JP4776880B2 - Computer device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a computing device.

  Although computer device technology has advanced considerably in recent years, there are still many areas to be improved.

  For example, assembling computer devices generally still requires significant time, effort, and expense. The structure of a large and powerful computer device is still extremely expensive. Attempts to build computer devices in three dimensions have not experienced great success.

  The present invention provides a completely new approach to the structure of computer devices. The preferred embodiment of the present invention can easily provide not only a computer device having a small computing power but also a computer device having a huge computing power by a relatively inexpensive and simple construction method. is there. Furthermore, a computer device having three-dimensional characteristics can be easily provided.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a computing device comprising a cluster of computing elements, wherein the computing device comprises:
a. Each computational element includes a respective housing and a data processing element contained within the housing,
b. Each computational element is arranged to communicate wirelessly with one or more other computational elements,
c. Each computing element is powered by wireless transfer of power from outside the computing element.

  Preferably, none of the housings are fixed directly or indirectly to other housings. In such an arrangement, the calculation elements can be freely added to or removed from the calculation element clusters.

  Preferably, each data processing element is enclosed in a respective housing.

  Preferably, each said housing is substantially spherical.

  Preferably, the cluster is three dimensional.

  Preferably, the calculation elements are arranged roughly roughly in the container to form the clusters.

  The computational elements may be randomly juxtaposed within the container.

  The calculation elements may be stacked on top of each other.

The calculation element may be arranged in at least one holder that accommodates a plurality of the calculation elements in a predetermined juxtaposition state.

Preferably, the holder has a plurality of fasteners, and each fastener engages a housing of the respective calculation element so as to hold the calculation element in place.

Preferably, each of the fasteners may include a recess for receiving at least a portion of the respective housing.

Preferably, the holder and the housing are arranged to interengage by elastic deformation of at least a part of the holder and / or the housing, and the calculation element is pushed into the holder by hand. , You may be able to pull it out of it.

Preferably, the holder includes a plurality of trays, and each tray has a plurality of the fasteners and overlaps each other.

  The computing device may further include a light guide or waveguide that extends through the cluster to facilitate communication between the computing elements.

  The computer device may further include cooling means for cooling the computing element cluster.

The power wireless transmission may be performed by immersing the calculation element having an electrode in an electrolytic solution, and bringing the electrode into contact with the electrolytic solution, and the electrolytic solution and the electrode are in contact with each other. , Power is supplied to the calculation element.

Preferably, all of the housings are the same shape.

Preferably all of the housings are the same size.

Preferably, at least some of the data processing elements are arranged to perform different functions.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for constructing a computer device comprising the steps of assembling a plurality of computational elements together, wherein the computer device comprises:
a. Each computational element includes a respective housing and a data processing element contained within the housing,
b. Each computational element is arranged to communicate wirelessly with one or more other computational elements,
c. Each computing element is powered by wireless transfer of power from outside the computing element.

  Preferably, the computing device is according to any of the previously described embodiments of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

  In order to better understand the present invention and to show how embodiments of the present invention may be implemented, the following examples are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts.

  FIG. 1 shows a basic calculation element 1 including a data processing element 2 embedded in a sphere housing 3, which is also in the form of a sphere.

  A computer device is constructed by producing a large number of such “computing balls” 1 and pouring these spheres into a container, where these spheres provide power. In response, they will communicate with each other.

  Power and communication facilities can be obtained in a number of ways. Some examples are given below.

  FIG. 2 shows a calculation sphere 1 having a data processing element (typically a microchip) comprising a light receiving element 21 and an optical transmission element 22. Such a large number of calculation spheres 1 can communicate with each other via the light receivers and the optical transmitters 21 and 22 using modulated light transmission.

  FIG. 3 shows the calculation sphere 1 having the processing chip 2 that receives power from the cathode 41 and the anode 42, so that the calculation sphere is electrically connected to the cathode 41 and the anode 42 by conducting wires 43 and 44. become. The cathode and anode 41, 42 are housed in recesses 31 formed on different spherical surfaces of the housing 3. At the time of use, the calculation sphere 1 is immersed in the electrolytic solution, and the cathode and the anodes 41 and 42 react with the electrolytic solution to generate a current to supply power to the processing chip 2.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a cluster of calculation spheres 1, which are arranged in a suitable container (not shown) so as to minimize the total volume. Yes.

  FIG. 5 shows another sphere cluster arrangement, in which the calculation spheres 1 are arranged in orthogonal rows and columns.

  FIG. 6 shows how the central calculation sphere 1 in the array performs wireless communication with the calculation sphere adjacent to it. As described above, the wireless communication can use light. Alternatively, wireless or other suitable electromagnetic radiation technology may be used. Needless to say, each computational sphere 1 can communicate with at least several computational spheres adjacent to it, and possibly communicate with all spheres in a cluster, depending on the nature and strength of the radiation technology. As such, all computational spheres 1 can communicate with each other, either directly or indirectly, whereby organized processing is performed between the spheres. Some examples are described below.

  FIG. 7 shows one cluster of calculation spheres 1, and each calculation sphere 1 is supplied with power from a light source 5. In this case, each calculation sphere 1 accommodates in its housing 3 a photosensitive device 51 for receiving light from the light source 5 and converting it into energy, and supplies power to the processing chip 2. ing. In addition to the overhead light source 5 shown in FIG. 7, further light sources can also be provided in the cluster of spheres 1 shown to be pushed into the container 6 in FIG.

  FIG. 8 again shows the calculation sphere 1 of one cluster in the container 6. In this embodiment, the calculation sphere 1 is cooled by forcibly pushing and circulating the cooling water from the cooling device 7 so as to push the sphere clusters. A cooling water supply stream 71 is provided at the bottom of the container 6 and then the return reflux 72 is removed from the top of the container 6 and returned to the cooling device 7.

  Any suitable fluid may be used as a cooling medium instead of water. When the electric power for the calculation sphere 1 is obtained by electrochemical action, the cooling fluid can also function as an electrolyte as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, for example. Air or other gases can also be used as an alternative to liquids.

  FIG. 9 shows a spherical computer system consisting of three computer devices 101, 102, 103 each made up of a computing sphere 1 of one cluster. The spherical computer devices 101, 102, and 103 communicate with each other via a wireless communication link, and further communicate with an input / output device 104, a display device 105, and a mass storage device (disk, tape, etc.) 106.

  It is clear from the above that computer devices with any desired computing power can be made inexpensively and economically in either two-dimensional form or three-dimensional form.

  The data processing element 2 can be as sophisticated or complex as desired, i.e. for a particular application, but in general-for example directly embedded in the sphere housing 3 It can be mass-produced as a simple semiconductor chip that can be made-it is preferably a very simple and inexpensive device. In this way, the calculation sphere 1 can be easily manufactured in large quantities and very cheaply, and the power of the entire computer device can be obtained from the interaction of the multiple calculation spheres 1.

  Another calculation sphere 1 may have data processing elements 2 that perform different functions. For example, the data processing element 2 can be selected from a variety of devices including a microprocessor, memory, input / output devices, reconfigurable computing elements, general purpose electronic components, and the like. For example, the data processing element 2 may be configured by a part of a microprocessor or a memory device, and the entire processor or memory device may be configured by a plurality of calculation spheres 1. Multiple spheres may be built into a single processor using reconfigurable logic.

  The housing 3 is preferably made of a plastic material, and the material of the housing 3 should be at least translucent, preferably transparent, especially when using intercommunication by optical media.

  The housing 3 is preferably spherical, but it may instead be of any other desired shape, for example a rectangular parallelepiped, in which case the housings can be stacked on one another. Thus, it will be appreciated that although this specification refers to “balls”, other shapes may be used where practical.

  It is important to note that the computational elements 1 do not have to be interlocked with each other. The computational elements can be juxtaposed in a given direction and position (especially if they have a flat surface), but the preferred method of assembly is to pour the computational sphere 1 roughly into the container in a random manner, and these spheres To communicate with each other in an automatic organization manner. The spheres are poured roughly and roughly into the container in the sense that they are not restrained or restrained in any way, by the inner wall of the container and by each other. It is. That is, the spheres are “randomly packed” in the container.

  Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the calculation sphere 1 in a three-dimensional array or cluster, the calculation spheres may be arranged in other desired arrangements. Thus, for example, the computational sphere can be organized solely into a one-dimensional array (line), a two-dimensional array, a three-dimensional array, or any combination of these arrangements.

  The computational element is arranged to implement wireless communication. That is, generally speaking, the calculation sphere communicates with each other through a vacuum or a fluid (liquid or gas) medium and does not use an external mechanical conductor in contact with the calculation sphere.

  The calculation elements are arranged so that wireless transfer of power is possible. That is, generally speaking, power is transferred to the computing element through a vacuum or fluid (liquid or gas) medium and does not use an external mechanical conductor in contact with the computing sphere.

  These features allow the computational elements to be placed in any interparallel state. Thus, for example, as described above, the computational element is poured or placed into a container, but in this case the computational element can take any random orientation, i.e. the container is It will be packed randomly and randomly with a computational element that will be in a random state of juxtaposition.

  The calculation element 1 can also be arranged in the holder as desired. For example, the computing element can be placed in a suitable container such as having the form of an egg tray or egg box, such as said elastic engagement of the computing sphere 1 in a flexible holder. ) With or without practical retention characteristics, the computational elements can be easily removed and re-installed from there.

  In one example, when the calculation sphere 1 is engaged with the elastic socket of the two-dimensional tray, the calculation sphere is securely held in place by the elasticity of the socket, while if the tensile force is sufficient, the calculation sphere can be easily pulled out of the socket. It can also be replaced with another calculation sphere. Such trays are stacked on top of each other. In this manner, a predetermined juxtaposition of the calculation spheres can be achieved, and the calculation spheres can be oriented in a predetermined direction as desired.

  Each two-dimensional tray is provided with two conductors extending therethrough and is arranged in electrical contact with similar conductors in adjacent trays as the situation demands. Therefore, the calculation sphere 1 has outer contacts (possibly recessed) and is electrically connected to the conductor to receive the power of the conductor. Conductors can also be used as communication buses between computational spheres. Alternatively, one, two, three, four or more common communication buses may be provided, to which all calculation spheres 1 are connected by electrical connections. For communication between calculation spheres via an optical medium, a light guide (eg, plastic) passes through the tray. For communication between computational spheres via wireless media, the waveguide penetrates the tray.

  Calculation elements such as the calculation sphere 1 are embedded in a solid medium, which may be flexible or rigid. For example, a translucent rubbery medium for flexibility and a transparent solid plastic material for rigidity.

  As described above, the calculation spheres 1 can communicate with each other using wireless communication, and examples of this are already cited as light modulation, radio waves, and the like. As another example, the calculation sphere 1 may be provided with small electrical contacts that connect with similar contacts in adjacent calculation spheres 1. An important feature is that the computational spheres 1 are not wired together using printed circuit boards or other interconnect wiring.

  When using optical transmission, the optical transmission characteristics of the material of the housing 3 can be adjusted in order to limit the communication distance. For example, the housing 3 may be semi-opaque.

  Typically, each sphere can radiate in any direction for communication purposes, thus potentially allowing communication with any sphere around that sphere.

  Some data processing elements can act as communication centers (switches) and determine the data transmission path between other computing spheres 1. In order to facilitate this, a light guide or another radio wave guide may be threaded through the spherical clusters.

  FIG. 10 shows a plurality of holders for the calculation sphere 1 in the form of a rack 10 in which a predetermined array of partial spherical depressions or sockets 101 are formed. These indentations or sockets are arranged in this example as an orthogonal two-dimensional array. Other arrangements of the indentations 101 are possible.

  As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 11, the housing of the calculation sphere 1 is mechanically engaged in the recess 101 and holds the calculation sphere 1 in place in the rack 10. For this purpose, the rack 10 has a main body portion 102 formed of a material having a certain degree of elasticity, so that the wall of the recess 101 is elastically deformed, and the calculation sphere 1 is placed in the recess 101 by hand. It can be pushed in and pulled out of it. The indentation 101 is somewhat larger than the hemisphere and makes an angle of 180 degrees or more to hold the calculation sphere 1.

  In FIG. 11, an optional light guide 103 is shown, which penetrates the body 102 and facilitates communication between the spheres 1 through the optical medium. Another optional light guide 104 is also shown, which passes through the indentation 101 and provides more direct optical communication to the calculation sphere 1. Light guides, such as 103 and 104, are arranged as xy arrays that extend perpendicular to each other so as to pass through or adjacent to all of the recesses 101.

  As described above, a waveguide can be used as a modification of the light guides 103 and 104 in order to facilitate wireless communication between the calculation spheres 1.

  FIG. 12 shows how a simple power contact can be provided on the calculation sphere 1. A pair of electrical conductors 105, 106 pass through the main body 102 of the rack 10 and terminate in external contacts 107 and internal contacts 51, 52, which contact the corresponding contacts 61, 62 of the calculation sphere 1. Establish contact.

  The contacts 51, 52 are annular contacts provided at different depths in the main body portion 102, and the contacts 61, 62 on the sphere 1 can make electrical contact regardless of the angular direction of the sphere 1.

  FIG. 13 shows a plurality of racks 10 stacked on top of each other, with electrical leads providing a power connection between the contacts 107 shown in FIG. This arrangement is preferred because individual racks 10 can be pulled and accessed from the stack to allow easy access to the calculation sphere 1 for insertion or removal.

  The power connection portion does not need to be provided directly on the calculation sphere 1. The rack 10 simply functions to hold the calculation sphere 1 in a predetermined juxtaposition. The calculation “spheres” 1 can be made in different asymmetric shapes, provided with other keying means, or the indentation 401 can be made into a corresponding shape so that each calculation “sphere” 1 It may also be desirable to obtain a unique relative orientation of the recess 101.

  Another plug / socket connection part or other physical connection part may be provided between the rack 10 and the sphere 1. For example, a socket may be formed on the sphere 1 to accept a plug or spigot provided on the rack 10 by, for example, a quick-release push-fit or snap-fit method.

  As described above, the computational sphere 1 is self-organized into an array or the necessary processing functions. The functional calculation sphere 1 identifies defective calculation spheres 1 and maps those defects from the active array or processing function. The data processing element 2 can be constructed manually or can be configured by automated software. In this regard, software programs for automatically organizing processing elements into desired structures and functions will be well known to those skilled in the art. Using a reconfigurable logic circuit may help, but it is not absolutely necessary.

  The calculation sphere 1 in the system can be of any size and can be of various sizes. As the technology continues to shrink the physical size for a given performance, it is difficult to provide an accurate measure for size. At present, however, the calculation sphere 1 is 5 millimeters in diameter or greater, typically in the range of 10-50 millimeters in diameter, and there is no upper limit, but it is anticipated that perhaps the maximum can have a diameter of up to 100 millimeters. Is done.

  In the system, the number of spheres 1 can be used from 1 to any number. For many computer devices, it is expected that more than ten computational spheres 1 will be required. In the case of a fairly high power computer device, a cubic container having a side of 1 meter (i.e., a volume of 1 cubic meter) can accommodate 102 computing spheres 1 having a diameter of 10 millimeters along each axis. Yes, with an orthogonal array, there are a total of 106 computational spheres, or more computational spheres can be accommodated if nested to minimize the volume occupied. . Accordingly, computer devices having different powers can accommodate 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 or more numbers of calculation spheres 1 therein. .

  Since the calculation sphere 1 uses an asynchronous circuit or an automatic timing circuit in order to reduce power consumption, the entire computer device is lightened and generates little heat.

  As an alternative to using light to power the computing sphere 1, another electromagnetic radiation, such as an electromagnetic wave, is also present in the computing sphere 1 to absorb the electromagnetic radiation and turn it into power for the data processing element 2. Can be used with an appropriate receiver to convert.

  The computer device described above allows general purpose computations involving both serial and parallel processing problems to be solved. Computer devices can be used in any computational field.

For example, specific applications for massively parallel machines include:
● Chemical simulation-for example, calculating how molecules and proteins evolve.
• CFD—For example, calculating the structural stress in a material.
● Heart simulation-For example, modeling a beating heart.
● Brain simulation-for example, modeling the actions of neurons and groups of neurons.
● Weather forecasts-for example, modeling weather patterns. In this case, each sphere represents a region of the atmosphere.
● Computer simulation—For example, building a model for a large communication network.
● Physics-for example, nuclear explosion calculations.
and so on.

Specific applications where spheres work together to form a single processor include:
● There is a military system, which needs to be very resilient. If the entire system is encapsulated together, the system can be very robust. By using a large number of reconfigurable elements, redundant degrees of freedom are built in them.

For use as a reconfigurable parallel processing machine,
● A processor that can change its function according to the required operation. For example, the system is configured to be machine specific for editing the program, and is configured to run the program in the most optimal situation. This is a typical existing application of reconfigurable technology.
● As a toy for children to play: Light output (and audio) is also provided so that the sphere attracts interest. The spheres can act as individual processing units or as a group, and will react to neighboring spheres as the sphere moves around.
● Two-dimensional / three-dimensional display technology: If the electrolyte and / or cooling fluid has the same refractive index as the transparent plastic housing 3, the computational sphere in the box in the fluid will only show the processing elements It will be. And if each component has light output capability and is small enough, these components can be used to build a two-dimensional or three-dimensional display.

An important feature of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that
● Mass production capacity due to the simplicity of the data processing element 2 and the simplicity of the housing 3;
● Simple and extensive interprocessor communication without wiring between spheres;
● Concise structure of parallel machines or single processor machines; just pour into the box.
• Concise structure of 3D processors; this approach simplifies the structure of large arrays or large single computers and breaks away from the inherent 2D design inherent in all current computers.
● Low cost: Mass production of spheres and a simple method for interconnecting spheres (wirelessly) enables low-cost manufacturing.
Including that.

  In this specification, the verb “consisting of (or including)” has a normal lexical meaning and indicates a normal inclusion. That is, the use of the word “consisting of (or including)” (or a derivative thereof) to include two or more features does not exclude the possibility of including additional features. .

A calculation element composed of data processing elements embedded in a sphere is shown. It is the schematic of the spherical body which accommodates the data processor which has an optical communication means. FIG. 4 shows computational elements illustrating several battery plates in a recess on the surface of a sphere and connected to a data processing chip. An example of a calculation element sphere of one cluster is shown. Another sphere cluster arrangement is shown. An example of wireless communication is shown for a sphere closest to the central sphere in a sphere cluster arrangement. An example is shown in which power is used to supply power to data processing elements in a sphere cluster arrangement. The forced water cooling state of the spherical cluster arrangement is shown. 1 illustrates a sphere computer system containing a number of sphere computers and a display, mass storage, and input / output devices, all interconnected by wireless intercommunication. A rack for holding a calculation sphere is shown. It is sectional drawing which shows a part of rack of FIG. 10 with a calculation sphere as one structure arrangement. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the rack of FIG. 10 together with a calculation sphere in another configuration. The racks as shown in FIG. 10 are stacked, and the calculation sphere is in place.

Claims (10)

A computer device consisting of computing elements of one cluster,
a. Each computational element includes a respective housing and a data processing element contained within the housing;
b. Each computational element is arranged to communicate wirelessly with one or more other computational elements,
c. Each computational element is intended to be powered by the power wirelessly transmitted from the outside of the computational elements,
None of the housings are fixed directly or indirectly to any other housing, and the computing elements are randomly arranged in a container to form the cluster. Have been like,
A computer device characterized by that.   The computing device of claim 1, wherein each housing is substantially spherical. The computing device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the cluster is three-dimensional. The computing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the computing elements are randomly arranged side by side in the container. To facilitate communication between the computing elements, the computer device according to any one of claims 1-4, further comprising a light guide or waveguide penetrating the cluster, it is characterized by . To cool the cluster computational elements, the computer device according to any one of claims 1-5, further comprising a cooling means, characterized in that. The power radio transmission, the calculation element is immersed in the electrolyte, the electrode is carried out by contacting the electrolyte, a computer device according to any one of claims 1-6 having an electrode . Wherein among the data processing elements, the computer device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that at least some are arranged so as to perform different functions, it. A method for constructing a computer device comprising a step of assembling a plurality of calculation elements together.
a. Each computational element includes a respective housing and a data processing element contained within the housing;
b. Each computational element is arranged to communicate wirelessly with one or more other computational elements,
c. Each computational element is intended to be powered by the power wirelessly transmitted from the outside of the computational elements,
None of the housings are fixed directly or indirectly to any other housing, and the computing elements are randomly arranged in a container to form the cluster. Consists of processes,
A method of constructing a computer device characterized by the above. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the computing device is according to any one of claims 2 to 8 .