Abstract
In this paper, we combine a Content-Addressable Memory (CAM) encoding scheme previously proposed for analog electronic CAMs (E-CAMs) with optical multiplexing techniques to create two new photonic CAM architectures - wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) optical ternary CAM (O-TCAM) and time-division multiplexing (TDM) O-TCAM. As an example, we show how these two O-TCAM schemes can be implemented by performing minor modifications in microring-based silicon photonic (SiPh) circuits originally optimized for exascale interconnects. Here, our SiPh O-TCAM designs include not only the actual search engine, but also the transmitter circuits. For the first time, we experimentally demonstrate O-TCAM functionality in SiPh up to ∼ 4 Gbps and we prove in simulation feasibility for speeds up to 10 Gbps, 10 times faster than typical E-TCAMs at the expense of higher energy consumption per symbol of our O-TCAM Search Engine circuits than the corresponding E-TCAMs. Finally, we identify which hardware and architecture modifications are required to improve the O-CAM's energy efficiency towards the level of E-CAMs.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 4147-4165 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | Nanophotonics |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 22 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Nov 2023 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- energy efficiency
- integrated photonics
- silicon photonics
- ternary content-addressable memory
- time division multiplexing
- wavelength division multiplexing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biotechnology
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering