Abstract: An electronic device (101, 200, 300, 400) is provided comprising optically transmissive electrical components (102, 103, 205-210, 303, 304, 405-410, 413-418) and optically transmissive computer structures such as boards (105, 201-203) or enclosures (302, 311-313). The components of the electronic device communicate through optical signals (212, 214, 309, 314, 422, 428) that propagate freely within the electronic device. That is, the optical signals are not guided and may or may not travel through the optically transmissive structures and components. This enables increased communication paths and reduced number of physical connections between various parts of the electronic device. The components may be placed in a single plane or in a three-dimensional layout and still communicate via the light signals. The invention enables an adaptable layout of an electronic device which is easily constructed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a storage device (300, 400) and to a method of controlling a storage device (300, 400). A storage device (300, 400) according to the invention comprises a plurality of information storage units (101, 201, 302), each comprising an optically transmissive memory element (104, 306), an optically transmissive light-receiving device (102, 304), and an optically transmissive control unit (103, 305) connected to the memory element (104, 306) and the light-receiving device (102, 304). The components are optically transmissive such that a request for information data stored on the optically transmissive memory element (104, 306) may be received from any direction. Thereby, an optical signal (316, 309, 422) comprising a request for information may be received by several light-receiving devices (102, 304) simultaneously enabling a fast retrieval of information data stored on a storage device (300, 400) comprising several information storage units (101, 201, 302).

Abstract: An electronic device (101, 200, 300, 400) is provided comprising optically transmissive electrical components (102, 103, 205-210, 303, 304, 405-410, 413-418) and optically trans missive computer structures such as boards (105, 201-203) or enclosures (302, 311-313). The components of the electronic device communicate through optical signals (212, 214, 309, 314, 422, 428) that propagate freely within the electronic device. That is, the optical signals are not guided and may or may not travel through the optically transmissive structures and components. This enables increased communication paths and reduced number of physical connections between various parts of the electronic device. The components may be placed in a single plane or in a three-dimensional layout and still communicate via the light signals. The invention enables an adaptable layout of an electronic device which is easily constructed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical device (101, 201, 305). The present invention may be implemented as optical artificial neurons. The optical device comprises an optically transmissive light-receiving device (102) which may be a photodiode, an optically transmissive light-emitting device (104, 304) such as a light-emitting diode, an optically transmissive processor (103) comprising a memory storage device (106). The light-emitting device and the light-receiving device are electrically connected to the processor which is configured to control the light-emitting device to emit an optical signal (307, 313) based on a first optical signal received by the light-receiving device. The optical device comprises an address which is transmitted with the optical signal. The address of may be recognized by the processor when processing a received optical signal and is used by the processor to determine to control the light-emitting device to emit an optical signal or not.