Introduction

Installing the Alcyon PDK package of the Alcyon’s Toolkit requires the previous installation of the free layout tool KLayout, the SiEPIC tools package as well as the Alcyon Utilities package from Alcyon’s Toolkit.

Follow the installation steps below to access to Alcyon’s libraries and tools.

Note that once the package has been installed, new releases from Alcyon libraries can be added to the package without the need of re-installing the complete Alcyon PDK. Refer to the Adding new releases section in this case.

Requirements

The following softwares and Python packages are required:

1. KLayout

  • Download and install KLayout version 0.28.6.

  • Open KLayout and on the tab menu go to:

    Tools > Manage packages

  • Search for Python_packages_for_KLayout and install it.

    python_for_klayout

2. SiEPIC-Tools package

3. Alcyon Utilities package

The AlcyonPDK_utils package contains a collection of Python classes and functionalities for the layouts creation. More details can be found in the Utilities documentation, available at the Alcyon’s website download area.

  • Download the AlcyonPDK_utils package from Alcyon’s website after registration. You could find the Downloads area by clicking on the top right corner dropdown (My Account).

  • Extract the content of the provided AlcyonPDK_utils_{version}.zip file into the KLayout salt folder. Typical paths for this folder are:

    • Windows: C:\Users\user_name\KLayout\salt

    • Ubuntu: ~/.klayout/salt

    PDK_utils

Installation

  1. Download the AlcyonPDK package from Alcyon’s website after registration. As mentioned before, you could find the Downloads area by clicking on the top right corner dropdown (My Account).

  2. Unzip the content of the provided AlcyonPDK_utils_{version}.zip file into the ~\KLayout\salt folder.

    PDK_install

  3. If it doesn’t exist yet, create a new folder called tech in the ~\KLayout folder.

    PDK_install

NOTE: If you have previously installed an older version of the Alcyon Toolkit, please eliminate the AlcyonTech folder inside tech.

  1. Open Klayout again. A new button should have appeared on the top menu: AlcyonTech. Initialize Alcyon technology by clicking on:

    AlcyonTech > Tech Tools > Generate AlcyonPDK tech.
    PDK_install

  2. A pop-up will appear asking if we want to regenerate the technology. Click on Yes. After a few seconds a new pop-up will let you know the successfull generation of Alcyon technology. A new AlcyonTech folder should be now visible at ~\KLayout\tech path.

  3. Re-start KLayout.

  4. Create a new layout from the File menu, select Alcyon technology at the toolbar and click on the gear icon to apply changes. Alcyon’s libraries will appear now on the left window as well as the layout layers on the right.

    AlcyonTech

Alcyon PDK has been succesfully installed!

You can now navigate through Alcyon’s libraries from the Libraries dropdown menu and dragg components to the layout.

In addition, you can also build circuits in an automated manner by using Alcyon’s Layout Creator Module. Go to the Utilities documentation,available at the Alcyon’s website download area, for more details about this script-based layout design tool.

Adding new releases

New releases from Alcyon’s IP libraries can be easily added to the PDK package without the need of re-installing all the package.

To add new releases:

  1. Download the library release from Alcyon’s website

  2. Extract the content of the provided AlcyonLibraries_{version}.zip file into the folder ~\KLayout\salt\AlcyonPDK\python\AlcyonPDK\libs

  3. Regenerate Alcyon technology by running from KLayout tab menu:

    AlcyonTech > Tech Tools > Generate AlcyonPDK tech.

  4. Re-start KLayout. The new libraries and components should appear now in the Library dropdown menu.

Compact models installation

Alcyon also provides the compact models of the building blocks available in Alcyon’s IP libraries. These models contain an accurate wavelength response of each building block. Thus, they enable to simulate more complex circuits made from multiple components.

The compact models are compatible with Ansys Lumerical INTERCONNECT, which is a photonic integrated circuit simulator.

Follow the steps below to install the compact model libraries (CMLs) in Interconnect:

  1. Download the AlcyonPDK from Alcyon’s website. Inside you will find a CML folder.

  2. After openning Interconnect, you can just drag and drop the Alcyon_{version}.cml file into the Element Library window. Alternatively, you can right click on the Design kits folder of the Element Library and select Install.

  3. Specify a CML package and a destination folder. Click OK.

    iconn_cml_destfolder

  4. The Design kits folder of the Element Library should be now populated with Alcyon compounds. These compounds contain the S-matrix of the blocks.

    iconn_designkit_alcyon

You can now drag or call by script any compound into the main window to build and simulate your own circuit.