Photonic Circuit Path Tracing for Hierarchical Optical Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) is hindered by the difficulty in identifying optical paths and properties due to hierarchical devices, leading to increased error probability and resource inefficiency in determining correct and unique paths.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for determining optical paths and properties within PIC designs using a path tracer engine that utilizes a process design kit (PDK) and design database to identify paths and properties, allowing for efficient path tracing and property analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hierarchical devices are used in PIC design to organize complex components, then device modularity and reusability are improved, but the difficulty in identifying optical paths and properties increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hierarchical device structure into multiple levels (e.g., device level, component level, element level) and applies path tracing at each level separately. This segmentation allows the complex path identification problem to be broken down into manageable sub-problems, where paths are traced from top-level devices down through hierarchical components to underlying elements, thereby reducing the overall difficulty of path identification while preserving modularity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary path tracing mechanism that acts as a mediator between the hierarchical device structure and the optical path properties. This intermediary layer systematically traverses hierarchical boundaries and aggregates path information from multiple levels, enabling accurate path identification without requiring direct inspection of the entire hierarchical structure, thus resolving the contradiction between modularity and path detection difficulty
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual path identification methods are used in complex PIC designs, then design flexibility is maintained, but the time required to adjust paths and minimize errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary path tracing and property calculation automatically during the design phase, before finalization. By pre-identifying all possible paths and their properties through systematic traversal of the hierarchical structure, the system prepares path information in advance, allowing designers to quickly adjust paths by selecting from pre-computed options rather than manually tracing paths during adjustment, thus reducing time loss while maintaining flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where path tracing results and property calculations are continuously updated and fed back to the design interface. This real-time feedback allows designers to see the impact of path adjustments immediately, enabling rapid iteration and error minimization without time-consuming manual recalculations, thereby reducing time loss while preserving design flexibility
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive path tracing is performed to accurately identify all optical paths and properties, then measurement precision is improved, but computational resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by focusing path tracing efforts on specific regions or segments of the hierarchical structure that are most relevant to the current design query. Instead of uniformly tracing all possible paths throughout the entire PIC, the system identifies and concentrates computational resources on local areas where path properties need to be determined, thereby maintaining measurement precision for critical paths while reducing overall computational resource consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs partial action by performing path tracing to a sufficient depth rather than exhaustively tracing every possible path to the maximum level of detail. The system determines when path tracing has reached the necessary precision level and stops, avoiding unnecessary computational expenditure on overly detailed tracing that would not contribute meaningfully to design accuracy, thus balancing measurement precision with resource consumption
Data Source
AI summary
Photonic integrated circuit (PIC) designs include various paths. During the design process, the properties of the paths of a PIC design are determined and used to analyze the PIC design. Determining the properties of a path includes receiving a PIC design including a plurality of devices. Further, a first path between a first pin of a first device of the plurality of devices and a second pin of a second device of the plurality of devices is determined. One or more properties of the first path are determined based on a wavelength of a light signal, a property of the first device, and a property of the second device. The first path and the one or more properties are output.