OpenLight, a global PASIC chip design and manufacturing firm, has struck a strategic partnership agreement with Twente-based Epiphany, a photonic design house that emerged from the PhotonDelta ecosystem, aimed at advancing the field of photonic integrated circuit (PIC) design.
The collaboration will allow Epiphany to gain access to OpenLight’s heterogeneously integrated III-V-based process design kit (PDK), with the hope that greater options and flexibility will benefit mutual customers. At the same time, OpenLight will be able to broaden the scope of its design possibilities as it pursues new innovative and optimised PIC solutions across datacom, lidar, AI, healthcare and quantum computing.
PhotonDelta, the European hub for the integrated photonics industry, focusing on research, design, development and manufacturing, stated: “We are pleased to share that OpenLight, a global leader in custom PASIC chip design and manufacturing, has entered into a strategic partnership with Epiphany, a prominent fabless photonic design house. This collaboration will enhance the PIC design ecosystem as Epiphany gains access to OpenLight’s open, heterogeneously integrated III-V-based PDK, providing expanded design options and flexibility for their mutual customers. This partnership opens up new possibilities for advanced, optimised PIC solutions across key industries such as datacom, lidar, AI, healthcare, and quantum computing.
Utilising OpenLight's PDK components
OpenLight’s PDK is compatible with the Synopsys PIC design platform. It incorporates indium phosphide active optical components on-chip, which can be utilised by Synopsys OptoCompiler and simulated using the Synopsys OptSim photonic simulator.
The PDK, which launched in June 2022, also supports optical amplifiers and high-speed, low-loss electro-absorption modulators, and features integrated laser capabilities.
Israeli company, Tower Semiconductor, were among the first to successfully run qualification and reliability tests on the PH18DA silicon photonics production flow.
Dr. Marco Racanelli, senior vice president and general manager of Tower Semiconductor's Analog Business Unit, commented on the PDK at the time, saying: "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."
Openlight claims that its PDK offers significant advantages with an extensive library of design components, supporting multiple platforms and technologies. With this, it can facilitate collaboration between different touchpoints, such as designers and manufacturers.
Supporting an ever-growing PIC marketplace
With IDTechEx reporting that the overall PIC market is set to grow to over $22 billion by 2034, driven by key advancements in technology and applications, OpenLight and Epiphany will hope to see a widening customer base benefit from their shared expertise.
Reflecting on the changing landscape, Jörn Epping, co-founder and CEO of Epiphany, said: “The integrated photonics landscape is evolving at a breakneck pace, yet it remains a fragmented ecosystem with significant barricades. With OpenLight’s technology, we can leverage our expertise in integrated actives and passives to streamline design processes and address the lack of integration and accessibility while speeding up the adoption of integrated photonics technology across industries.”
While the market for heterogeneously integrated PICs is still developing, it is anticipated that the integration of PICs will enhance business processes across multiple sectors by improving energy efficiency, reducing operational costs and supporting faster and more reliable network connections.
Dr. Adam Carter, CEO of OpenLight, concluded: “Unlike typical silicon-based semiconductors, there’s a significant shortage of talent capable of designing advanced PICs. Our goal is to make the transformative benefits of heterogeneously integrated silicon photonics PICs accessible to more users. By partnering with Epiphany, we’re bringing on PIC design experts who can immediately support customers to create unique, custom solutions using our technology. We’re not just bridging gaps – we’re paving a superhighway for innovation, accelerating development and lowering cost barriers.”
Lead image: Steph Meade/Lummi
