# US 7,609,574 B2 · Method, apparatus and system for global shared memory using serial optical memory

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- Number: US 7,609,574 B2
- Document ID: US7609574B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/238,490
- Filed: 2005-09-28
- Published: 2007-04-12
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2005-09-28
- Assignees: Intel Corporation
- Inventors: Kirk I. Hays
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609574B2

## CPC

- G11C 19/30: using opto-electronic devices, i.e. light-emitting and photoelectric devices electrically- or optically-coupled
- G11C: STATIC STORES (semiconductor memory devices H10B)

## Abstract

In some embodiments, a method, apparatus and system for global shared memory using serial optical memory are presented. In this regard, a memory device is introduced to circulate a signal among a plurality of optical emitters and receivers. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of storing data in a serial optical memory, the method comprising:
serially transmitting a signal among a plurality of optical emitters and receivers configured in a loop pattern without optical amplifiers, wherein the optical receivers propagate the signal electrically to adjacent optical emitters and wherein the optical emitters propagate the signal optically to adjacent optical receivers, wherein the signal comprises a globally shared signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the signal further comprises a status.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein data can be added to and removed from the signal from more than one location.

### Claim 4

An electronic appliance, comprising:
a processor to process data;
a network controller to communicate data; and
a serial optical memory to store data coupled with the network controller and the processor, wherein the serial optical memory stores data by serially transmitting a signal through a chain of optical emitters and receivers without optical amplifiers, wherein the optical receivers propagate the signal electrically to adjacent optical emitters and wherein the optical emitters propagate the signal optically to adjacent optical receivers, and wherein the signal comprises a MOESI state.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electronic appliance of claim 4, wherein data can be added to and removed from the signal from more than one location.