Comparative Performance Study of Multi-stage Interconnection Networks Using Carbon Nanotube Switches

A Multi-stage Interconnection Network (MIN) is one of the choices for Networks-on-Chip (NoCs) architecture designer for its simple topology and easy scalability with low degree. The evolution of digital design lies in the ability to shrink circuit size with each advance in process technology. As CMOS implementing technology continues to scale down, standard interconnect will become a major bottleneck for on-chip MIN platform performance. One of the nanoelectronic architectures that have been reorganized as one of the top six emerging technologies in future computers, known as Carbon NanoTube (CNT). CNTs have emerged as a promising material for future generation ICs. It is our purpose, in this paper, to present a comparative performance study for implementation of six prominent MINs (i.e., Omega, Butterfly, Baseline, Generalized Cube, Benes, and Clos networks) using CNT-based switches. The performance measures studied are compared to that of conventional CMOS in 16nm process technology and reflect a great deal of improvement in the network performance.