SELF-TIMED DATA-TRANSMISSION IN MASSIVELY-PARALLEL COMPUTING SYSTEMS

Local processes in massively parallel computing systems can be coordin ated by asynchronous system of global synchronization via handshake us ing current sensors for detection of the transient processes completio n. The known current sensors are considered, the best one is analyzed, and its shortcomings are revealed. Current sensor with wide range of the measured current is suggested. The principles of control in circui ts with current sensors are developed. Self-timed data exchange betwee n local processes of the system is discussed. Transmission/reception c ircuits with single-wire bit handshake are demonstrated. Their transmi ssion rate is no worse than that of double-wire circuits. They allow o ne to transmit combinations of n-bit code by n + 2 communication lines . (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.