Bridging the Gap in Photonic Design

The landscape of photonic integrated circuit (PIC) design is teeming with complexity, especially when it involves integrating various Process Design Kits (PDKs) with Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools. In a significant development reported by Semiconductor Today, Wave Photonics, a Cambridge-based pioneer in design technology, has unveiled its PDK Management Platform to address this very challenge.

Founded in 2021, Wave Photonics has embarked on a mission to facilitate the advancement and widespread adoption of integrated photonics. Their newly launched platform promises to streamline the convoluted processes involved in mapping PDKs to multiple EDA tools, thereby enabling design teams to concentrate on more impactful work.

Streamlining Design Workflows

Photonic Integrated Circuit designers often find themselves bogged down by the repetitive nature of setting up and simulating PDKs across different EDA environments. The innovative platform from Wave Photonics takes the burden out of this process.

• Automated Integration: One of the key highlights of the platform is its ability to seamlessly integrate PDKs with leading EDA tools such as Luceda Photonics (IPKISS), Cadence (Virtuoso), and Siemens (L-Edit Photonics). This integration occurs without the necessity for manual configuration, allowing designers to jump-start their work without delay.

• Ready-to-Use S-Parameters: The platform also automates the generation of S-parameters, which are crucial for accurate circuit simulation. This feature ensures that these parameters are available out-of-the-box for various simulation tools, enhancing the reliability and speed of PIC designs.

Protecting Intellectual Property

In any design industry, the management of intellectual property (IP) and sensitive data is paramount. The platform offers robust tools for IP management:

• Blackboxing & NDA Tracking: It includes features for blackboxing components and tracking NDAs, ensuring that design data is both secure and compliant with agreements.

• Version Control: Automated documentation generation paired with version control mechanisms help designers avoid common pitfalls such as PDK mix-ups or the unintentional use of conflicting PDKs.

Enhancing Collaborative Ecosystem

The platform's initial partnership is with CORNERSTONE, a pioneering foundry in the realm of silicon photonics. This collaboration illustrates the platform's potential to manage and distribute PDKs efficiently, supporting designers worldwide through an open-source foundation.

CORNERSTONE’s PDK manager Dr Emre Kaplan acknowledges the transformative capability of this collaboration, "Together, we’re building a more connected ecosystem that simplifies access, strengthens PDK management, and accelerates the development of next-generation photonic devices."

Conclusion: A New Era for Photonic Design

James Lee, CEO of Wave Photonics, summarizes the platform's impact, "With our EDA partners, we’ve already built a solution that enhances the designer experience, allowing foundries to channel efforts into high-value work." This innovation holds the potential to transform not only the efficiency of photonic design but also the global reach and collaborative spirit of semiconductor technology.

To learn more about how Wave Photonics is reshaping the PIC landscape, you can view their announcement on Semiconductor Today.