. The substrate carrier includes a cylindrical housing having an interior surface. A plurality of plurality of shelves fixed to the interior surface, each shelf configured to support at least one substrate. The substrate carrier may include a connector configured to engage the substrate carrier with the mechanism. The mechanism may include a moveable arm and a motor configured to actuate the moveable arm. The moveable arm may include an actuating member connected to the motor and configured to move the moveable arm between a retracted state and an extended state. The moveable arm may be configured to operate in a chamber having a first pressure and a first temperature and the motor may be configured to operate in an environment having a second pressure.
Abstract:
Processes for laminating a graphene-coated printed circuit board (PCB) are disclosed. An example laminated PCB may include a lamination stack that may include an inner core, an adhesive layer, and at least one graphene-metal structure. Pressure and heat—which may be applied under vacuum or controlled gas atmosphere–may be applied to the lamination stack, after all materials have been placed. The graphene of the graphene-metal structure is designed to promote high frequency performance and heat management within the PCB.
Abstract:
Apparatuses, systems, and associated methods of manufacturing are described that provide an optical interposer and associated communication system. An example optical interposer includes a substrate having a first end that receives a first optical fiber welded thereto and a second end that receives a plurality of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) attached thereto. The interposer further includes an optical waveguide network defined by the substrate that provides optical communication between the first welded optical fiber and the plurality of PICs. The optical waveguide network also includes optical redistribution elements supported by the substrate. In an operational configuration, the optical interposer receives a first input optical signal from the first welded optical fiber, and the plurality of optical redistribution elements successively split the first input optical signal such that a plurality of output optical signals is directed to the plurality of PICs.
Abstract:
An optical interconnect device and the method of fabricating it are described. The device includes an in-plane laser cavity transmitting a light beam along a first direction, a Franz Keldysh (FK) optical modulator transmitting the light beam along the first direction, a mode- transfer module including a tapered structure disposed after the FK optical modulator along the first direction to enlarge the spot size of the light beam to match an external optical fiber and a universal coupler controlling the light direction. The tapered structure can be made linear or non- linear along the first direction. The universal coupler passes the laser light to an in-plane external optical fiber if the fiber is placed along the first direction, or it is a vertical coupler in the case that the external optical fiber is placed perpendicularly to the substrate surface. The coupler is coated with highly reflective material.
Abstract:
An optical coupler and method of assembly are described that provide efficient coupling from the photonic integrated circuit (PIC) waveguide layer to external components, such as optical fibers, VCSELs, photodetectors, and gain blocks, among others. The optical coupler includes a PIC that can be supported by-a printed circuit board, an optoelectronic transducer supported by the PIC that can convert between optical signals and corresponding electrical signals, and a coupled waveguide assembly. The coupled waveguide assembly includes a low-index waveguide, a high-index waveguide, and a reflective surface that changes a pathway of the optical signals to direct the optical signals from the optoelectronic transducer into the low-index waveguide or from the low-index waveguide into the optoelectronic transducer.
Abstract:
An apparatus (20) includes a Silicon Photonics (SiP) device (24, 94) and a ferrule (28, 102), The SiP device includes multiple optical waveguides (36, 106). The ferrule includes multiple optical fibers (68, 114) for exchanging optical signals with the respective optical waveguides of the SiP device. In some embodiments, an array (32) of micro-lenses (48) is configured to couple the optical signals between the optical waveguides of the SiP device and the respective optical fibers of the ferrule. In some embodiments, a polymer layer (98) is placed between the SiP device and the ferrule, and includes multiple polymer-based Spot-Size Converters (SSCs - 110, 118) that are configured to couple the optical signals between the optical waveguides of the SiP device and the respective optical fibers of the ferrule.