Computer system architecture using a proximity I/O switch

摘要

One embodiment of the present invention provides a proximity I/O switch, which is configured to transfer data between the components in a computer system. This proximity I/O switch is comprised of multiple switch chips, which are coupled together through capacitive coupling. This enables the multiple switch chips to communicate with each other without being constrained by the limitations of conventional non-capacitive communication mechanisms. The multiple switch chips in the proximity I/O switch are also configured to communicate with components in the computer system through conventional non-capacitive communication mechanisms.