Infinera PDK available for Synopsys’ OptSim Circuit PIC design tool

Synopsys Inc of Mountain View, CA, USA ― which provides electronic design automation (EDA) software, semiconductor IP and services for chip and electronic system design ― says that, in conjunction with Rochester-based consortium AIM Photonics (American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics, an industry-driven public-private partnership advancing the USA’s photonics manufacturing capabilities), the process design kit (PDK) of Infinera Corp of Sunnyvale, CA, USA, a vertically integrated manufacturer of digital optical network systems incorporating its own indium phosphide (InP)-based photonic integrated circuits (PICs), is now available for Synopsys’ OptSim Circuit tool.

Part of a key investment by AIM Photonics, the addition of the Infinera PDK to OptSim Circuit enables users to schematically capture, simulate and verify InP-based PIC designs with Infinera’s PDK building blocks, and then send the completed circuit design to Infinera for physical implementation, verification and fabrication using its InP PIC process. This capability gives designers, for the first time, access to Infinera’s platform for InP-based PIC manufacturing.

One of the challenges faced by photonic foundries and PIC designers is the disconnect between the pace of technological advances in the industry and the readiness of the photonic design automation (PDA) infrastructure. AIM Photonics member Synopsys says that it is driving the advancement of PIC technologies with its PIC Design Suite, comprising the OptSim Circuit and OptoDesigner tools, which offers a seamless PIC design flow with photonic-aware physical layout capabilities enabled by support for foundry-specific PDKs. PDKs provide a crucial link between photonic circuit simulation and layout tools by supporting efficient design concept verification, signoff checks and mask generation, the firm adds.

“Infinera’s PDK helps OptSim Circuit users design and deliver large-scale InP-based PICs more efficiently,” says Tom Walker, group director of R&D for Synopsys’ Photonic Solutions. “OptSim Circuit users can quickly build and analyze complex PICs using the Infinera PDK, evaluate PIC performance at the system level to demonstrate that it meets or exceeds client specs, and clearly communicate the results to product development teams and customers,” he adds.

“Enabling Infinera’s PDK use on the OptSim Circuit simulation provides a valuable tool for foundry users,” states Fred Kish, senior VP, Infinera Development and Engineering. “This milestone enhances Infinera’s unique capability to deliver an InP-PIC foundry kit supported by advanced simulation software, to further the proliferation of PIC technologies in many diverse applications,” he adds.

Infinera’s new PDK “complements AIM Photonics’ numerous offerings by providing yet another platform for the efficient creation and fabrication of InP-based PIC designs,” comments Dr Michael Liehr, CEO of AIM Photonics and VP for Innovation & Technology at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. “This effort supports advanced manufacturing in the critical, burgeoning PIC sector, and it lends further credence to the value of partnering with AIM Photonics to enable these cutting-edge capabilities.”

See related items:

Synopsys and SMART Photonics expand InP-based PIC design automation

Synopsys and PhoeniX presenting PIC design using OptSim Circuit and OptoDesigner

AIM Photonics releases integrated silicon photonics PDK

Tags: Synopsys Infinera InP PIC Simulation software EDA software

Visit: www.infinera.com

Visit: http://optics.synopsys.com/rsoft

Visit: www.aimphotonics.com