INTEGRATED CIRCUIT PROVIDED WITH OPTICAL INPUT AND OUTPUT

摘要

PURPOSE:To obtain an integrated circuit which produces no noise even at a high speed operation, is high in resistance to external noises, and operable even if submerged by a method wherein the integrated circuit of this design is provided with a semiconductor chip, a light emitting element which transmits information, a photodetective element which receives information, an optical medium which transfers optical signals, and a watertight case. CONSTITUTION:An integrated circuit of this design is provided with a semiconductor chip 2 possessed of a prescribed function, a light emitting element 10 and a photodetective element 11 which are provided above or around the semiconductor chip 2 and transmit or receive information respectively, an optical medium 3 which is connected to the light emitting element 10 or the photodetective element 11 and transfers optical signals, and a watertight case 4 which houses the semiconductor chip 2, the light emitting element 10, the photodetective element 11, and the optical medium 3, and an optical input and output through the optical medium 3. For instance, information generated inside a semiconductor integrated circuit 1 is transmitted outside as optical signals, and when two or more integrated circuits 1 are combined to be used, the information exchange between the integrated circuits 1 takes place through an optical means by the use of mediums 3 and 5 which transfer optical signals.