JPH01236833A - Processor system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the wiring to connect electrically between mutual systems unnecessary and to lower price by transmitting and receiving an optical signal. CONSTITUTION:Only transmitting parts 2-2 of respective processor systems are overlapped so that respective light emitting elements can be matrix-shaped, only receiving parts 3-3 are overlapped in the same way, an optical signal transmitted from respective transmitting parts 2-2 are faced and arranged so as to be made incident on the optical system of respective receiving parts 3-3. Processors 1-1 are overlapped in the same way. Consequently, at the time of arrangement, the section between a processor 1, a transmitting part 2 and a receiving part 2 to constitute one processor system may only be wired electrically. Thus, the wiring between respective mutual processor systems is made unnecessary.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to processor systems capable of mutually transmitting and receiving signals.

[Prior Art] In recent years, processors have been used in multiple directions, but in order to use them more highly and efficiently, it is necessary to create a multiprocessor system that allows multiple processors to mutually and simultaneously send and receive signals. It is preferable to do so. In this type of multiprocessor system, the communication path between each processor system has conventionally relied on electrical wiring.

[Problems to be Solved] The above method requires complicated wiring to electrically connect the processors to each other, resulting in high wiring costs such as wiring work costs. Therefore, in reality, the number of processors that can transmit and receive signals at the same time has been forced to be sacrificed due to the increase in wiring costs.

As a result, when the amount of communication between processors is large, the performance of the system as a whole deteriorates.

The present invention aims to eliminate the need for wiring between processor systems, reduce the cost thereof, and realize an inexpensive, high-performance multiprocessor system.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a receiving unit that receives an optical signal, a processor that receives the signal received by the receiving unit and generates a signal to another processor system, and a processor that receives the signal received by the receiving unit and generates a signal to another processor system. The above object is achieved by configuring a processor system with a transmitting section that optically transmits signals from the computer and mutually transmitting signals optically.

[Embodiment] In FIG. 1, 1 is a processor, and 2 is a transmitter, which is composed of a transmitter circuit 2a and a light emitting element 2b, and optically transmits signals to other processor systems. 3 is a receiving section, which includes an optical system 3a, an image sensor 3b consisting of pixels arranged in a matrix, a selection circuit 3c that sequentially selects each pixel of the image sensor 3b, a control circuit 3d that controls this selection, and selected pixels. The receiver circuit 3e receives signals from the receiver. Note that the image sensor 3b and the selection circuit 3c are constructed on the same semiconductor chip.

The processor system having the above configuration constitutes a multiprocessor system as shown in FIG. 2, for example. That is, only the transmitting sections 2 to 2 of each processor system are superimposed so that each light emitting element is arranged in a matrix, and only the receiving sections 3 to 3 are similarly superposed, so that the optical signals transmitted from each transmitting section 2 to 2 are They are arranged to face each other so that the signal is input to the optical system of each receiving section 3-3. Processors 1 to 1 are also stacked in the same manner.

In this arrangement, processors 1. It is only necessary to electrically wire between the transmitting section 2 and the receiving section 3, and there is no need for wiring between each processor system.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained.

Since the transmitting section and the receiving section of each processor system are arranged to face each other, the optical system of each receiving section 3-3 receives optical signals from all the transmitting sections 2-2, and the image thereof is sent to the image sensor. 3b. Therefore, the optical signals of the transmitting units 2 to 2 superimposed in a matrix are imaged at respective unique positions on the image sensor 3b, and depending on the imaging position, it is determined which processor system the signal is from. It is possible to determine whether

Furthermore, each processor is given a unique number in advance, and the signal transmitted from each processor is in a format that includes the number of the other processor depending on the destination. The numbers in this format allow it to be determined to which processor system the signal was sent.

Therefore, from the imaging position on the image sensor 3b and the format of the signal, it is possible to determine from which processor system the signal is transmitted and to which processor system the signal is transmitted. This allows signals to be sent and received between processor systems.

Next, specific operations will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the receiving section 3, the first pixel of the image sensor 3b is first selected by the selection circuit 3c, and its output is received by the receiving circuit 3e and sent to the control circuit 3.
d. It is determined whether the partner processor number in the format of this signal is for the own system. This operation is performed sequentially for all pixels,
If there is a signal to its own processor, it accepts it, determines the other processor from the pixel position, and then sends the contents of the received signal and which processor it came from to its own processor.

On the other hand, when sending a signal from the own processor to another processor, the number of the other processor is sent to the transmitting section 2 together with the contents of the signal. This signal is converted into an optical signal by the transmitter 2 and transmitted.

Further, when the own processor receives a signal from another processor, it transmits a signal indicating that it has received the signal to the transmitting processor via the transmitter 2.

As described above, signals are mutually transmitted simultaneously between the processor systems, and an advanced multiprocessor system is constructed.

Systems such as those described above are applicable to supercomputers, transaction processing systems, telephone exchanges, computer networks, and the like.

Note that as the optical signal, not only visible light but also infrared rays or the like may be used.

Further, the optical system of the receiving section is not limited to a lens, and a pinhole can also be used.

Furthermore, the control circuit 3d monitors one image on the image sensor and changes the position of the image sensor when a shift in the position is detected, so that even if the image position shifts due to vibration etc., it can be immediately corrected. become.

Further, in the above example, the transmitter uses one light emitting element and transmits the signal serially, but it is also possible to use a plurality of light emitting elements to transmit the signal in parallel.

[Effect] According to the present invention, since optical signals are transmitted and received between each processor system, there is no need for wiring to electrically connect each processor system, and a multiprocessor system can be constructed at low cost. Can be built.

Furthermore, since there is no limit to the number of processors that can communicate simultaneously, the performance of the entire system can be improved. Furthermore, it is easy to remove part of the processor system while the entire system is in operation, resulting in excellent maintainability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a multiprocessor system according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control circuit. 1...Processor 2...Transmitter 3...Receiver Figure 1

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A receiving unit that receives an optical signal, a processor that receives the signal received by this receiving unit and sends a signal to another processor system, and a transmitter that optically transmits the signal from this processor. A processor system consisting of parts. (2) A receiving unit that receives an optical signal, a processor that receives the signal received by this receiving unit and sends a signal to another processor system, and a transmitter that optically transmits the signal from this processor. What is claimed is: 1. A processor system comprising: a plurality of processor systems comprising a transmitting section, and a signal transmitted from a transmitting section of each processor system is received by a receiving section of each processor system.