System and method for optically interconnecting memory devices

A computer system, comprising:

• a data input device;
• a data output device;
• a processor coupled to the data input and data output devices;
• a insulative substrate;
• a controller coupled to the substrate and electrically coupled to the processor, the controller being operable to receive optical data signals and apply optical control, address and data signals to an optical path at a controller port;
• a plurality of memory devices mounted on the substrate, each memory device comprising:
• a semiconductor substrate;
• a plurality of electrical input and output signal lines fabricated in the semiconductor substrate including electrical data signal lines operable to output electrical read data signals and input electrical write data signals;
• and electrical address and control signal lines operable to input electrical address and control signals;
• a plurality of optical receivers fabricated in the semiconductor substrate coupled to corresponding data, control and address signal lines, the receivers being operable to receive optical signals and generate corresponding electrical signals;
• and
• a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers fabricated in the semiconductor substrate coupled to corresponding data signal lines, the vertical cavity surface emitting lasers being operable to receive electrical read data signals and generate corresponding optical read data signals;
• a memory hub mounted on the insulative substrate, the memory hub having an input/output port and a plurality of input and output terminals including terminals outputting optical write data signals, command signals and address signals, and terminals inputting optical read data signals, the memory hub being operable to receive input signals coupled to the input/output port and to apply corresponding optical signals to the terminals of the memory hub, the memory hub being further operable to receive optical signals at the terminals of the memory hub and to apply output signals to the input/output port;
• and
• a plurality of optical paths coupling the terminals of the memory hub to the vertical cavity surface emitting lasers and the optical receivers of the memory devices.