Keysight Technologies Expands Photonics Design Ecosystem with GlobalFoundries PDK
Introduction
On June 3, 2026, Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) made a significant announcement that promises to reshape the landscape of photonic integrated circuit (PIC) development. By integrating support for GlobalFoundries’ (GF) silicon photonics process technology into its Advanced Design System (ADS) Photonic Designer, Keysight is poised to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the design process for engineers working in this rapidly evolving field.
1. Bridging the Gap in Photonics Design
As silicon photonics technology gains traction in high-demand sectors such as data centers, artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, and optical communications, the complexity of designing and validating photonic integrated circuits has increased. Traditionally, engineers faced a fragmented workflow that separated PIC design from electro-optical-electrical (EOE) system simulation. This disjointed approach not only prolonged the development cycle but also introduced substantial risks and uncertainties late in the design process.
A Unified Design Environment
Keysight’s new Process Design Kit (PDK) for the ADS Photonic Designer addresses these challenges by providing a seamless connection between PIC design and system-level EOE simulation. This integrated environment enables engineers to design photonic circuits directly on GF’s platform and validate their performance at the optical link level—without the need to switch tools.
Key features of the PDK include:
- Physics-Based Models: The PDK is built on physics-based models that are specifically aligned with GF’s silicon photonics process. This ensures that simulations effectively correlate with the physical properties of the fabricated silicon.
- Comprehensive Validation Tools: Engineers can perform eye diagram analysis and assess signal integrity metrics such as transmission dispersion eye closure quaternary (TDECQ), providing critical insights into the optical link behavior well before tapeout.
2. Accelerating Development and Reducing Risks
The integration of PIC design with system-level validation is expected to yield several key benefits for engineers:
- Faster Time to First Design: With ready-to-use, foundry-aligned models, teams can begin their projects immediately without the need to establish or calibrate component libraries from scratch.
- Pre-Tapeout Compliance: By utilizing Keysight’s instrument software for simulation and measurement, engineers can reduce variables that affect design-to-test correlation, leading to more reliable predictive results.
- Early System-Level Insights: Engineers can evaluate how PIC performance impacts the optical link from the outset, which can significantly reduce design iterations and accelerate time to market.
3. Industry Insights
Vikas Gupta, Senior Fellow of Silicon Photonics Product Line at GlobalFoundries, emphasized the importance of this development, stating, “As silicon photonics moves into broader deployment for AI infrastructure and high-speed optical communications, designers need workflows that connect device innovation with system-level performance from the start.” Gupta noted that the integration with Keysight’s ADS Photonic Designer would help customers accelerate development, mitigate design risks, and scale their optical interconnect solutions more effectively.
Niels Faché, Senior Vice President of Keysight’s Design Engineering Software, echoed this sentiment, asserting that the traditional separation between circuit design and system validation is no longer viable. “Engineers building for AI and data center infrastructure need to see system-level link performance from day one, not after fabrication,” Faché stated.
4. Availability
The GlobalFoundries CLO PDK for ADS Photonic Designer is now available, providing engineers with an essential tool to advance their photonic design capabilities.
5. Conclusion
Keysight Technologies' latest announcement marks a pivotal moment in the photonics design ecosystem, offering a streamlined approach that aligns design and validation processes. As the demand for high-speed optical communications continues to grow, this integration could very well empower engineers to innovate more rapidly and with greater confidence in their designs.
