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A compact multi-stage switching network ( 100 ), and a router ( 510 ) incorporating such multi-stage switching network, adapted for simultaneously routing a plurality of data packets from a first plurality of input ports ( 110 ) to selected ones of a second plurality of output ports ( 190 ) comprisi

A compact multi-stage switching network ( 100 ), and a router ( 510 ) incorporating such multi-stage switching network, adapted for simultaneously routing a plurality of data packets from a first plurality of input ports ( 110 ) to selected ones of a second plurality of output ports ( 190 ) comprising: a first stack ( 140 ) of IC switching layers ( 113 ) that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer containing at least one switching element circuit ( 142 ); a second stack ( 160 ) of IC switching layers ( 113 ) that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer ( 113 ) containing at least one switching element circuit ( 162 ); and interconnecting circuitry ( 150 ) that connects the first stack ( 140 ) of IC layers to the second stack ( 160 ) of IC layers to form the compact multi-stage switching network. The stacks ( 140, 160 ) are preferably mated to one another in a transverse fashion in order to achieve a natural full-mesh connection. Also contemplated are the use of superconducting IC switching circuits ( 142 ) and a suitable superconducting cooling housing ( 730 ), as permitted by the compact nature of the multi-stage switching network ( 100 ), in order to operate at high speed and low power.

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1. A compact multi-stage switching network adapted for simultaneously routing a plurality of data packets from a plurality of input ports to selected ones of a plurality of output ports comprising:a first stack of IC layers including a plurality of IC switching layers that are stacked in physical co

1. A compact multi-stage switching network adapted for simultaneously routing a plurality of data packets from a plurality of input ports to selected ones of a plurality of output ports comprising:a first stack of IC layers including a plurality of IC switching layers that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer containing at least one switching element circuit;a second stack of IC layers including a plurality of IC switching layers that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer containing at least one switching element circuit;a third stack of IC layers including a plurality of IC switching layers that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer containing at least one switching element circuit; andmeans for interconnecting each of the plurality of IC layers in the first stack of IC layers to each of the plurality of IC layers in the second stack of IC layers and for interconnecting each of the plurality of IC layers in the second stack of IC layers to each of the plurality of IC layers in the third stack of IC layers to form the compact multi-stage switching network. 2. The compact multi-stage switching network of claim 1 wherein the means for interconnecting comprises a transverse mating between the first stack of IC switching layers and the second stack of IC switching layers and a transverse mating between the second stack of IC switching layers and the third stack of IC switching layers. 3. The compact multi-stage switching network of claim 2 wherein the first stack of IC switching layers are stacked horizontally, the second stack of IC switching layers are stacked vertically, and the third stack of IC switching layers are stacked horizontally and wherein the first and second stacks are bump-bonded to one another and wherein the second and third stacks are bump-bonded to one another. 4. The compact multi-stage switching network of claim 1 wherein the means for interconnecting comprises a common substrate carrying conductive traces, said first, and second and third stacks of IC layers bonded to the common substrate and interconnected with one another via the conductive traces. 5. The compact multi-stage switching network of claim 1 further comprising means for cooling the first, and second and third stacks of IC layers. 6. The compact multi-stage switching network of claim 1 wherein each IC switching layer comprises an IC switching die. 7. The compact multi-stage switching network of claim 1 wherein each IC switching layer comprises a neo-chip layer having an IC switching die embedded in a first dielectric material. 8. The compact multi-stage switching network of claim 1 wherein the switching element circuit of each IC switching layer is a superconducting circuit. 9. The compact multi-stage switching network of claim 8 wherein the superconducting circuit operates at a temperature below 120K. 10. A packet switching router adapted for forwarding data packets comprising:a plurality of line cards for receiving and transmitting data packets according to a desired protocol over a particular medium, a first line card inspecting destination data in the packet, selecting a desired route, and setting a switch command based on the desired route; a compact multi-stage switching network havinga first stack of IC layers including a plurality of IC switching layers that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer containing at least one switching element circuit;a second stack of IC layers including a plurality of IC switching layers that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer containing at least one switching element circuit; anda third stack of IC layers including a plurality of IC switching layers that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer containing at least one switching element circuit; andmeans for interconnecting each of the plurality of IC layers in the first stack of IC layers to each of the plurality of IC layers in the second stack of IC layers and for interconnecting each of the plurality of IC layers in the second stack of IC layers to each of the plurality of IC layers in the third stack of IC layers to form the compact multi-stage switching network. 11. The packet switching router of claim 10 wherein the means for interconnecting comprises a transverse mating between the first stack of IC switching layers and the second stack of IC switching layers and a transverse mating between the second stack of IC switching layers and the third stack of IC switching layers. 12. The packet switching router of claim 11 wherein the first stack of IC switching layers are stacked horizontally, the second stack of IC switching layers are stacked vertically, and the third stack of IC switching layers are stacked horizontally and wherein the first and second stacks are bump-bonded to one another and wherein the second and third stacks are bump-bonded to one another. 13. The packet switching router of claim 10 wherein the means for interconnecting comprises a common substrate carrying conductive traces, said first, second and third stacks of IC switching layers bonded to the common substrate with their respective interface conductors communicating via the conductive traces. 14. The packet switching router of claim 10 further comprising means for cooling the first, second and third stacks of IC layers. 15. The packet switching router of claim 10 wherein each IC switching layer comprises an IC switching die. 16. The packet switching router of claim 10 wherein each IC switching layer comprises a neo-chip layer having an IC switching die embedded in a first dielectric material. 17. The packet switching router of claim 10 wherein the compact multi-stage switching network provides extra switching routes beyond a number necessary to route packet data from line card to line card and further comprising:a shared resource that is commonly available to the line cards; andmeans for controllably connecting a line card to the shared resources through the extra switching routes. 18. The packet switching router of claim 10 wherein each switching layer comprises an IC switching die of superconducting construction and further comprising means for cooling the multi-stage switching network to a superconducting temperature. 19. The compact multi-stage switching network of claim 10 wherein each switching layer comprises a neo-chip layer having an IC switching die of superconducting construction embedded in a first dielectric material.