:idea: 2d construction is the current norm (flat pcb, tagboard etc.) but quite a few years ago (back in the 80’s) I had an idea for constructing computers (electronic devices) in 3D. As I’m getting on a bit I’d like to pass it on to anyone who would like to develop the idea as I think its time has come. (the motherboard free computer?)
The basic unit (substrate) is constructed as cube with the corners cut off (i.e. octagonal faces). A multi-keyed hole passes through each face. Circuits/ics etc are surface mounted to the substrate forming essentially a self contained micro (processor, rom/ram/io etc.)
The units are connected with rods which fit into the keyed hole (spring loaded power pick ups). The external part of the rods is metal and forms TWO AC powerline conductors. Conductive circuits inside the cube connect all the power lines forming a power distribution bus arrangement. The tubes also contain optic fibres which act as a bidirectional (non conductive) data bus. (and possibly liquid cooling through rods?)
Each unit has 6 general optical I/O ports (one per face), its own internal clock, AC/DC power conversion unit, operating system. memory etc. Overall synchronisation could be achieved from the low voltage AC power feed (say 5 volt, 1kHz, so level conversion/smoothing can be achieved easily to suit the electronics)
Essentially the system units plug together in a three dimensional matrix. Any externally available ports can be used to connect to the 'real world" - keyboards, displays, data storage, robot arms, vid cams etc… Internally connected ports act as a data packet highway (think mini internet). As a new unit is added the system should be self aware (handshakes with neighbours). Faulty units are identified and data re-routed (fault tolerant system). (I did have a vision that a connected robot arm could re-arrange the blocks and repair itself or optimise the physical construction to the task in hand).
The unit doesn’t necessarily need to be a microcomputer - it could be a radio, video processor, motor controller and so on.
I consider the main benefits of such a system would be fault tolerance, self diagnosis, able to absorb older technology rather than make it redundant, infinitely configurable, scalable and faster due to parallel processing.
Sorry there’s no diagrams but if you have any questions I’ll try my best to answer them.