News: Optoelectronics
3 October 2023
OpenLight partners with Spark to scale design services
OpenLight of Santa Barbara, CA, USA (which launched as an independent company in June 2022, introducing the first open silicon photonics platform with heterogeneously integrated III-V lasers) has announced a strategic partnership with Spark Photonics of Waltham, MA, USA, which provides pure-play end-to-end integrated photonics design, layout and consulting services across silicon, silicon nitride, indium phosphide and lithium niobate platforms.
Spark will now offer design and layout services using the OpenLight process design kit (PDK) with the IPKISS design layout and simulation software suite of Luceda Photonics of Dendermonde, Belgium. The expansion of design services increases the number of designs that OpenLight can support at any one time on the Tower Semiconductor PH18DA process, reducing time to market for photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and expanding the silicon photonics industry’s reach to drive advancements across applications.
“With the integration of industry-leading expertise and resources from OpenLight and Luceda coupled with best-in-class 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,” says OpenLight’s Dr Adam Carter. “This partnership empowers our customers to address distinct design needs, diversify their design portfolio, and resolve compatibility challenges.”
The OpenLight PDK incorporates both active and passive components, enabling access to silicon photonics with heterogeneous integration. Mutual customers now have an array of choices from an EDA tool perspective to ensure first-time success in design verification and implementation.
“This partnership will play a pivotal role in our company’s vision to grow the integrated photonics ecosystem,” reckons Spark Photonics’ CEO Dr Kevin McComber. “Working with OpenLight and Luceda positions us to meet the evolving needs of integrated photonics trailblazers. Customers stand to derive significant benefits from our collective capabilities, including reduced cost and faster turnaround,” he adds.
“This collaboration enhances our long-term goal to enable cutting-edge PDK-based design services and meet the demands of diverse applications,” says Luceda Photonics’ chief technology officer Dr Pieter Dumon.
OpenLight recently introduced its Photonic Application Specific Integrated Circuits (PASIC) technology, which incorporates both passive and active components onto a single silicon photonics chip, resulting in significant improvements in performance and reliability. With the OpenLight PDK, customers can now design their own PASIC chips, offering greater flexibility and customization options.
OpenLight and Spark Photonics design and layout services are available now.
OpenLight samples fully integrated 2xFR4 PASIC photonic integrated circuit
OpenLight announces availability of first PDK sampler to accelerate component testing
OpenLight unveils open silicon photonics platform with integrated lasers
