OpenLight aims to scale design services with Spark Photonics partnership

OpenLight, a company focused on custom PASIC chip design and manufacturing, has established a pact with Spark Photonics, an integrated photonics design services firm. Through this collaboration, Spark Photonics will offer design and layout services using the OpenLight process design kit (PDK) with the Luceda IPKISS design layout and simulation software suite.

Scale is a significant factor in this relationship. The expansion of design services increases the number of designs OpenLight can support at any time on the Tower Semiconductor PH18DA process, reducing time to market for photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and driving advancements across applications.

The OpenLight PDK incorporates active and passive components, enabling advanced access to silicon photonics with heterogeneous integration. Mutual customers now have various choices from an EDA tool perspective to ensure first-time design verification and implementation success. 

OpenLight recently introduced its Photonic Application Specific Integrated Circuits (PASIC) technology, which incorporates passive and active components onto a single silicon photonics chip, significantly improving performance and reliability. With the OpenLight PDK, customers can design their PASIC chips, offering greater flexibility and customization options. 

“With the integration of expertise and resources from OpenLight and Luceda coupled with design services from Spark, we are fostering a new era for customers to tape in MPW engineering and production wafer-run designs directly to Tower,” said Dr. Adam Carter, CEO of OpenLight. “This partnership empowers our customers to address distinct design needs, diversify their portfolio, and resolve compatibility challenges.”  

Dr. Kevin McComber, CEO of Spark Photonics, agreed and added that the partnership will “play a pivotal role in our company’s vision to grow the integrated photonics ecosystem.”

“Working with OpenLight and Luceda positions us to meet the evolving needs of integrated photonics trailblazers,” he said. “Customers stand to derive significant benefits from our collective capabilities, including reduced cost and faster turnaround.”    

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