OpenLight offers silicon photonics process design kit
OpenLight, the silicon photonics joint venture between Juniper Networks and Synopsys, says that a process design kit (PDK) is now generally available for those interested in designing photonic integrated circuits (PICs) using OpenLight’s technology. The PDK works with the Synopsys photonic IC design platform and includes indium phosphide active optical elements on-chip that can be used by Synopsys OptoCompiler and simulated with the Synopsys OptSim photonic simulator.
The company launched this past June with a silicon photonics platform that features integrated laser capabilities (see "Synopsys/Juniper Networks silicon photonics venture adopts OpenLight name"). Other elements supported within the PDK include optical amplifiers and high-speed, low-loss electro-absorption (EA) modulators. Tower Semiconductor has successfully run qualification and reliability tests on its PH18DA silicon photonics production flow.
"We strongly believe in the ability of OpenLight's technology implemented in Tower's foundry platform to push the envelope and enable the next generation of photonic IC products," said Dr. Marco Racanelli, senior vice president and general manager of Tower Semiconductor's Analog Business Unit. "With PDKs now available to the world, mutual customers can benefit from access to this advanced technology through an open foundry model. Results of PICs fabricated to date are impressive and the PDK announced here will speed up further PIC innovation from the industry as designers confidently develop and bring to market new products faster with on-chip lasers and optical amplifiers."
Reference PICs
The PICs to which Dr. Racanelli refers include reference examples with eight integrated 100G lasers for 800G DR applications, according to OpenLight COO Tom Mader. A 2xFR4 reference design should be completed soon and 200G lasers are on the roadmap, he added.
Mader says that OpenLight’s technology has attracted interest for a wide range of applications, from datacom and AI/ML to automotive LIDAR and healthcare. He expects datacom network products using the company’s technology to reach the field first, perhaps late next year or early in 2024. The technology also could be implemented for co-packaged optics (CPO) in both designs with external lasers and those that would take advantage of the internal laser capabilities, Mader added.
Mader notes that Intel is the only other company with publicly divulged capabilities to produce silicon photonic devices with integrated lasers; so far Intel has not offered to share that expertise with the market in the form of a PDK. With the integrated light source a calling card, Mader asserts that early reference design partners also have been impressed with the performance of the EA modulators, which exhibit < 1-dB excess loss.
Mader is the highest-ranking executive at the company; he says that the search for a CEO is ongoing. OpenLight also offers design services as a revenue generator.
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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