The concept of a PDK is nothing new – it was introduced decades ago by the semiconductor industry. However, the reason for its uptake in integrated photonics is the added value it brings. For the wider photonics industry, the concept of PDK plays a pivotal role in commercial breakthrough, for two key reasons:
Firstly, access to a PDK means PIC designers don’t have to start from scratch. They can choose from building blocks which have already proven their efficacy and functionality, resulting in a shorter time to market and at lower development costs. Secondly, a PDK is crucial in the design phase. PDK-based designs follow a series of rules which makes them compliant with our generic foundry process. In other words, we know what components chosen from our library can be processed by our foundry.