JP2806815B2 - Data exchange switch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data exchange switch such as a superconducting switch mainly applied to a network between a processor and a memory in a computer system having a high arithmetic function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it is indispensable to improve the performance of a processor (computer) alone in order to improve the performance of a computer system. For this reason, there is a limit in realizing the improvement of the performance of the computer system using only the processor alone. In order to solve such a problem, a multiprocessor system has been implemented in which a plurality of independent processors are operated in parallel to achieve high performance.

In the case of this multiprocessor system, a multiprocessor system exhibits the highest performance when each processor performs a useful work. However, it is generally rare to exhibit the best performance like this,
Performance is usually degraded for several reasons. Causes of the performance degradation of the multiprocessor system include, for example, a delay associated with communication between the processors and a limit in performance of an overhead for synchronizing one processor with another processor. Basically, the performance of a multiprocessor system largely depends on the network between processors.

On the other hand, a data exchange switch is widely used as a circuit for performing such communication between processors. The data exchange switch has a number of configurations, and one example is a case where a semiconductor logic element is used.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit of a conventional data exchange switch formed using semiconductor logic elements.

The data exchange switch comprises an amplifier, a transmission request bit register 39, two AND circuits 37a, 37
7b and the OR circuit 38 are connected to respective required terminals. In this data exchange switch, a transmission request signal input through the transmission request input terminal 34 at the rise of the clock input from the operation clock input terminal 36 is held in the transmission request bit register 39.

When the transmission request signal is 0, that is, when data transmission is not requested, the data signal input through the data input terminal 30 is output through the data output terminal 31. When the transmission request signal is 1, that is, when data transmission is requested, the transmission data signal input through the transmission data input terminal 32 is output through the data output terminal 31.

That is, the data exchange switch can exchange the data signal and the transmission data signal according to the transmission request and output the data signal.

[0009]

In the case of the above-mentioned data exchange switch, since it has a configuration using semiconductor logic elements, there is a limit in reducing power consumption. In general, a data exchange switch is expected to operate at a high speed, and it is difficult to reduce power consumption from these points.

Also, since the data exchange switch is a basic circuit, when a plurality of switches are used between processors in a multiprocessor system or the like, a considerable number of switches are required as a whole. However, it is difficult to package an exchange composed of a plurality of data exchange switches at a high density due to the problem of power consumption described above, and there is a problem that the exchange required as a whole cannot be miniaturized. Therefore, in a multiprocessor system or the like that requires complicated data exchange, a media delay becomes a bottleneck, and it is difficult to improve the performance of the entire system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and its technical problem is that data exchange between processors can be speeded up to save power, and the execution performance of a multiprocessor system can be improved. Another object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized data exchange switch capable of significantly improving the data exchange.

[0012]

According to the present invention, a first, second, third, and fourth couplings in which a Josephson line formed by forming a tunnel barrier between two electrodes and a resistor are coupled. A data exchange switch having a first connection terminal, a first input terminal connected to one end and a first output terminal connected to the other end, and a first output terminal of the Josephson line.
Is connected to the second control signal input terminal, the second coupling body has one end connected to the first input terminal, the other end connected to the second output terminal, and the other end of the Josephson line. The first electrode is connected to the first control signal input terminal, the third combination has one end connected to the second input terminal, the other end connected to the first output terminal, and the Josephson. The first electrode of the line is connected to the first control signal input terminal, and the fourth combination has one end connected to the second input terminal and the other end connected to the second output terminal. A data exchange switch in which the first electrode of the Josephson line is connected to the second control signal input terminal is obtained.

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

In general, it is effective to make communication between processors physically close to each other in order to achieve high-speed and efficient communication between processors. However, it is effective to make many processors physically close to each other. Very difficult. Therefore, only the interface is extracted and brought close to the bus, and the ultra-wide band bus is connected in a ring to form a high-speed interface circuit. When this high-speed interface circuit is used, the communication speed between the processors is higher than the operation speed of the processors. If a superconducting line is used for the ultra-wide band bus, a distortion-free signal line can be realized.

In the data exchange switch of the present invention, since the Josephson line is used as the superconducting line, data exchange can be performed without deteriorating the characteristic of an undistorted ultra-wide band signal line. Since the fluxon (magnetic vortex accelerated by the Josephson tunnel current) propagating in the Josephson line is a very high-bandwidth pulse, a data exchange switch capable of high-speed data exchange is realized.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The data exchange switch of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, the basic configuration of the data exchange switch of the present invention will be briefly described. In this data exchange switch, a 2 × 2 crossbar switch is formed by electrically connecting together a combination of a Josephson line formed by forming a tunnel barrier between an upper electrode and a lower electrode, and a resistor. Further, predetermined electrical terminals are provided at both ends of the combined body and at predetermined places in the combined portion, respectively.

In such a basic configuration, in order to perform data exchange, the electric terminals have specific roles.

FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a data exchange switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In this data exchange switch, a part of the combined body has one end connected to the first input terminal 15 and the other end connected to the first output terminal 17, and the second control unit. It has a Josephson line 2 connected to a second control signal input terminal 8 for inputting a signal.
Some of this combination includes a Josephson line 1,
2, resistors 19, 20, 21 and bias current input terminals 7, 9.

The other part of the combined body has one end connected to the second input terminal 16 and the other end connected to the second output terminal 1.
And a Josephson line 5 connected to a second control signal input terminal 11 for inputting a second control signal. Other parts of the combined body include Josephson lines 4 and 6 and resistors 22, 23 and 24.
And input terminals 10 and 12 for bias current.

Further, the remaining part of the combination is connected to the second output terminal 18 of the other part, and is connected to the first control signal for inputting the first control signal. One having a Josephson line 29 connected to the input terminal 13 (otherwise including resistors 25 and 28);
The other part is connected to the first output terminal 17 of some parts, and the first output terminal 17 for inputting the first control signal is provided.
(Including other resistors 26 and 27) having the Josephson line 30 connected to the control signal input terminal 14 of FIG.

In this data exchange switch, only the upper electrode and the lower electrode of the Josephson line 30 are grounded, and the other Josephson lines 1, 2,
Regarding 3, 4, 5, 6, 29, the lower electrode is grounded.

The operation of the data exchange switch will be described below. First, when the first input signal input from the first input terminal 15 is applied to the Josephson line 1 via the resistor 19 and the bias current is supplied from the bias current input terminal 7, the bias current Fluxon generated by the first input signal propagates through the Josephson line 1 biased by the above. The fluxon is branched by resistors 20 and 25 at the end of the Josephson line 1 and supplied to the Josephson lines 2 and 29 as an input current.

If the first control signal is input from the first control signal input terminal 13 and the second control signal is not input from the second control signal input terminal 8, Joseph A new fluxon is generated on the son line 29, but no new fluxon is generated on the Josephson line 2 because the second control signal is not applied as a bias. The fluxon generated in the Josephson line 29 is propagated to the Josephson line 6 through the resistor 28, and the newly generated fluxon is output from the second output terminal 18 as a second output signal in the Josephson line 6. . Thereby, the first input signal input from the first input terminal 15 is propagated to the second output terminal 18 according to the first control signal.

Here, the case where the second control signal is input to the second control signal input terminal 8 and the first control signal is not input from the first control signal input terminal 13 A new fluxon is generated in the Josephson line 2, but no new fluxon is generated in the Josephson line 29 because the first control signal is not applied as a bias. The fluxon generated in the Josephson line 2 is propagated to the Josephson line 3 through the resistor 21, and the newly generated fluxon is output from the first output terminal 17 as a first output signal in the Josephson line 3. . Thereby, the first input signal input from the first input terminal 15 is propagated to the first output terminal 17 according to the second control signal.

On the other hand, the second input signal input from the second input terminal 16 is applied to the Josephson line 4 via the resistor 22, and a bias current is supplied from the bias current input terminal 10. Then, the fluxon generated by the second input signal propagates through the Josephson line 4 biased by the bias current. The fluxon is branched at the end of the Josephson line 4 by resistors 23 and 27 and supplied to the Josephson lines 5 and 30 as an input current.

Here, when the first control signal is input from the first control signal input terminal 14 and the second control signal is not input from the second control signal input terminal 11, Joseph A new fluxon is generated on the son line 30, but no new fluxon is generated on the Josephson line 5 because the second control signal is not applied as a bias. The fluxon generated in the Josephson line 30 is propagated to the Josephson line 3 via the resistor 26, and the newly generated fluxon is output from the first output terminal 17 as a first output signal in the Josephson line 3. . Thereby, the second input signal input from the second input terminal 16 is propagated to the first output terminal 17 according to the first control signal.

Here, the second control signal input terminal 11
When the second control signal is input and the first control signal is not input from the first control signal input terminal 14, a new fluxon is generated in the Josephson line 5. Since the first control signal is not applied as a bias to the son line 30, no new fluxon is generated. The fluxon generated in the Josephson line 5 is propagated to the Josephson line 6 via the resistor 24, and the newly generated fluxon is output from the second output terminal 18 as a second output signal in the Josephson line 6. . As a result, the second input signal input from the second input terminal 16 is propagated to the second output terminal 18 according to the second control signal.

As described above, the first input signal input from the first input terminal 15 and the second input signal input from the second input terminal 16 correspond to the first control signal and the second control signal. As a result, the first output terminal 17 and the second output terminal 18 are exchanged, and a basic function as a data exchange switch is obtained.

A voltage is generated in the data exchange switch of this embodiment only at the moment when a fluxon occurs in each Josephson line and when a pulse signal flows through a corresponding resistor. Therefore, the consumed power is very small, on the order of nW, and the pulse width of the fluxon is very steep, several ps, so that a high-speed pulse can be propagated. As a result, the data exchange switch can exchange data at high speed and with low power.

FIG. 2 shows a basic configuration of a data exchange switch according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In this data exchange switch, a part of the combination has a first input terminal 115 connected to one end, a first output terminal 117 connected to the other end, and a second control terminal. It has a Josephson line 102 connected to a second control signal input terminal 108 for inputting a signal. Some of this combination includes a resistor 11
9, 120 and 121 are included.

In the other part of the combined body, a second input terminal 116 is connected to one end, and a second output terminal 118 is connected to the other end, and a second control signal is input. And a Josephson line 105 connected to a second control signal input terminal 111. The other parts of the combined body further include resistors 122, 123, and 124.

Further, the remaining part of the combination is connected to the second output terminal 118 of the other part, and is connected to the first control signal for inputting the first control signal. Josephson line 12 connected to input terminal 113
9 (others include the resistors 125 and 128), and the other one is connected to the first output terminal 117 of the other part and receives the first control signal. And one having a Josephson line 130 connected to one control signal input terminal 114 (these include resistors 126 and 127 in addition).

In the case of this data exchange switch, with respect to only the Josephson line 130, both the upper electrode and the lower electrode are grounded, and the other Josephson lines 102,
Regarding 105 and 129, the lower electrode is grounded.
In the case of this data exchange switch, the point that the Josephson line in a part and the other part of the coupling unit is formed as a single unit and the bias current input terminal is not provided is different from that of the previous embodiment. Are different.

The operation of the data exchange switch will be described below. First, a first input signal input from the first input terminal 115 via the resistor 119 is
0, 125, and Josephson lines 102, 12
9 as an input current.

If the first control signal is input from the first control signal input terminal 113 and the second control signal is not input from the second control signal input terminal 108, Joseph A new fluxon is generated on the son line 129, but no new fluxon is generated on the Josephson line 102 because the second control signal is not applied as a bias. Fluxon generated in the Josephson line 129 is output as a second output signal from a second output terminal 118 via a resistor 128. Thereby, the first input signal input from the first input terminal 115 is propagated to the second output terminal 118 according to the first control signal.

Here, the second control signal input terminal 10
When the second control signal is input from the input terminal 8 and the first control signal is not input from the first control signal input terminal 113, a new fluxon is generated in the Josephson line 102. Since the first control signal is not applied as a bias to the Josephson line 129, no new fluxon is generated. Josephson Track 102
Is output from the first output terminal 117 via the resistor 121 as a first output signal. As a result, the first input signal input from the first input terminal 115 changes to the first output terminal 11 according to the second control signal.
7 will be propagated.

On the other hand, from the second input terminal 116 to the resistor 1
The second input signal input through the resistor 22
3,127, and Josephson lines 105,13
9 as an input current.

If the first control signal is input from the first control signal input terminal 114 and the second control signal is not input from the second control signal input terminal 111, Joseph A new fluxon is generated on the son line 130, but no new fluxon is generated on the Josephson line 105 because the control signal is not applied as a bias. Fluxon generated on the Josephson line 130 is supplied to the first output terminal 117 via the resistor 126.
This is output as a first output signal. Thereby, the second input signal input from the second input terminal 116 is propagated to the first output terminal 117 according to the first control signal.

Here, the second control signal input terminal 11
When the second control signal is input from the first control signal and the first control signal is not input from the first control signal input terminal 114, a new fluxon is generated in the Josephson line 105. Since the first control signal is not applied as a bias to the line 130, no new fluxon occurs. Fluxon generated in the Josephson line 105 is output as a second output signal from a second output terminal 118 via a resistor 124. Thereby, the second input signal input from the second input terminal 116 is propagated to the second output terminal 118 according to the second control signal.

As described above, the first input signal input from the first input terminal 115 and the second input signal input from the second input terminal 116 are the first control signal and the second control signal. The first output terminal 117 and the second output terminal 11
8 to obtain a basic function as a data exchange switch.

In the data exchange switch of this embodiment, a voltage is generated only at the moment when a fluxon occurs in each Josephson line and when a pulse signal flows through a corresponding resistor. Therefore, as in the previous embodiment, this data exchange switch can exchange data at high speed and with low power.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, a data exchange switch of a crossbar switch is provided by providing required electric terminals by using a combination of a Josephson line and a resistor. As a result, no gate circuit is required at all, and the configuration becomes very simple and compact. Further, in the case of this data exchange switch, the voltage is generated only at the moment when fluxon occurs in each Josephson line and when a pulse signal flows through the corresponding resistor. In addition, data exchange can be performed at high speed and with low power consumption. That is, in the case of this data exchange switch, the switching speed and power consumption are remarkably improved as compared with the existing semiconductor crossbar switch, and the data exchange switch can be made compact with a small number of components. The speed of data exchange between them is increased to save power, and the execution performance of the multiprocessor system is significantly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a data exchange switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a basic configuration of a data exchange switch according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit configuration of a conventional data exchange switch configured using semiconductor logic elements.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 to 6, 29, 30, 102, 105, 129, 130
Josephson line 7, 9, 10, 12 Input terminal for bias current 8, 11, 13, 14, 108, 111, 113, 11
4 Input terminal for control signal 15, 16, 115, 116 Input terminal 17, 18, 117, 118 Output terminal 19-28, 119-128 Resistor 30 Data input terminal 31 Data output terminal 32 Send data input terminal 34 Send request input Terminal 36 Operation clock input terminal 37a, 37b AND circuit 38 OR circuit 39 Transmission request bit register

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A data exchange switch having first, second, third, and fourth coupling bodies in which a Josephson line having a tunnel barrier formed between two electrodes and a resistor are coupled. The first coupling body has a first input terminal connected to one end and a first output terminal connected to the other end, and a first electrode of the Josephson line is connected to a second control signal input terminal. The second coupling unit has one end connected to the first input terminal, the other end connected to the second output terminal, and the first electrode of the Josephson line connected to the first control terminal. The third coupling unit is connected to a signal input terminal, the second coupling terminal is connected to one end of the third coupling body, the first output terminal is connected to the other end, and the first electrode of the Josephson line is connected to the third coupling unit. Connected to a first control signal input terminal, wherein the fourth coupling body is connected to one end. The second input terminal is connected, the other end is connected to the second output terminal, and a first electrode of the Josephson line is connected to a second control signal input terminal. Data exchange switch.