# US 4,393,515 A · Processor arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,393,515 A - Document ID: US4393515A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/229,136 - Filed: 1981-01-28 - Granted: 1983-07-12 - Earliest claimed: 1980-02-05 - Assignees: The Marconi Company Limited - Inventors: Frederick B. de Neumann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4393515A ## CPC - H04B 10/801: {using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections} - G06F 1/105: {in which the distribution is at least partially optical} - G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A processor arrangement consists of a number of individual autonomous processor units which communicate with each other by means of electro-magnetic waves. The electro-magnetic energy is typically at infra-red optical frequencies. Although the energy necessary to operate the individual processor units can be supplied by means of conductive bus bars, in a preferred arrangement the energy is supplied from a light source at optical frequencies to photo cells mounted on each of the processor units. Each processor arrangement is provided with an input-output device which communicates with the individual processor units by means of electro-magnetic waves and is provided with external conductive leads in a conventional manner. The whole processor arrangement is encapsulated in an evacuated chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A processor arrangement including a plurality of individual processors mounted within a common chamber, each said individual processor comprising means for freely radiating electromagnetic waves, directly without regeneration, to a plurality of other ones of said individual processors, and means having an omnidirectional receiving characteristic disposed for receiving, directly without regeneration, electromagnetic waves from a plurality of other ones of said individual processors, with data communication between said individual processors being by means of the radiated electromagnetic waves. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said radiating and receiving means enable each said individual processor to communicate directly by means of electromagnetic waves with all of the remaining ones of said individual processors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said processors are provided with the energy necessary to operate them via conductive leads which are physically attached to them. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the individual processors are all similar and capable of independent autonomous operation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said processors are provided with the energy necessary to operate them by the radiation to them of electromagnetic energy. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An arrangement as claimed in claim 5 and wherein the radiated electromagnetic energy is at microwave frequencies. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An arrangement as claimed in claim 6 and wherein the wavelength of the energy is of the order of the largest dimension of each individual processor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the radiated electromagnetic waves are in the form of light. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An arrangement as claimed in claim 8 and wherein each said processor is provided with the energy necessary to operate it from a common light emissive source which is arranged to illuminate all of said individual processors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 and wherein the light energy is modulated so as to impart a common reference clock frequency to each processor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) An arrangement as claimed in claim 8 further comprising reflecting means disposed for reflecting light from said radiating means of one said individual processor to said receiving means of at least one other of said individual processors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said radiating means are constructed for radiating omnidirectionally in at least one plane. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An arrangement as claimed in claim 12 wherein the electromagnetic waves are in the form of light, all of said individual processors are disposed in a common plane, and said radiating and receiving means of each said individual processor comprise a light radiating and receiving element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An arrangement as claimed in claim 13 wherein said common plane is curved and said light radiating and receiving element of each said individual processor is located at the concave side of said common plane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) An arrangement as claimed in claim 13 wherein said light radiating and receiving element of each said individual processor comprises a light conductor projecting from said common plane for radiating and receiving with respect to all directions parallel to said common plane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An arrangement as claimed in claim 15 wherein said light conductor of each said individual processor comprises a conical optical prism oriented with its axis perpendicular to said common plane. ### Claim 17 A processor arrangement comprising: a plurality of individual processors mounted within a common chamber; means associated with each said individual processor for establishing data communication by means of modulated electromagnetic waves between said individual processors; and a common electromagnetic wave emissive source arranged to illuminate all of said individual processors and providing electromagnetic energy which is modulated to impart a common reference clock frequency to all of said individual processors. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An arrangement as defined in claim 17 wherein the electromagnetic waves are in the form of light. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) An arrangement as claimed in claim 18 wherein all of said individual processors obtain the energy needed to operate them from received light energy, and the light energy for operating each said individual processor is provided by said common emissive source.