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Photonic Solutions Enewsletter
March 2019
New RSoft & OptoDesigner Releases Now Available
We are pleased to announce the availability of new releases of the RSoft and OptoDesigner tools. These products have been further improved to create an even more seamless flow from photonic device development and PDK creation to PIC circuit design, layout implementation, and verification.
We are excited to introduce the first Photonic LVS flow in the industry with OptSim Circuit, OptoDesigner, and IC Validator. To close the loop between design intent at the circuit level to manufacturable mask designs, this new feature automates the reconstruction of the netlist from OptoDesigner-generated mask data and compares it with IC Validator to the original intent captured with OptSim Circuit. The flow reduces human errors and time-consuming manual checks.
Release Highlights
- New simulation algorithms
- Support for probabilistic constellation shaping for coherent systems
- Support for probabilistic constellation shaping for coherent systems
- Enhanced Custom PDK Utility
- Support for polarization and native layout primitives
- Photonic LVS
- Photonic-aware layout versus schematic verification flow
- New bidirectional interface with OptoDesigner, including support for full back annotation of actual layout implementation
- Support for hard and soft connections between building blocks
- Autoplacement and silicon photonics autorouting
- Full back annotation of actual layout implementation
RSoft Component Design Suite Version 2019.03
The Custom PDK Utility has been enhanced with the following new features:
- Supports the creation of polarization-dependent S-matrices and OptSim Circuit models. The utility is now able to scan polarization as well as wavelength, and automatically generates the appropriate files for the polarization-dependent OptSim Circuit model.
- Allows automated generation of specialized custom PDK elements for waveguides and related components such as waveguide bends. This functionality uses the explicit waveguide/bend model built into OptSim Circuit, which utilizes Neff vs. wavelength data, allowing for the length dependence of the waveguide/bend to be handled analytically. This feature can also be combined with RSoft parametric S-matrix capabilities, allowing for the creation of waveguide/bend models that are parametrized over multiple design parameters in addition to the length. For improved interoperability between Synopsys’ RSoft OptSim Circuit and OptoDesigner tools, this new feature also automatically generates an OptoDesigner .script file utilizing the native OptoDesigner straight waveguide/arc elements.
For more details about these and other updates, please refer to the release notes on the Customer Support Portal.
RSoft System Tools Version 2019.03
OptSim, ModeSYS, OptSim Circuit
New features include:
- OptSim
- Support for probabilistic constellation shaping for coherent systems
- Miscellaneous improvements and bug fixes
- ModeSYS
- New models for large-core fiber-based systems: Large-Core Fiber Injection, Large-Core Fiber Bend, and Large-Core Detector Coupler
- Miscellaneous improvements and bug fixes
- OptSim Circuit
- New bidirectional interface with OptoDesigner
- Parametric Spice netlist generation for layout-versus-schematic verification (LVS) with OptoDesigner and IC Validator
- Support for probabilistic constellation shaping for coherent systems
- Support for DemoFab PDK
- Miscellaneous improvements and bug fixes
- New bidirectional interface with OptoDesigner
For more details about these and other updates, please refer to the release notes on the Customer Support Portal.
OptoDesigner Version 2019.03
New features include:
- Bidirectional interface with OptSim Circuit:
- Changes to autorouter settings are now preserved
- Auto-placement now recognizes clusters of hard-connected devices properly and places them only once
- Miscellaneous improvements and bugfixes to the autorouter
- Photonic LVS (layout-versus-schematic verification):
- Smart annotation of devices and their parameters in mask files
- Ability to extract netlist information from generated mask files, for visual inspection of the circuit
- Automatic generation of runsets for IC Validator
For more details about these and other updates, please refer to the release notes included with the release software.
Software and License Download Instructions
Direct-Sales Customers
Software and license key files for RSoft and OptoDesigner product direct-sales customers are available on the Synopsys SolvNet website.
If you need assistance accessing SolvNet or obtaining the RSoft product software and license codes, please contact rsoft_support@synopsys.com. If you need assistance with OptoDesigner software and license codes, please contact PIC_support@synopsys.com.
International Customers
International customers will obtain RSoft and OptoDesigner software and license key files from their local software distributor. See the Synopsys Optical Solutions Group Global Contacts page for contact information. If your country is not listed on the Distributors page referenced above, please contact us at:
- For RSoft products, rsoft_support@synopsys.com
- For OptSim Circuit and OptoDesigner, PIC_support@synopsys.com
Obtaining PIC Foundry PDKs
Our PIC Design Suite is used by many designers around the world to access MPW services and work directly with R&D facilities and commercial foundries. On our Customer Support Portal (https://opticsportal.synopsys.com), you will find an overview with the contact details to obtain the PDK installer for your foundry of choice. If you do not already have a portal account, please email pic_support@synopsys.com for information about how to sign up.
As part of the 2019.03 release for OptSim Circuit and OptoDesigner, the following PDKs have been updated:
- AIM Photonics PDK Version 3.0a
- AIM Photonics EdPDK Version 1.0
- TowerJazz PH18 PDK Version PHS18.2
- imec iSiPP50G PDK Version 2.3.0
A complete overview of supported PIC PDKs can be found at: https://www.synopsys.com/photonic-solutions/pic-design-suite/process-design-kits.html.
Annual PIC Training
March 19-22, 2019
Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel
Brussels, Belgium
Join us for a four-day training on photonic design for photonic integrated circuits (PICs). The training is aimed at application and R&D engineers as well as managers interested in understanding the development of PICs and the role of software automation in their design, simulation, and fabrication procedures.
This training will feature live training and hands-on demonstration of the Synopsys PIC Design Tools for PDK-driven PIC design. During the hands-on session, attendees will have the opportunity to work directly with the software under the guidance of technical staff from the company.
Calendar of Events
For the latest event calendar, please go to our Events page.