SMART Photonics and Lumerical launch InP Library
Robust time- and frequency-domain compact model library and SMART's frequent MPW runs raise the bar for prototyping PIC designs
SMART Photonics, based in EIndhoven, has announced a new compact model library (CML) for its InP integrated photonics platform and the associated PDK, resulting from a close collaboration with Lumerical.
The CML enables circuit designers to reliably model behaviour and performance of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) within Lumerical's photonic integrated circuit simulator, Interconnect, reducing costly design errors and dramatically accelerating time-to-market. Combined with SMART Photonics' frequent MPW shuttle run, this provides designers with an excellent platform to prototype and refine new circuit designs quickly and efficiently.
"As a developer of a silicon planar optical MEMS platform, Aeponyx supports the development of III-V components optimised for efficient hybrid integration. It's exciting to see two recognized industry leaders, like Lumerical and SMART Photonics, working together towards industry standardisation," commented Francois Menard, CTO and Co-Founder of Aeponyx. "Having a reliable set of parametrized compact models on a powerful platform like Interconnect is a game-changing development to achieve first-time-right designs."
The new CML contains more than twenty-five parametrized compact models, which have been carefully calibrated with a combination of experimental data, provided by SMART, and high-accuracy 3D physical simulations using Lumerical's industry-leading suite of component-level modeling tools. The library includes passive and active devices, such as phase modulators, amplifiers and photodetectors, providing an extensive and flexible set of building blocks for creating complex PIC designs. Each model in the library enables both frequency- and time-domain circuit simulation, equipping designers with a complete set of analysis tools to design PICs for any application.
"We are very pleased by the collaborative work done by our partners at Lumerical to rapidly develop a comprehensive compact model library for our InP-based integration platform," said Luc Augustin, CTO at SMART Photonics. "This CML is especially unique in its design, as it brings together simulated data from trusted tools and real, measured performance for increased reliability. PIC designers around the world will be able to confidently use a schematic driven layout flow for a pure-play InP PIC foundry."
With applications including high speed data communications, and biological and environmental sensing in fast moving fields like IoT and automotive, SMART's frequent MPW shuttle runs afford designers the ability to quickly iterate through design-manufacture-test cycles to optimise PIC performance.
"Through this collaboration, we have deployed the leading 3D photonic simulation tools to help SMART enhance their PDK with the most advanced models available for both time- and frequency-domain simulation," stated Dr. James Pond, CTO at Lumerical. "These accurate models are critical for PDK-driven design and enable engineers to focus on circuit performance rather than individual components."
