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Photonic Solutions Enewsletter
March 2021
In this issue:
- Announcing OptSim Elite and Photonic Device Compiler
- OptSim Elite Now Available
- Photonic Device Compiler Now Available
- RSoft Photonic Device Tools 2021.03
- Photonic System Tools 2021.03
- PIC Design Suite 2021.03
- OptoCompiler 2021.03
- Platform Support and Installation Updates
- Software and License Download Instructions
- Photonic Solutions New Features Tech Talk
- On-Demand Resources
- Follow Us on Social Media
- Customer Support Portal
- Upcoming Events
Synopsys Photonic Solutions Is at the Heart of Technology Development
Synopsys technology is at the heart of innovations that are changing the ways in which we work and play on a daily basis. Autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, the Cloud, 5G, and healthcare are just a few examples. These breakthroughs are ushering in the era of Smart Everything―where devices are getting smarter, everything’s connected, and everything must be secure.
To support rapid innovation in these market segments, Synopsys is accelerating the adoption of photonic and photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technologies with software to design and manufacture energy efficient, high-performance photonic devices, systems, and integrated circuits. With Synopsys software, design teams have access to widely used, high-quality electronic and photonic design solutions from a single provider, with a single support channel. With our latest release, we are expanding our PIC design solutions to include two new tools in OptoCompiler™: OptSim Elite and Photonic Device Compiler. Read on to learn more!
Announcing OptSim Elite and Photonic Device Compiler
In 2020, Synopsys unveiled the OptoCompiler solution for photonic integrated circuit (PIC) design, layout implementation, and verification. OptoCompiler is the industry’s first unified electronic and photonic design platform, combining mature and dedicated photonic technology with Synopsys’ industry-proven electronic design tools and methods to enable engineers to produce and verify complex PIC designs quickly and accurately. Download the OptoCompiler product features datasheet to learn more.
We are expanding OptoCompiler to include two new tools: OptSim Elite and Photonic Device Compiler. The tools are integrated into OptoCompiler for seamless design and simulation of photonic systems, circuits, and devices.
OptSim Elite Now Available
OptSim Elite is Synopsys’ new simulation solution that provides complete photonic system and circuit simulation capabilities and electro-optic (E/O) co-simulation with Synopsys’ electrical circuit simulators. OptSim Elite integrates seamlessly with OptoCompiler’s simulation and analysis environment.
Figure 1. Photonic and electronic circuit and system simulation in the complete and unified Synopsys platform for PIC design and manufacture.
Features
In addition to a complete PIC model library, OptSim Elite provides a rich library of single- and multimode fiber-optic system design models to support PIC testing at the system level. Other capabilities include:
- Models bidirectional signal flow for both optical (single- and multi-wavelength) and electrical signals
- Models multipath interference (MPI), reflections and resonances from network and PIC elements
- Supports simulation of design hierarchies
- Supports measurement- and datafile-driven modeling of active and passive, photonic, and electronic components and circuits
- Supports PDK-driven design as well as custom libraries
- Supports co-simulation with HSPICE and FineSim
Contact us at photonics@synopsys.com to learn more.
Photonic Device Compiler Now Available
Photonic Device Compiler enables IC designers and PDK developers to design, analyze, and optimize photonic devices within OptoCompiler.
Photonic Device Compiler provides a wide range of physical simulation methods in a single tool. Users can incorporate device-level simulation results in a custom device library, a PDK, or an IP library. The custom devices can be used in Synopsys’ PIC software solutions for schematic capture, circuit-level simulation, layout and verification.
With Photonic Device Compiler, you use the industry’s most comprehensive set of photonic device simulators seamlessly integrated with Sentaurus TCAD, the industry-leading process and electrical device simulation tool.
Figure 2. Highlighting the role of Photonic Device Compiler in the complete Synopsys platform for PIC design and manufacture.
Features
- Complete photonic device simulation, analysis, and optimization solution
- Seamless integration with OptoCompiler, OptSim Elite, and IC Validator
- E/O device level co-simulation with Sentaurus TCAD
- Custom component design for foundry PDKs
Contact us at photonics@synopsys.com to learn more.
New RSoft Photonic Device Tools, Photonic System Tools, PIC Design Suite, and OptoCompiler Releases Now Available
RSoft Photonic Device Tools 2021.03
New features and improvements include:
- Updates to FullWAVE FDTD and the LED Utility to enhance support for micro-LEDs and nano-wire LEDS
- Improved multi-plane far-field to more easily and efficiently calculate emission pattern for non-flat structures like micro-LEDS and nano-wire LEDs
- Streamlined defaults for many options to simplify the design process
- Added polarization weight control for the optical source
- Reduced simulation time via clustering: the LED Utility now supports clustering to allow simulations to be run in parallel
- Added 3D far-field profile and extraction ratio vs. cone angle plot
- Improvements to better support Large Scale Computing:
- Improved loading time in the RSoft CAD for large design files
- Improved FullWAVE FDTD convergence monitor and field display performance
- Streamlined process to import CIS (CMOS Image Sensor) geometries from Sentaurus TCAD for simulation with FullWAVE FDTD and/or DiffractMOD RCWA
- Added support for the creation of custom active component models for OptoCompiler to the Custom PDK Utility
Figure 3. 3D far-field plot for a micro-LED (left) and extraction ratio vs. cone angle (right).
Photonic System Tools 2021.03
OptSim and ModeSYS
New features and improvements include:
- New application note targeting long-haul and short-reach telecom sectors: Relative Intensity Noise (RIN)-induced Penalties
- New application note of interest to the long-haul and data center sectors: Implementing a Stokes Vector Modulator (SVM)
PIC Design Suite 2021.03
OptSim Circuit and OptoDesigner
New features and improvements include:
- Support for thermal dependence in Waveguide model’s file-mode of operation
- New application note on the use of Linear Time Invariant (LTI) simulations in OptSim Circuit solution for photonic circuits. LTI can provide up to a 130x simulation speed improvement for application circuits
- New application note for silicon photonics market: Ring Resonator: Thermal Tuning
- New application note for the PIC sensor/filter market: Fabry-Perot Cavity Filter
OptoCompiler 2021.03
New features and improvements include:
- Electrical-photonic co-simulation, integrated into SAE
- Created mix signal EO netlist
- Implemented SAE scalar measurements
- Implemented hierarchy in layouts with schematic back annotation
- Updated layout MaskTechnology framework to allow for hierarchical processing
- Updated boolean engine to support hierarchical mask export
- Created Python evaluator for back-annotated hierarchical layouts
Important Notice: Platform Support and Installation Updates for 2021.03
There is a new combined Windows installer for all Photonic Solutions products, including the RSoft Photonic Device Tools, Photonic System Tools, and the PIC Design Suite. For more product installation information, visit our Support page.
Software and License Download Instructions
Direct-Sales Customers
Software and license key files for customers are available on the Synopsys SolvNetPlus website. If you need assistance accessing SolvNetPlus or obtaining the software and license codes, please contact photonics@synopsys.com.
International Customers
Some of our customers will obtain the 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 photonics@synopsys.com.
Photonic Solutions New Features Tech Talk
Join our online events to learn about the latest enhancements in Synopsys Photonic Solutions v2021.03:
- Improved design flow for LEDs and microLEDs in RSoft Photonic Device Tools with enhanced far-field calculation, polarized sources, and speed enhancements
- Enhanced speed and efficiency for large-scale simulations with the RSoft Photonic Device Tools
- Measurement of RIN-induced penalties to optimize optical networks in Photonic System Tools
- New Linear Time Invariant (LTI) methodology to dramatically speed photonic circuit simulations in the PIC Design Suite
Figure 4. Schematic of a single-stage ring resonator circuit and the effect of thermal tuning on the drop spectrum.
Instructors
Maryvonne Chalony Ph.D., Business Development Manager at Synopsys
Presentation Details
We are offering two sessions on Tuesday, April 13, 2021:
10:00-11:00 a.m. Central European Time or
9:00-10:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time
Online. Attendance is free, but registration is required.
Luis Orbe Ph.D., Customer Support Coordinator
On-Demand Resources
See our latest on-demand resources to optimize your use of our product portfolio:
- E-newsletters with product quick tips
- Webinar recordings
- Application notes
Explore Synopsys’ photonic design flow with our online demo miniseries, now available on YouTube. These quick presentations highlight Synopsys’ latest design features in our Photonic Solutions platform. Watch the following videos at your convenience:
Follow Us On Social Media
Try our new QR code to see all our social channels at once!
Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and read our blog! This is an easy way to discover our latest events, seminars, Synopsys Webinars, application notes, industry news, and much more.
Customer Support Portal
Current customers can access RSoft Photonic Device Tools, Photonic System Tools, and PIC Design Suite resources and content at any time on the Customer Support Portal (https://opticsportal.synopsys.com).
If you haven’t already registered for Portal access, consider registering for an account today!
Once your account is activated, an e-mail will be sent to you to confirm your login information.
Visit customer support portal
Upcoming Events
Tech Talk: Photonic Solutions New Features 03.2021
Tech Talk: Fiber & Waveguide Design and Analysis Using RSoft Photonic Device Tools
16 March 2021
16:00-17:00 CET
For past enews, please see our archive.