Researchers in the United States have introduced a novel photonics design platform aimed at expediting the creation of high-performance chips for data centers. OpenLight, a semiconductor company based in California, and Israeli chipmaker Tower Semiconductor have enhanced their PH18DA photonics ecosystem by launching OpenLight’s photonic Process Design Kit (PDK), now accessible through Cadence’s electronic design automation tools.
This open-platform design kit offers engineers a comprehensive library of components for developing custom Photonic Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (PASICs) and simplifies the process of creating photonic integrated circuits (PICs). The technology supports 400G and 1.6T photonic circuits, potentially streamlining the transition from design to production on the PH18D platform, according to OpenLight CEO Adam Carter.
The integration of this PDK into Cadence tools is expected to facilitate the design of photonic integrated circuits alongside conventional integrated circuits. The collaboration aims to enhance the development of advanced optical systems, with a focus on improving performance, power efficiency, and scalability for next-generation optics solutions. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Editor's Note
The introduction of the new photonics design platform highlights a significant advancement in the integration of photonic technology with established electronic design processes. This development could reshape the landscape of data center infrastructure by enabling faster and more efficient chip production, which is crucial for meeting the growing demands for high-speed data transmission and processing.
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