Crosstalk Noise based Configurable Computing: A New Paradigm for Digital Electronics

Abstract: The past few decades have seen exponential growth in capabilities of digital electronics primarily due to the ability to scale Integrated Circuits (ICs) to smaller dimensions while attaining power and performance benefits. That scalability is now being challenged due to the lack of scaled transistor performance and also manufacturing complexities [1]-[5]. In addition, the growing cyber threat in fabless manufacturing era poses a new front that modern ICs need to withstand. We present a new noise based computing where the interconnect interference between nanoscale metal lines is intentionally engineered to exhibit programmable Boolean logic behavior. The reliance on just coupling between metal lines and not on transistors for computing, and the programmability are the foundations for better scalability, and security by obscurity. Here, we show experimental evidence of a functioning Crosstalk computing chip at 65nm technology. Our demonstration of computing constructs, gate level configurability and utilization of foundry processes show feasibility. These results in conjunction with our simulation results at 7nm for various benchmarks, which show over 48%, 57%, and 10% density, power and performance respectively, gains over equivalent CMOS in the best case, show potentials. The benefits of Crosstalk circuits and inherent programmable features set it apart and make it a promising prospect for future electronics.