Keysight announces PIC design solution
The company says its new Photonic Designer software provides a unified platform for engineers to simulate, validate, and optimise PIC designs, while ensuring compatibility with foundry PDKs
Keysight Technologies has announced the launch of Photonic Designer, a photonic design automation (PDA) software solution, which it says is engineered to provide unparalleled accuracy and compliance-driven design validation. Designed for photonics design engineers, the company says this solution enables streamlined workflows from concept to simulation, emulation, and manufacturing, addressing the challenges of fragmented tools, inconsistent simulation precision, and increasing compliance demands.
Photonics design engineers often face challenges with scattered tool chains and simulation discrepancies that hinder efficiency and precision. Traditional workflows require engineers to switch between multiple software platforms, making it challenging to ensure design consistency. According to Keysight, the Photonic Designer, part of the Advanced Design System (ADS) suite of tools, eliminates these inefficiencies by offering a comprehensive, physics-driven simulation environment that accurately predicts real-world circuit performance. The company adds that its tools also support an open, interoperable workflow ecosystem for maximum flexibility.
Photonic Designer integrates real-world measurement data directly into the simulation workflow, aiming to optimise models and streamline compliance and validation. Keysight says the tool enables engineers to verify designs against industry modulation standards before fabrication, use models with best-in-class simulators, and ensure seamless compatibility with foundry PDKs.
Additionally, the company says the software allows users to optimise photonic model variables to match foundry processes to align with manufacturing conditions, and to automate and accelerate design verification, reducing time to market.
The software is designed to streamline pure optical and combined electrical-optical-electrical workflows for circuit design, with the goal of providing an intuitive interface for effortless circuit design and layout generation. Engineers can simulate, validate, and optimise photonic circuits while ensuring compliance with stringent design rules, guaranteeing precision and reliability, says Keysight.
To further enhance the design process, CompoundTek, a provider of photonics foundry services, is offering a Photonic Designer PDK for Keysight ADS users, for their silicon photonics process. This collaboration aims to enable engineers to develop PICs with foundry-verified components, ensuring seamless transition from design to fabrication.
“We are excited to offer a highly accurate PDK for our silicon photonics process,” said S. Gunasagar, chief operating officer at CompoundTek. “This integration with Keysight’s ADS allows engineers to confidently design and validate photonic circuits with the assurance of manufacturing compatibility, ultimately accelerating time-to-market for innovative solutions.”
Nilesh Kamdar, general manager of EDA Design & Verification at Keysight, said: “Engineers need a reliable and precise environment to design and validate photonic integrated circuits without unnecessary tool-switching. Photonic Designer provides a single, unified platform that integrates physics-based simulations, PDK customisation, and compliance verification, ensuring high-fidelity results from concept to manufacturing.”
