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Overview Photonic Device Compiler is the Synopsys solution for photonic IC designers and PDK developers to design, analyze, optimize, and use photonic devices within the Synopsys unified electrical and photonic design platform.

IntroductionPhotonic integrated circuits (PICs) are efficiently simulated using compact models from a model library provided as part of a PDK to represent individual components in the circuit. The lack of complete and mature model libraries is a major impediment to high yields in PIC manufacturing. This is partly due to the current maturity of the ecosystem, and partly because of the wide variety of photonic devices required to address a certain application. PIC technology is vastly different than digital design and largely different than electrical analog mixed signal design. Most PIC components are optimized for a certain function, wavelength, fabrication process, etc.

Photonic Device Compiler provides a wide range of physical simulation methods in a single tool. Photonic Device Compiler also adds automation to take the results of the device design cycle and add it to a custom or personal device library, a PDK, or IP library. You can use these custom devices in the Synopsys PIC software solutions for schematic capture, circuit level simulation, layout, and verification. With Photonic Device Compiler, you use the industry’s most comprehensive set of photonic device simulators seamlessly integrated with TCAD Sentaurus™, the industry-leading process and electrical device simulation tool.

Photonic Simulation Electrical and Photonic Design CockpitSchematic Entry, Simulation Bridge, Layout

OptSim EliteOptoCompiler

Electrical Simulation

PrimeSimContinuum IC Validator

Physical Verification (DRC/LVS)

GDS II PDK

FabMask data

prep/fractureCATS

Design

Mask synthesis/OPS

ProteusPhotonic passiveand active device

simulationPhotonic Device

Compiler

Process and electricaldevice simulation

SentaurusProcess and

Device

Manufacture

Unlike electronics, photonic circuit design requires direct access to device level tools to complement PDKs. Photonic Device Compiler is the solution for this.

Foundries use TCAD and Photonic Device Compiler for device design and modeling, and tools for

mask flows on the production side.

Figure 1: The role of Photonic Device Compiler in the complete Synopsys platform for PIC design and manufacturing

Create PDKs and add custom devices to complement a foundry PDK

Photonic Device CompilerPhotonic device simulation and optimization

2

Photonic Device Compiler Features• Complete photonic device simulation, analysis, and optimization solution

• Works seamlessly with OptoCompiler™, OptSim™ Elite, and IC Validator

• Enables E/O device level co-simulation with TCAD Sentaurus™

• Enables design of custom components that can be used with foundry PDKs

Simulators:• Mode-solver• FDTD• BPMTools and Utilities:• Optimization• Clustering• AWG Utility• Custom PDK Utility

Base

Simulators:• Mode-solver• FDTD (2x)• BPM (2x)• EME• RCWATools and Utilities:• Optimization• Clustering• AWG Utility• Multi-Physics Uility• Custom PDK Utility

Elite

Figure 2: Photonic Device Compiler Tiers

Use Photonic Device Compiler to create and use a custom library with OptoCompiler:

• Use Custom Devices in conjunction with a foundry-provided PDK

• Design, simulate, and optimize passive and active integrated photonics devices for a targeted foundry

• Create symbols, layouts, and simulation models for OptoCompiler and OptSim Elite

RSoft CAD, OptoDesigner SPT,

Sentaurus TCAD, (S-process) GDS, and/or Python

• Generates: Symbols, Layouts, and Simulation Models• Enables: Custom design within the Foundry Design Rules• Improves: Flexibility, Quality, and Efficiency

Sentaurus TCAD, (S-Device),

RSoft Photonic Device Tools

Parameter Extraction

Generation of: Symbols (icons), Ports, Scripts, Layout (SPT, GDSII)

DeviceGeometry

FoundryTechnology

Info

Electronicand OpticalSimulation

CustomModel

Schematic Capture,Simulation, Layout,

Verification

All Passives:• S Matrix• Neff (Lambda)Phase Shifters/Modulators:• Neff (Lambda)• Neff (V)• BandwidthDetectors:• Responsivity• Bandwidth

Figure 3: Photonic Device Compiler flow for custom library generation

©2021 Synopsys, Inc. All rights reserved. Synopsys is a trademark of Synopsys, Inc. in the United States and other countries. A list of Synopsys trademarks is available at synopsys.com/copyright.html . All other names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.03/12/21.CS652509846-Photonic Device Compiler ds.

Applications• Passive photonic device design

Includes waveguides, bends, splitters, couplers, MMIs, AWGs, and polarization devices (rotators, splitters, or a polarization analysis of any of the previously listed devices)

• Active photonic device design Includes phase shifters, photodetectors, and modulators

• Assists in the creation of custom device models that can be used with a foundry PDK, to create a new PDK, or tocreate photonics IP

Platform Support To learn more about our System Requirements, visit https://www.synopsys.com/photonic-solutions/product-system-requirements.html

• Linux: We officially support Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and CentOS 6.6+, 7.1+, and 8+

• Windows 10 64-bit