TWI905791B - Optical circuit systems and optical communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

An optical circuit system configured to perform a neural network computing is provided in the present disclosure. The optical circuit system comprises a laser projecting device, a first optical device group and a second optical device group. The laser projecting device is configured to generate a plurality of standard optical signals. The first optical device group comprises a plurality of first optical devices and is configured to receive the plurality of standard optical signals from the laser projecting device, wherein each of the plurality of first optical devices has a transparency value and is configured to generate a plurality of first optical signals based on the plurality of standard optical signals and the transparency value. The second optical device group comprises a plurality of second optical devices and is configured to receive the plurality of first optical signals from the first optical device group, wherein each of the plurality of second optical devices has a plurality of transparency values and is configured to generate a plurality of second optical signals based on the plurality of first optical signals and the plurality of transparency values, thereby generating a combined optical signal. The light intensity of the plurality of first optical signals generated by any one of the plurality of first optical devices is related to one of a plurality of neuronal data of a first level of a neural network. The light intensity of the plurality of second optical signals generated by any one of the plurality of second optical devices is related to one of a plurality of neuronal data of a second level of the neural network.

Description

Optical circuit systems and optical communication methods

This disclosure relates to computational techniques for neural networks, and in particular to optoelectronic circuit systems and optical communication methods for implementing computations in neural networks using optical communication technology.

With the development of machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies in recent years, how to implement neural network operations through circuits has become a major focus. Although many circuits capable of implementing neural network operations have been proposed, signals in these circuits, which are connected by multiple wires, experience delays due to the resistance-capacitance delay (RC delay). Furthermore, the resistors added to implement neural networks also reduce the circuit's energy efficiency.

Furthermore, since the nodes in a neural network need to be frequently updated during training, the circuit components need to maintain normal operation for a long time to ensure the accuracy of the training results. Therefore, the reliability and durability of the circuit components have become one of the bottlenecks when implementing neural networks with traditional circuits.

In summary, one of the challenges in this field is how to improve circuit reliability and reduce signal latency without significantly reducing circuit energy efficiency.

One embodiment of this disclosure provides an optoelectronic system for performing neural network operations. The optoelectronic system includes a laser transmitting device, a first optical device group, and a second optical device group. The laser transmitting device generates multiple standard optical signals. The first optical device group includes multiple first optical devices for receiving multiple standard optical signals from the laser transmitting device. Each of the multiple first optical devices has a transmission parameter and is used to generate multiple first optical signals based on the multiple optical signals and the transmission parameter. The second optical device group includes multiple second optical devices for receiving multiple first optical signals from the first optical device group. Each of the multiple second optical devices has multiple transmission parameters and is used to generate multiple second optical signals based on the multiple first optical signals and the multiple transmission parameters, thereby generating a combined optical signal. The light intensity of multiple first optical signals generated by one of multiple first optical devices is related to one of multiple neuronal data of the first level of the neural network, and the light intensity of multiple second optical signals generated by one of multiple second optical devices is related to one of multiple neuronal data of the second level of the neural network.

In some embodiments of this type of optoelectronic system, the transmission parameters of the plurality of first optical devices are different from each other, and the transmission parameters of any of the plurality of second optical devices are different from each other.

In some embodiments of this type of optoelectronic system, the optoelectronic system further includes a power supply device. The power supply device is coupled to a plurality of first optical devices and a plurality of second optical devices to provide a plurality of supply voltages to the plurality of first optical devices and a plurality of second optical devices to adjust a plurality of transmission parameters of the plurality of first optical devices and a plurality of second optical devices.

In some embodiments of this type of optoelectronic system, each of the plurality of second optical devices includes an optical coupling device for generating a coupled optical signal based on a plurality of second optical signals from one of the plurality of second optical devices.

In some embodiments of this type of optoelectronic system, the light intensity of the combined optical signal is related to the sum of the light intensities of multiple second optical signals generated by one of the multiple second optical devices, and the sum of the light intensities of the multiple second optical signals is equal to the sum of the products of the light intensities of the multiple first optical signals and multiple transmission parameters of one of the multiple second optical devices.

In some embodiments of this type of optoelectronic system, the laser emitting device is further used to generate a direct optical signal to the optical combining device. The intensity of the combined optical signal is related to the sum of the intensities of multiple second optical signals generated by one of the multiple second optical devices, and this sum of the intensities of the multiple second optical signals is equal to the product of the intensities of multiple first optical signals and multiple transmission parameters of one of the multiple second optical devices, and the sum of the intensities of the direct optical signal.

In some embodiments of this type of optoelectronic system, the optical coupling device and the power supply device are coupled to a computing device. The computing device is used to generate control commands to the power supply device based on the coupled optical signal, so as to adjust multiple supply voltages.

Another embodiment of this disclosure provides an optoelectronic system for performing neural network operations. The optoelectronic system includes a first-level subsystem and a second-level subsystem. The second-level subsystem is coupled to the first-level subsystem. Each of the first-level and second-level subsystems includes a laser transmitting device, a first optical device group, and a second optical device group. The laser transmitting device generates multiple standard optical signals. The first optical device group includes multiple first optical devices for receiving multiple standard optical signals from the laser transmitting device. Each of the multiple first optical devices has a transmission parameter and is used to generate multiple first optical signals based on the multiple optical signals and the transmission parameter. The second optical device group includes multiple second optical devices for receiving multiple first optical signals from the first optical device group. Multiple second optical devices each have multiple transmission parameters and are used to generate multiple second optical signals based on multiple first optical signals and multiple transmission parameters, thereby generating a combined optical signal. The light intensity of the multiple first optical signals generated by the multiple first optical devices in the second-level subsystem is related to the light intensity of the multiple second optical signals generated by the multiple second optical devices in the first-level subsystem. The light intensity of the multiple first optical signals generated by one of the multiple first optical devices in the first-level subsystem is related to one of the multiple neuronal data in the first level of the neural network. The light intensity of the multiple second optical signals generated by one of the multiple second optical devices in the first-level subsystem and the light intensity of the multiple first optical signals generated by one of the multiple first optical devices in the second-level subsystem are related to one of the multiple neuronal data in the second level of the neural network. The light intensity of multiple second optical signals generated by one of the multiple second optical devices in the second-level subsystem is related to one of the multiple neuronal data in the third level of the neural network.

In some embodiments of this alternative optoelectronic system, the transmission parameters of the multiple first optical devices in the first-stage subsystem are different from each other, the transmission parameters of the multiple first optical devices in the second-stage subsystem are different from each other, the multiple transmission parameters of any one of the multiple second optical devices in the first-stage subsystem are different from each other, and the multiple transmission parameters of any one of the multiple second optical devices in the second-stage subsystem are different from each other.

In some embodiments of this alternative optoelectronic system, the first-level subsystem and the second-level subsystem each further include a power supply device. The power supply device is coupled to a plurality of first optical devices and a plurality of second optical devices to provide a plurality of supply voltages to the plurality of first optical devices and a plurality of second optical devices to adjust a plurality of transmission parameters of the plurality of first optical devices and a plurality of second optical devices.

In some embodiments of this alternative optoelectronic system, each of the multiple second optical devices in the first-level subsystem and the second-level subsystem includes an optical coupling device for generating a coupling optical signal based on multiple second optical signals from one of the multiple second optical devices.

In some embodiments of this alternative optoelectronic system, the light intensity of the combined optical signal is related to the sum of the light intensities of multiple second optical signals generated by one of the multiple second optical devices, and this sum of the light intensities of the multiple second optical signals is equal to the sum of the products of the light intensities of the multiple first optical signals and multiple transmission parameters of one of the multiple second optical devices.

In some embodiments of this alternative optoelectronic system, the laser emitting devices of the first-level subsystem and the second-level subsystem are further used to generate direct optical signals to the optical coupling device. The intensity of the coupled optical signal is related to the sum of the intensities of multiple second optical signals generated by one of the multiple second optical devices, and this sum of the intensities of the multiple second optical signals is equal to the sum of the product of the intensities of the multiple first optical signals and multiple transmission parameters of one of the multiple second optical devices, respectively, and the intensity of the direct optical signal.

In some embodiments of this alternative optoelectronic system, the optical coupling device of the first-level subsystem and the power supply device of the second-level subsystem are coupled to a computing device. The computing device generates control commands to the power supply device of the second-level subsystem based on the coupling optical signal from the optical coupling device of the first-level subsystem, so as to adjust multiple supply voltages of the second-level subsystem.

One aspect of this disclosure provides an optical communication method for controlling an optoelectronic system to perform neural network operations. The optical communication method includes: generating multiple standard optical signals via a laser transmitting device of the optoelectronic system; receiving the multiple standard optical signals via multiple first optical devices of a first optical device group of the optoelectronic system, wherein each of the multiple first optical devices has a transmission parameter; generating multiple first optical signals via the multiple first optical devices based on the multiple standard optical signals and the transmission parameter; receiving the multiple first optical signals via multiple second optical devices of a second optical device group of the optoelectronic system, wherein each of the multiple second optical devices has multiple transmission parameters; generating multiple second optical signals via the multiple second optical devices based on the multiple first optical signals and the multiple transmission parameters; and generating multiple combined optical signals via the multiple second optical devices based on the multiple second optical signals. The light intensity of multiple first optical signals generated by one of multiple first optical devices is related to one of multiple neuronal data of the first level of the neural network, and the light intensity of multiple second optical signals generated by one of multiple second optical devices is related to one of multiple neuronal data of the second level of the neural network.

In some embodiments of the optical communication method, the optical communication method further includes: providing multiple supply voltages to multiple first optical devices and multiple second optical devices by means of a power supply device of an optoelectronic system, so as to adjust multiple transmission parameters of the multiple first optical devices and multiple second optical devices.

In some embodiments of optical communication methods, generating multiple combined optical signals from multiple second optical signals using multiple second optical devices includes: receiving multiple second optical signals via an optical combining device of each second optical device; and summing the light intensities of the multiple second optical signals via the optical combining device to generate multiple combined optical signals. The sum of the light intensities of the multiple second optical signals is equal to the sum of the products of the light intensities of the multiple first optical signals and multiple transmission parameters of one of the multiple second optical devices.

In some embodiments of the optical communication method, the optical communication method further includes: an optical coupling device that generates a direct optical signal from a laser transmitting device to a plurality of second optical devices. Generating multiple coupled optical signals from the plurality of second optical devices based on the plurality of second optical signals includes: receiving the plurality of second optical signals and the direct optical signal through the optical coupling device of each second optical device; and summing the light intensities of the plurality of second optical signals and the light intensity of the direct optical signal through the optical coupling device to generate multiple coupled optical signals. The sum of the light intensities of the plurality of second optical signals is equal to the sum of the products of the light intensities of the plurality of first optical signals and multiple transmission parameters of one of the plurality of second optical devices.

In some embodiments of the optical communication method, the optical communication method further includes: generating control commands to a power supply device based on multiple combined optical signals by a computing device coupled to the optoelectronic system; and adjusting multiple supply voltages by the power supply device based on the control commands.

In some embodiments of the optical communication method, the optical communication method further includes: generating control commands to a power supply device based on multiple combined optical signals by a computing device coupled to an optoelectronic system; adjusting multiple supply voltages supplied to a third optical device group and a fourth optical device group to the optoelectronic system based on the control commands by the power supply device; receiving multiple supply voltages and multiple standard optical signals by multiple third optical devices in the third optical device group to generate multiple third optical signals; and receiving multiple third optical signals and multiple supply voltages by multiple fourth optical devices in the fourth optical device group to generate multiple fourth optical signals. The light intensity of the multiple third optical signals is related to the multiple combined optical signals and to one of the neuronal data of multiple layers of the neural network. The light intensity of multiple fourth light signals is related to one of the neuronal data of multiple neurons in the third level of the neural network.

The optoelectronic circuit system and optical communication method disclosed herein enable neural network computation by replacing traditional circuits connected by multiple wires with optoelectronic circuits. Due to the characteristics of optoelectronic circuits, the optoelectronic circuit system and optical communication method disclosed herein can improve circuit reliability and reduce signal latency without significantly reducing circuit energy efficiency, and can also simplify circuit wiring and reduce design complexity.

The following will illustrate embodiments of this disclosure document with reference to relevant diagrams. In the diagrams, the same reference numerals denote the same or similar components or method flows.

In this disclosure, when an element is referred to as a “connection,” it may mean an “electrical connection” or an “optical connection,” and when an element is referred to as a “coupled connection,” it may mean an “electrical coupling” or an “optical coupling.” “Connection” or “coupled connection” can also be used to indicate the operation or interaction between two or more elements. Unless otherwise specified in the text, “a” and “the” can refer to one or more. It will be further understood that the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and similar terms used herein specify the features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components described therein, but do not exclude one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof described or additionally.

Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of an optoelectronic system 100 according to some embodiments of this disclosure. The optoelectronic system 100 is used to provide neural network computation. In some embodiments, the optoelectronic system 100 includes a laser transmitting device 110, a first optical device group 120, a second optical device group 130, a power supply device 140, a nonlinear optical device 150, and a light receiving device 160.

For clarity, optical signals in Figure 1 are shown as dashed lines, while signals other than optical signals (e.g., voltage signals) are shown as solid lines. In some embodiments, the transmission path of the optical signal (i.e., the dashed lines in Figure 1) can be air, glass, or other transparent media.

Laser transmitting device 110 is optically coupled to first optical device group 120. Specifically, laser transmitting device 110 communicates with first optical device group 120 by transmitting optical signals to first optical device group 120. In some embodiments, laser transmitting device 110 includes laser generator 111 and beam splitter 112. Laser generator 111 generates laser signal LS to beam splitter 112. Beam splitter 112 receives laser signal LS from laser generator 111 and generates multiple standard optical signals OS_S (labeled in Figure 2A) to first optical device group 120.

The first optical device group 120 is optically coupled to the laser emitting device 110 and the second optical device group 130, and is also coupled to the power supply device 140. In some embodiments, the first optical device group 120 includes first optical devices 120A, 120B, and 120C. For the configuration of each first optical device, please refer further to Figure 2A.

Since the structures and operations of the first optical devices 120A, 120B, and 120C are similar, for the sake of simplicity, Figure 2A only describes the structure and operation of the first optical device 120A. Figure 2A is a schematic diagram of the first optical device 120A according to some embodiments of this disclosure. In some embodiments, the first optical device 120A includes an optical steering device 121 and a photoelectric modulator 122.

Optical manipulation devices 121 are located on both sides of photoelectric modulator 122 and are used to manipulate optical signals (e.g., change direction, adjust phase, etc.). In some embodiments, optical manipulation devices 121 may be implemented by a transform lens, an optical phase array, a grating coupler, a photonic crystal, other similar optical elements, or any combination thereof.

The photoelectric modulator 122 is optically coupled to the optical control device 121 and to the power supply device 140, for receiving a standard optical signal OS_S from the optical control device 121 and a supply voltage V1_A from the power supply device 140, and generating a first optical signal OS_1A based on the standard optical signal OS_S and the supply voltage V1_A. In some embodiments, the photoelectric modulator 122 can be implemented by electrochromic glass, an absorption modulator, a light valve, other similar optical elements, or any combination thereof.

In detail, firstly, the optical control device 121 receives multiple standard optical signals OS_S from the laser transmitting device 110 and controls these standard optical signals OS_S to transmit them to the photoelectric modulator 122. Next, the photoelectric modulator 122 generates a first optical signal OS_1A based on the standard optical signals OS_S and the supply voltage V1_A, and transmits it to the other optical control device 121. Finally, the other optical control device 121 controls the first optical signal OS_1A to transmit it to the second optical device group 130.

In some embodiments, the light intensity of the first optical signal OS_1A generated by the photomodulator 122 is related to the transmission parameter of the phototransistor within the photomodulator 122 (shown as a circular pattern in the photomodulator 122 in Figure 2A), which in turn is related to the voltage received by the phototransistor.

Please refer further to Figure 2B. Figure 2B is a schematic diagram illustrating the generation of first optical signals OS_1A, OS_1B, and OS_1C by the first optical device group 120 according to some embodiments of this disclosure. It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, only one photolens EG is shown in the first optical devices 120A, 120B, and 120C, and other components are omitted except for the photolens EG.

In operation, the power supply device 140 transmits supply voltages V1_A, V1_B, and V1_C to the photoelectric lenses EG in the first optical devices 120A, 120B, and 120C, respectively, so that the first optical devices 120A, 120B, and 120C generate first optical signals OS_1A, OS_1B, and OS_1C with light intensities of a, b, and c, respectively.

In some embodiments, the supply voltages V1_A, V1_B, and V1_C are different from each other. In other words, the transmission parameters of the photolens EG in the first optical devices 120A, 120B, and 120C are different from each other. In some embodiments, the photolens in the same first optical device receive the same supply voltage. For example, the four photolens EG in the first optical device 120A of Figure 2A all receive the same supply voltage V1_A, thus generating four identical first optical signals OS_1A.

Please refer again to Figure 1. The second optical device group 130 is optically coupled to the first optical device group 120, and also coupled to the laser emitting device 110, the power supply device 140, and the nonlinear optical device 150. In some embodiments, the second optical device group 130 includes second optical devices 130A, 130B, 130C, and 130D. For the configuration of each second optical device, please further refer to Figure 3A.

Since the structures and operations of the second optical devices 130A, 130B, 130C, and 130D are similar, for the sake of simplicity, Figures 3A to 3B only describe the structure and operation of the second optical device 130A. Figure 3A is a schematic diagram of the second optical device 130A according to some embodiments of this disclosure. In some embodiments, the second optical device 130A includes an optical control device 131, a photoelectric modulator 132, and an optical coupling device 133.

Optical control device 131 is optically coupled to opto-modulator 132 to receive first optical signals OS_1A, OS_1B, and OS_1C, and to transmit the first optical signals OS_1A, OS_1B, and OS_1C to opto-modulator 132. Opto-modulator 132 is optically coupled to optical control device 131, optical coupling device 133, and power supply device 140 to receive the controlled first optical signals OS_1A, OS_1B, and OS_1C from optical control device 131, receive supply voltages V2_A to V2_C from power supply device 140, and generate second optical signals OS_21 to OS_23 based on the first optical signals OS_1A, OS_1B, and OS_1C and the supply voltages V2_A to V2_C.

The optical coupling device 133 is optically coupled to the photoelectric modulator 132 and to the laser transmitter 110, so as to receive the second optical signals OS_21~OS_23 and the direct optical signal OS_D from the photoelectric modulator 132 and the laser transmitter 110 respectively, so as to generate the combined optical signal OS_2A.

Similar to the photoelectric modulator 122 of the first optical device 120A, the light intensity of the second optical signal OS_21~OS_23 generated by the photoelectric modulator 132 of the second optical device 130A is also related to the transmission parameter of the photoelectric lens (shown as a circular pattern in the photoelectric modulator 132 in Figure 3A), which is also related to the voltage received by the photoelectric lens. However, the difference between the photoelectric modulator 132 and the photoelectric modulator 122 is that each photoelectric lens in the photoelectric modulator 132 receives a different supply voltage and therefore has different transmission parameters (i.e., the photoelectric modulator 132 has multiple transmission parameters).

Please refer further to Figure 3B. Figure 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating the generation of second optical signals OS_21 to OS_23 by the second optical device 130A according to some embodiments of this disclosure. In operation, the power supply device 140 transmits different supply voltages V2_A, V2_B, and V2_C to the three phototransistors EG in the second optical device 130A, so that the three phototransistors EG have different transmission parameters, thereby generating second optical signals OS_21, OS_22, and OS_23 with light intensities of a*α1, b*α2, and c*α3 to the optical coupling device 133 according to the first optical signals OS_1A, OS_1B, and OS_1C and their respective transmission parameters. In addition, the laser emitting device 110 also generates a direct light signal OS_D with light intensity d to the optical combining device 133. Finally, the optical combining device 133 generates a combined optical signal OS_2A with light intensity a*α1+b*α2+c*α3+d based on the received second optical signals OS_21, OS_22, OS_23 and the direct light signal OS_D.

In some embodiments, the laser transmitting device 110 may not be connected to the optical coupling device 133. In other words, the optical coupling device 133 may not receive the direct optical signal OS_D. Taking the example of Figure 3B, when the optical coupling device 133 does not receive the direct optical signal OS_D, the light intensity of the generated coupled optical signal OS_2A will be a*α1+b*α2+c*α3.

Please refer again to Figure 1. The nonlinear optical device 150 is coupled to the second optical device group 130 and the optical receiving device 160 to convert the optical signal received from the second optical device group 130 into a nonlinear signal. In some embodiments, the nonlinear optical device 150 may be implemented using nonlinear optical fibers, nonlinear waveguides, other similar optical elements, or any combination thereof.

Optical receiving device 160 is coupled to nonlinear optical device 150 to convert nonlinear signals received from nonlinear optical device 150 into digital signals DIG1 to DIG4. In some embodiments, optical receiving device 160 may be implemented by means of amplifiers, attenuators, analog-to-digital converters, other similar components, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the nonlinear optical device 150 and/or optical coupling device 133 in the optoelectronic system 100 may be omitted. In other words, the optical receiving device 160 may directly receive multiple second optical signals from multiple second optical devices, thereby generating digital signals DIG1 to DIG4.

It should be noted that the number of the first optical device, the second optical device, the photoelectric lens EG in the optical device, the optical signal and the digital signal in Figures 1 to 3B are merely examples and are not intended to limit this disclosure. The number of other first optical devices, second optical devices, photoelectric lenses EG in the optical devices, the optical signal and the digital signal are all within the scope of this disclosure.

Through the transmission and combination of optical signals in the optoelectronic system 100, computation between multiple neurons at two levels in a neural network can be realized. Please refer to Figure 4. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a neural network illustrated according to some embodiments of this disclosure.

In some embodiments, the first optical devices 120A, 120B, and 120C in Figure 1 correspond to the first-level neurons N11, N12, and N13 of the neural network in Figure 4, respectively. The light intensities (i.e., a, b, and c) of the first optical signals OS_1A, OS_1B, and OS_1C generated by the first optical devices 120A, 120B, and 120C correspond to the data stored in neurons N11, N12, and N13, respectively.

On the other hand, the second optical devices 130A, 130B, 130C, and 130D in Figure 1 correspond to neurons N21, N22, N23, and N24 of the second level of the neural network in Figure 4, respectively. The light intensity of the combined light signals generated by the second optical devices 130A, 130B, 130C, and 130D corresponds to the data stored in neurons N21, N22, N23, and N24, respectively. Taking the example in Figure 3B, the second optical device 130A generates a combined light signal OS_2A with a light intensity of a*α1+b*α2+c*α3+d, and this light intensity corresponds to the data stored in neuron N21 of the second level of the neural network.

The digital signals DIG1 to DIG4 generated by the optoelectronic system 100 can be received by a computing device (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)) to calculate the data of the corresponding level of the neural network. Furthermore, by transmitting the digital signals DIG1 to DIG4 to the power supply device 140, the optoelectronic system 100 can also perform multi-level calculations of the neural network. Please refer to Figure 5A, which is a functional block diagram of the optoelectronic system 100 according to some embodiments of this disclosure. Note that for the sake of simplicity, some components in the optoelectronic system 100 in Figure 5A are omitted.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5A, the optoelectronic system 100 transmits the digital signals DIG1~DIG4 it generates to the computing device 170 for processing to calculate the neuronal data of the corresponding level of the neural network. Furthermore, the computing device 170 is coupled to the power supply device 140 of the optoelectronic system 100 to generate corresponding control commands (CTR) based on the digital signals DIG1~DIG4, thereby adjusting the supply voltage provided by the power supply device 140, which in turn changes multiple transmission parameters in the first optical device group 120 and the second optical device group 130, and further generates new digital signals DIG1~DIG4.

Through the aforementioned feedback operation, the optoelectronic system 100 can perform multiple levels of computation on the neural network. For example, in the first operation, the first optical device group 120 and the second optical device group 130 correspond to the first and second levels of the neural network, respectively; in the second operation, by controlling the supply voltage through the computing device, the first optical device group 120 and the second optical device group 130 can correspond to the second and third levels of the neural network, respectively; in the third operation, by controlling the supply voltage again through the computing device, the first optical device group 120 and the second optical device group 130 can correspond to the third and fourth levels of the neural network, respectively, and so on.

In some embodiments, the optoelectronic system 100 may include multiple subsystems, through which multiple levels of neural network operations are implemented. Please refer to Figure 5B, which is a functional block diagram of the optoelectronic system 100 according to some embodiments of this disclosure.

In the embodiment of Figure 5B, the optoelectronic system 100 includes subsystems 200 and 300, each of which includes the components of the optoelectronic system 100 as shown in Figure 1. Therefore, the internal structure of subsystems 200 and 300 will not be repeated here. It should be noted that for the sake of simplicity, some components in subsystems 200 and 300 are omitted in Figure 5B.

Operationally, firstly, the power supply device 140 of subsystem 200 controls multiple penetration parameters, and the first and second optical device groups of subsystem 200 are respectively mapped to the first and second levels of the neural network. Next, subsystem 200 transmits the digital signals DIG1~DIG4 it generates to computing device 170. Based on the digital signals DIG1~DIG4, computing device 170 sends control commands to the power supply device 140 of subsystem 300 to adjust the supply voltage provided by the power supply device 140 of subsystem 300, thereby changing multiple penetration parameters of subsystem 300 to map the first and second optical device groups of subsystem 300 to the second and third levels of the neural network, respectively, and generate new digital signals DIG'. Through the connection of the above-mentioned subsystems, the optoelectronic system can perform multiple levels of computation on 100 pairs of neural networks.

In some embodiments, the computing device 170 between subsystems 200 and 300 in Figure 5B can be omitted. Therefore, subsystem 200 directly provides its generated optical signals to subsystem 300, which can then use these optical signals for next-level neural network operations. In other words, adjacent subsystems in the optoelectronic system 100 may or may not have a computing device (i.e., convert optical signals into digital signals for communication) or may not (i.e., communicate directly via optical signals).

Furthermore, in some embodiments not shown, the optoelectronic system 100 may include more subsystems (e.g., more than the two subsystems in Figure 5B), and a second group of optical devices in the subsystem corresponding to the highest level of the neural network (e.g., subsystem 300 in Figure 5B) is coupled to a computing device to convert the optical signals generated by that subsystem into digital signals for output.

In some embodiments, the components in the optoelectronic system 100 can be arranged on the same horizontal plane. In some embodiments, the components in the optoelectronic system 100 can also be arranged on different horizontal planes to realize a three-dimensional structure, thereby improving node density. For example, in the optoelectronic system 100, the laser transmitting device 110, the first optical device group 120, the second optical device group 130, the power supply device 140, the nonlinear optical device 150, and the light receiving device 160 are arranged horizontally, while the first optical devices 120A, 120B, and 120C in the first optical device group 120 and the second optical devices 130A, 130B, 130C, and 130D in the second optical device group 130 are arranged vertically, thus realizing a three-dimensional structure.

Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating an optical communication method 600 according to some embodiments of this disclosure. In some embodiments, the optical communication method 600 is used to control an optoelectronic system (e.g., optoelectronic system 100) to perform neural network operations, including steps S610, S620, S630, S640, S650, S660, S670, S680, S690, and S695.

In step S610, multiple standard optical signals are generated by the laser transmitter of the optoelectronic system. Then, step S620 is executed.

In step S620, multiple standard optical signals are received by multiple first optical devices in the first optical device group of the optoelectronic system, each of which has a transmission parameter. Then, step S630 is executed.

In step S630, multiple first optical signals are generated by multiple first optical devices based on multiple standard optical signals and transmission parameters. Then, step S640 is executed.

In step S640, multiple first optical signals are received from multiple first optical devices via multiple second optical devices in the second optical device group of the optoelectronic system, wherein each of these second optical devices has multiple transmission parameters. Then, step S650 is executed.

In step S650, multiple second optical signals are generated by multiple second optical devices based on multiple first optical signals and multiple transmission parameters. Then, step S660 is executed.

In step S660, multiple combined optical signals are generated by multiple second optical devices based on multiple second optical signals, and control commands are generated by a computing device based on the multiple combined optical signals. Then, step S670 is executed.

In step S670, it is determined whether the optoelectronic system has completed the calculations corresponding to all levels of the neural network. If the optoelectronic system has not yet completed the calculations corresponding to all levels of the neural network, step S680 will be executed.

In step S680, it is determined whether the optoelectronic system has multiple subsystems. If the optoelectronic system does not have multiple subsystems (e.g., the embodiment of Figure 5A), step S690 is performed; if the optoelectronic system has multiple subsystems (e.g., the embodiment of Figure 5B), step S695 is performed.

In step S690, the computing device transmits control commands generated from the optical signal to the power supply device of the optoelectronic system to adjust multiple penetration parameters of the optoelectronic system, thereby enabling the next stage of computation in the neural network. Then, step S670 is executed again.

In step S695, the computing device transmits control commands generated from the combined optical signals of one subsystem to the power supply device of the other subsystem to adjust the penetration parameters of the other subsystem, thereby enabling the next level of computation in the neural network. Then, step S670 is executed again.

It should be noted that the number and order of steps in the optical communication method 600 of this disclosure are merely examples and are not intended to limit this disclosure. The number and order of other steps are all within the scope of this disclosure. In some embodiments, steps S670, S680, S690, and S695 may be omitted.

Through the optoelectronic system 100 and optical communication method 600 disclosed herein, neural network operations can be implemented via optoelectronics. Compared to traditional circuits connected by wires, the optoelectronic system 100 of this disclosure, by using optical signals, can reduce the equivalent resistance on the signal transmission path, thereby improving circuit reliability and reducing signal delay without significantly reducing circuit energy efficiency. Furthermore, unlike physical wires which have problems of overlapping and obstruction, the transmission path of light can be freely interwoven, thus the optoelectronic system 100 of this disclosure can also simplify circuit wiring and reduce design complexity.

The above are merely preferred embodiments of this disclosure. Various modifications and equivalent changes may be made to the structure of this disclosure without departing from its scope or spirit. In summary, all modifications and equivalent changes to this disclosure made within the scope of the following claims are within the scope of this disclosure.

100: Optoelectronic Circuit System 110: Laser Transmitter 111: Laser Generator 112: Beam Splitter 120: First Optical Device Group 120A~120C: First Optical Device 121: Optical Control Device 122: Photoelectric Modulator 130: Second Optical Device Group 130A~130D: Second Optical Device 131: Optical Control Device 132: Photoelectric Modulator 133: Optical Combining Device 140: Power Supply Device 150: Nonlinear Optical Device 160: Optical Receiver 170: Calculation Device 200, 300: Subsystem 600: Optical Communication Method S610, S620, S630: Steps S640, S650, S660: Steps S670, S680, S690, S695: Steps CTR: Control Commands DIG1~DIG4, DIG’: Digital Signals EG: Photocells LS: Laser Signals N11~N13, N21~N24: Neurons OS_1A, OS_1B, OS_1C: First Optical Signals OS_21, OS_22, OS_23: Second Optical Signals OS_2A: Combined Optical Signals OS_D: Direct Optical Signals OS_S: Standard Optical Signals V1_A, V1_B, V1_C: Supply Voltages V2_A, V2_B, V2_C: Supply Voltages

To make the foregoing and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of this disclosure more apparent, the accompanying drawings are explained as follows: Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of an optoelectronic system according to some embodiments of this disclosure; Figure 2A is a schematic diagram of a first optical device according to some embodiments of this disclosure; Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of a group of first optical devices generating a first optical signal according to some embodiments of this disclosure; Figure 3A is a second optical device according to some embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 3B is a schematic diagram of a second optical device generating a second optical signal according to some embodiments of this disclosure; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a neural network according to some embodiments of this disclosure; Figure 5A is a functional block diagram of an optoelectronic system according to some embodiments of this disclosure; Figure 5B is a functional block diagram of an optoelectronic system according to some embodiments of this disclosure; and Figure 6 is a flowchart of an optical communication method according to some embodiments of this disclosure.

Domestic storage information (please record in the order of storage institution, date, and number) No overseas storage information (please record in the order of storage country, institution, date, and number) None

100: Optoelectronic System

110: Laser emission device

111: Laser Generator

112: Spectrometer

120: First Optical Device Group

120A~120C: First Optical Device

130: Second Optical Device Group

130A~130D: Second optical device

140: Power Supply Device

150: Nonlinear optical device

160: Optical receiving device

DIG1~DIG4: Digital signals

LS: Laser Signal

Claims (20)

An optoelectronic system for performing neural network computation includes: a laser transmitting device for generating a plurality of standard optical signals; a first optical device group comprising a plurality of first optical devices for receiving the plurality of standard optical signals from the laser transmitting device, wherein each of the plurality of first optical devices has a transmission parameter and is used to generate a plurality of first optical signals based on the plurality of standard optical signals and the transmission parameter; and a second optical device group comprising a plurality of second optical devices for receiving the plurality of first optical signals from the first optical device group, wherein each of the plurality of second optical devices has a plurality of transmission parameters and is used to generate a plurality of second optical signals based on the plurality of first optical signals and the plurality of transmission parameters, thereby generating a combined optical signal. The light intensity of the plurality of first optical signals generated by one of the plurality of first optical devices is related to one of the neuronal data of a first level of a neural network, and the light intensity of the plurality of second optical signals generated by one of the plurality of second optical devices is related to one of the neuronal data of a second level of the neural network. Each of the plurality of first optical devices includes a photoelectric modulator and a plurality of optical manipulation devices. The photoelectric modulator is used to generate the plurality of first optical signals according to the plurality of standard optical signals and the transmission parameter, wherein the transmission parameter is independent of the plurality of standard optical signals, and the plurality of optical manipulation devices are located on both sides of the photoelectric modulator to control a direction and a phase of the plurality of standard optical signals and the plurality of first optical signals. The optoelectronic system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission parameters of the plurality of first optical devices are different from each other, and the plurality of transmission parameters of any one of the plurality of second optical devices are different from each other. The optoelectronic system as described in claim 1 further includes a power supply device, wherein the power supply device is coupled to the plurality of first optical devices and the plurality of second optical devices to provide a plurality of supply voltages to the plurality of first optical devices and the plurality of second optical devices to adjust the plurality of transmission parameters of the plurality of first optical devices and the plurality of second optical devices. The optoelectronic system as described in claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of second optical devices includes an optical coupling device for generating the coupled optical signal based on the plurality of second optical signals of one of the plurality of second optical devices. The optoelectronic system as described in claim 4, wherein the light intensity of the combined optical signal is related to the sum of the light intensities of the plurality of second optical signals generated by one of the plurality of second optical devices, and the sum of the light intensities of the plurality of second optical signals is equal to the sum of one of the products of the light intensities of the plurality of first optical signals and the plurality of transmission parameters of one of the plurality of second optical devices. The optoelectronic system as described in claim 4, wherein the laser emitting device is further configured to generate a direct optical signal to the optical combining device, and wherein the light intensity of the combined optical signal is relative to the sum of the light intensities of the plurality of second optical signals generated by one of the plurality of second optical devices, and the sum of the light intensities of the plurality of second optical signals is equal to the sum of the product of the light intensities of the plurality of first optical signals and the plurality of transmission parameters of one of the plurality of second optical devices and the light intensity of the direct optical signal. The optoelectronic system as described in claim 4, wherein the optical coupling device and the power supply device are coupled to a computing device, the computing device being used to generate a control command to the power supply device based on the coupled optical signal, so as to adjust the plurality of supply voltages. An optoelectronic system for performing neural network computation includes: a first-level subsystem; and a second-level subsystem coupled to the first-level subsystem, wherein each of the first-level and second-level subsystems includes: a laser transmitting device for generating a plurality of standard optical signals; and a first optical device group including a plurality of first optical devices for receiving the plurality of standard optical signals from the laser transmitting device, wherein each of the plurality of first optical devices has a penetration parameter and is used to generate a plurality of first optical signals based on the plurality of standard optical signals and the penetration parameter. ; and a second optical device group comprising a plurality of second optical devices for receiving the plurality of first optical signals from the first optical device group, wherein each of the plurality of second optical devices has a plurality of transmission parameters and is used to generate a plurality of second optical signals according to the plurality of first optical signals and the plurality of transmission parameters, thereby generating a combined optical signal, wherein each of the plurality of first optical devices includes a photoelectric modulator and a plurality of optical control devices, the photoelectric modulator being used to generate the plurality of first optical signals according to the plurality of standard optical signals and the transmission parameters, wherein the transmission parameters are independent. The plurality of standard optical signals are located on both sides of the photoelectric modulator, and are used to control the direction and phase of the plurality of standard optical signals and the plurality of first optical signals. The light intensity of the plurality of first optical signals generated by the plurality of first optical devices in the second-stage subsystem is related to the light intensity of the plurality of second optical signals generated by the plurality of second optical devices in the first-stage subsystem. The light intensity of the plurality of first optical signals generated by one of the plurality of first optical devices in the first-stage subsystem is related to a first level of a neural network. One of the multiple neuronal data, wherein the light intensity of the multiple second optical signals generated by one of the multiple second optical devices of the first-level subsystem and the light intensity of the multiple first optical signals generated by one of the multiple first optical devices of the second-level subsystem are related to one of the multiple neuronal data of a second level of the neural network, and wherein the light intensity of the multiple second optical signals generated by one of the multiple second optical devices of the second-level subsystem is related to one of the multiple neuronal data of a third level of the neural network. The optoelectronic system as described in claim 8, wherein the transmission parameters of the plurality of first optical devices in the first-level subsystem are different from each other, the transmission parameters of the plurality of first optical devices in the second-level subsystem are different from each other, the transmission parameters of any one of the plurality of second optical devices in the first-level subsystem are different from each other, and the transmission parameters of any one of the plurality of second optical devices in the second-level subsystem are different from each other. The optoelectronic system as described in claim 8, wherein the first-level subsystem and the second-level subsystem each further include a power supply device coupled to the plurality of first optical devices and the plurality of second optical devices, for providing a plurality of supply voltages to the plurality of first optical devices and the plurality of second optical devices to adjust the plurality of transmission parameters of the plurality of first optical devices and the plurality of second optical devices. The optoelectronic system as described in claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of second optical devices in the first-level subsystem and the second-level subsystem includes an optical coupling device for generating the coupled optical signal based on the plurality of second optical signals of one of the plurality of second optical devices. The optoelectronic system as described in claim 11, wherein the light intensity of the combined optical signal is related to the sum of the light intensities of the plurality of second optical signals generated by one of the plurality of second optical devices, and the sum of the light intensities of the plurality of second optical signals is equal to the sum of one of the products of the light intensities of the plurality of first optical signals and the plurality of transmission parameters of one of the plurality of second optical devices. The optoelectronic system as described in claim 11, wherein the laser emitting device of the first-level subsystem and the second-level subsystem is further configured to generate a direct optical signal to the optical combining device, and wherein the light intensity of the combined optical signal is relative to the sum of the light intensities of the plurality of second optical signals generated by one of the plurality of second optical devices, and the sum of the light intensities of the plurality of second optical signals is equal to the sum of the product of the light intensities of the plurality of first optical signals and the plurality of transmission parameters of one of the plurality of second optical devices and the light intensity of the direct optical signal. The optoelectronic system as described in claim 11, wherein the optical coupling device of the first-level subsystem and the power supply device of the second-level subsystem are coupled to a computing device, the computing device being configured to generate a control command to the power supply device of the second-level subsystem based on the coupling optical signal of the first-level subsystem, so as to adjust the plurality of supply voltages of the second-level subsystem. An optical communication method for controlling an optoelectronic system to perform neural network computation includes: generating multiple standard optical signals via a laser transmitting device of the optoelectronic system; receiving the multiple standard optical signals via multiple first optical devices in a first optical device group of the optoelectronic system, wherein each of the multiple first optical devices has a transmission parameter; generating multiple first optical signals based on the multiple standard optical signals and the transmission parameter via an optoelectronic modulator of the multiple first optical devices, wherein the transmission parameter is independent of the multiple standard optical signals; and controlling a direction and a phase of the multiple standard optical signals and the multiple first optical signals via multiple optical manipulation devices of the multiple first optical devices, wherein the multiple optical manipulation devices are located at two points on the optoelectronic modulator. The system receives multiple first optical signals via multiple second optical devices in a second optical device group, each of which has multiple transmission parameters; generates multiple second optical signals based on the multiple first optical signals and the multiple transmission parameters; and generates multiple combined optical signals based on the multiple second optical signals, wherein the light intensity of the multiple first optical signals generated by one of the multiple first optical devices is related to one of multiple neuronal data of a first level of a neural network, and the light intensity of the multiple second optical signals generated by one of the multiple second optical devices is related to one of multiple neuronal data of a second level of the neural network. The optical communication method as described in claim 15 further includes: providing multiple supply voltages to the multiple first optical devices and the multiple second optical devices via a power supply device of the optoelectronic system, so as to adjust the multiple transmission parameters of the multiple first optical devices and the multiple second optical devices. The optical communication method as described in claim 16, wherein generating the plurality of combined optical signals by means of the plurality of second optical devices based on the plurality of second optical signals comprises: receiving the plurality of second optical signals by means of an optical combining device of each second optical device; and summing the light intensities of the plurality of second optical signals by means of the optical combining device to generate the plurality of combined optical signals, wherein a sum of the light intensities of the plurality of second optical signals is equal to the sum of one of the products of the light intensities of the plurality of first optical signals and a plurality of transmission parameters of one of the plurality of second optical devices. The optical communication method as described in claim 16 further includes: generating a direct optical signal from the laser emitting device to a plurality of second optical devices via an optical combining device, wherein generating the plurality of combined optical signals by the plurality of second optical devices based on the plurality of second optical signals comprises: receiving the plurality of second optical signals and the direct optical signal by the optical combining device of each second optical device; and summing the light intensities of the plurality of second optical signals and the light intensity of the direct optical signal by the optical combining device to generate the plurality of combined optical signals, wherein the sum of the light intensities of the plurality of second optical signals is equal to the sum of one of the products of the light intensities of the plurality of first optical signals and one of the plurality of transmission parameters of the plurality of second optical devices. The optical communication method as described in claim 18 further includes: generating a control command to the power supply device based on the plurality of combined optical signals by a computing device coupled to the optoelectronic system; and adjusting the plurality of supply voltages by the power supply device based on the control command. The optical communication method as described in claim 18 further comprises: generating a control command to a power supply device based on the plurality of combined optical signals via a computing device coupled to the optoelectronic system; adjusting the plurality of supply voltages supplied to a third optical device group and a fourth optical device group of the optoelectronic system based on the control command via the power supply device; and receiving the plurality of supply voltages and the plurality of standard optical signals via the plurality of third optical devices in the third optical device group to generate... The system generates multiple third optical signals; and receives the multiple third optical signals and the multiple supply voltages through multiple fourth optical devices in the group of fourth optical devices to generate multiple fourth optical signals, wherein the light intensity of the multiple third optical signals is related to the multiple combined optical signals and to one of the multiple neuronal data of the second level of the neural network, and wherein the light intensity of the multiple fourth optical signals is related to one of the multiple neuronal data of a third level of the neural network.