Keysight expands PDK for GlobalFoundries SiPh
New ADS Photonic Design support enables system-level validation of silicon photonics designs before tapeout, streamlining development for AI and optical communications.
Keysight Technologies has expanded its Advanced Design System (ADS) Photonic Design process design kit (PDK) to support GlobalFoundries' silicon photonics process technology, enabling designers to validate photonic integrated circuit (PIC) performance at the optical link level before tapeout.
The PDK allows engineers to move from PIC design to full electro-optical-electrical (EOE) system simulation within a single design environment, eliminating the need to switch between separate photonic design and system simulation tools during development.
As silicon photonics moves into volume production for AI infrastructure, data centres and optical communications, the integrated workflow enables designers to assess optical link behaviour, including eye diagram analysis and transmission dispersion eye closure quaternary (TDECQ), before fabrication.
"The silicon photonics industry has moved past the point where circuit design and system validation can live in separate workflows," said Niels Faché, senior vice president of Keysight's Design Engineering Software. "Engineers building for AI and data centre infrastructure need to see system-level link performance from day one, not after fabrication."
Built on physics-based models aligned with GlobalFoundries' silicon photonics process, the PDK is designed to improve correlation between simulation and fabricated devices while supporting system-level channel validation.
Keysight said its FlexDCA oscilloscope software can also be used during simulation to provide predictive measurement correlation for optical transceivers and co-packaged optics.
