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This newsletter provides the latest information on Synopsys Photonic Solutions including product announcements, new papers, tech talks, upcoming events, and more.
- Customer Support Hours in December
- New Releases Available
- Latest Blog Articles
- Application Notes
- Foundry Spotlight: SMART Photonics
- Events
- Industry Articles
- Follow Us
Synopsys Photonic Solutions would like to wish you happy holidays and thank you for being loyal customers. Let us know how we can help and support you during this time.
Customer Support Hours in December
From December 25, 2023 to January 1, 2024, Photonic Solutions technical support will be unavailable. We will respond to product support and general inquiries for all products starting on January 2, 2024.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
New Releases Available
Synopsys OptSim 2023.12
New features and enhancements include:
- New Python co-simulation block for custom user models
Users can now create custom Synopsys OptSim models using Python. Python user models are python scripts, written by the user, which are invoked from OptSim using the embedded Python interpreter. The Python model creation gives the ability to write custom components quickly and efficiently.
- Enhanced support for foundry PDKs in Synopsys OptoCompiler EO co-simulation
- New support for electrical heater and input-power dependence in the Electroabsorption Modulator (EAM) model
The EAM model has been enhanced with (i) an additional heater signal port in the model (ii) the ability to calculate the average dissipated heater power for a specified heater resistance and (iii) updated support for the analytical transfer function equation and parametric database file to account for average optical input power as well as the average dissipated heater power.
- Enhancements to Black-Box SOA and EAM models to eliminate unnecessary data reloading
Parametric datafile-based operations of black box SOA and EAM model now eliminates redundant data reloading thereby reducing the simulation time.
- New jitterSeed parameter in the Electrical and Optical Signal Generator blocks
Time jitter is an important transmitter parameter affecting performance of the entire link. The enhancement now allows specifying different seed values for each of the electrical and optical signal generator models in the schematic thereby enhancing decorrelation amongst the signal sources.
- New 2x1 Boolean Operator block
Synopsys OptSim models library in Synopsys OptoCompiler, OptSimLib, now has a new 2-input, 1-output Boolean Operator block to enable 2-bit logical operations such as OR, XOR, AND, NAND, etc. One of the commonly used applications is in Gray and Duobinary encoding of input data sequences.
Synopsys OptoCompiler 2023.12
- MaskIntent support in PyCells
Define MaskIntents in the technology or interactively in Python. MaskIntents describe how a waveguide is to be constructed from a center path and an intended width, automatically creating all layers with appropriate widenings and offsets for any OptoDesigner module element in PyCells
- Python enablement of flexible waveguide connectors, bus devices and bus connectors
The waveguide connector and bus component framework has been enabled in pure Python PyCells. Register your own (or PDK) devices for use in the connectors and buses. Easily define generic waveguide transitions using chain devices, and register those for use in flexConnectors.
- Python-based reference optical SOI version 3.0.0
Contains examples of how to create PyCells using the OptoDesigner Python module released in 2023.03, as well as the new connectors, buses and transitions
- Any-angle flexConnector
Allows creation and adaptations of connections between waveguides that are not at cardinal angles, and allows the connector to be reshaped and stretched at non-manhattan angles
- Auto-finalizing PolyLine reshape for flexConnectors
When reshaping a flexConnector (Manhattan or any-angle) using the polyline option, a new option enables the connector to interactively show its full path to its connecting waveguides
- Photonic Device Compilerusing PyCells as input
Photonic Device Compiler can now directly access ‘golden’ PyCell geometries to drive simulations and create models for use with OptSim and OptoCompiler. This removed the need to recreate the layout in RSoft CAD.
RSoft Photonic Device Tools 2023.12
This release includes several usability updates and speed improvements. BSDF file generation with DiffractMOD RCWA is now faster, and MetaOptic Designer has significant speed enhancements. Parameter scans, including BSDF file generation, has improved stability, and the TCAD material files can now be directly used in RSoft simulations. MetaOptic Designer can now edit material files directly, output MTF and far-field, use MTF as an optimization target, and has improved memory handling and performance when generating GDS files.
See the release notes on SolvNetPlus* for a complete list of changes/updates.
*Please note that a SolvNetPlus account is required. You must log in first, then click on these links.
Blog Posts and Articles
How OpenLight and Synopsys Are Reimagining Data Centers Through Silicon Photonics
AI Drives Need For Optical Interconnects In Data Centers
Semiconductor Engineering
How Photonics Can Light the Way for Higher Performing Multi-Die Systems
Application Notes and Resources
Measurement of Modulator Chirp Factor and Fiber Dispersion
Fig. 1: OptSim simulation setup for measuring modulator chirp factor and fiber dispersion
Modulator’s chirp factor and chromatic dispersion of the fiber are two of the parameters responsible for setting an upper limit of the fiber-optic system performance. Interplay between fiber nonlinearities and dispersion also impact the system performance. Both – modulator chirp factor and fiber dispersion - are input parameters for the modulator and nonlinear fiber models in OptSim. These parameters are typically supplied by the manufacturers and easily available from the datasheets.
However, there are times when a user may want to measure chirp factor and fiber dispersion in response to design changes or operating conditions, such as temperature, reverse bias or mismatch in modulator arm-lengths. In this application note, we demonstrate a measurement method that is applicable for measuring for both the chirp factor and the dispersion.
Estimating Noise Figure (NF) of the RF-over-Fiber (RoF) Link
Fig. 2: OptSim simulation setup for estimating noise figure of the RF-over-Fiber link
The design trade-offs in RoF systems involve noise, sensitivity, bandwidth, dynamic range and linearity of the link. From the perspective of the transmit side, link linearity and high RF output power over wide bandwidth are more important than noise. On the other hand, from the perspective of the receiving end, low noise and high dynamic range are of utmost importance. The RF noise figure of the RoF link is usually defined with respect to the weak input signals, mostly out of concern for dynamic range rather than sensitivity. In this application note, we demonstrate how to estimate noise figure for an RoF link.
Foundry Spotlight: SMART Photonics
SMART Photonics: Propelling the Future with Photonic Chips
The design trade-offs in RoF systems involve noise, sensitivity, bandwidth, dynamic range and linearity of the link. From the perspective of the transmit side, link linearity and high RF output power over wide bandwidth are more important than noise. On the other hand, from the perspective of the receiving end, low noise and high dynamic range are of utmost importance. The RF noise figure of the RoF link is usually defined with respect to the weak input signals, mostly out of concern for dynamic range rather than sensitivity. In this application note, we demonstrate how to estimate noise figure for an RoF link.
As a foundry for photonic integrated circuits (photonic ICs), SMART Photonics fuels numerous applications in telecommunications, data, sensing, and healthcare. By harnessing light, photonic ICs promote energy efficiency and precision while addressing global challenges such as energy conservation, healthcare improvements, food waste, and growing data demands.
SMART Photonics offers a comprehensive Process Design Kit (PDK), with 50+ proprietary building blocks, that provides customers with an easy entry into the promising world of InP photonic ICs. The combination of the SMART Photonics PDK with the Synopsys OptoCompiler platform places the design of these transformative chips within reach.
The SMART Photonics high-speed PIC technology platform offers PDKs for both C and O bands that support high-speed coherent solutions, Passive Optical Networks (PONs), and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). High-speed photonic chips, in demand owing to the surge in AI architectures for data centers, underscore the need for ecosystem engageability. SMART Photonics and Synopsys are ready to respond to this wave. Want to learn more, or access the SMART Photonics PDK for the Synopsys solution? Check out their website: www.smartphotonics.nl, or read more about SMART Photonics in this infographic or watch the Reuters video.
Events
Event
CMOS Image Sensors with Synopsys
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
10:00–11:00 a.m. EST (North America)
4:00–5:00 p.m. CET (Europe)
Online via Zoom
Event
SPIE Photonics West
Meet our experts and check out product demos at Booth 543
January 30–February 1, 2024
The Moscone Center
San Francisco, CA
Industry Articles
Follow us on LinkedIn or on X, formerly known as Twitter, to keep up to date on the latest industry articles and news.
- Rockley Photonics Advances Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring
- Fully integrated 2xFR4 photonic ASIC for 800G interconnect
- DustPhotonics Claims First to Develop 800G Silicon Photonics Chip
- An energy efficient transmitter based on a CMOS chip and silicon photonics
- Is Photonics the Next Bright Light in Innovation?
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Contact Product Support
Questions? We're happy to answer your technical questions about Synopsys Photonic Device Compiler, RSoft Photonic Device Tools, Synopsys OptSim, Synopsys OptoCompiler, and Synopsys OptoDesigner. Email us at photonics_support@synopsys.com.
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