Method and system for designing and analyzing optical application specific integrated circuits
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for designing an optical application specific integrated circuit, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a first optical device from a plurality of different optical devices;
placing a first device icon on a working area of a display;
assigning a first set of data identifying characteristics of said first optical device to said first device icon;
selecting a second optical device from said plurality of different optical devices;
placing a second device icon on said working area of said display;
assigning a second set of data identifying characteristics of said second optical device to said second device icon;
selecting a desired interconnect from a plurality of different interconnects;
placing an interconnect icon on said working area of said display between an output port on one of said first device icon or said second device icon and an input port on the other of said first device icon or said second device icon;
assigning a third set of data identifying characteristics of said desired interconnect to said interconnect icon; and
selecting a group of parameters common to said first and second optical devices and to said desired interconnect, said group of common parameters forming a fourth set of data, said fourth set of data being stored separately from said first, second, and third sets of identifying data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system and method provide a CAD tool by which application specific optical integrated circuits may be easily and quickly designed. The computer system has a graphical user interface which provides the designer with an empty canvas upon which the user may place selected icons of any one of a plurality of optical devices. The designer can select from any one of a number of interconnects to place an icon of the selected interconnect between two of the optical devices. The characteristics of each optical device or interconnect may be varied from default settings to a desired group of settings. To verify the operation of a designed circuit, the user simply clicks each icon along an optical path and the computer system provides a spectral analysis of optical power versus wavelength for the defied optical path. The user can also design optical chips by selecting and placing end ports into an optical circuit and can then clump or group the entire optical circuit into a single icon representing the chip. The computer system also provides the designer with the ability to group optical chips together to form wafers. The optical circuits, as well as the chips and wafers, may be designed in any one of several manufacturing standards.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for designing an optical application specific integrated circuit, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a first optical device from a plurality of different optical devices; placing a first device icon on a working area of a display; assigning a first set of data identifying characteristics of said first optical device to said first device icon; selecting a second optical device from said plurality of different optical devices; placing a second device icon on said working area of said display; assigning a second set of data identifying characteristics of said second optical device to said second device icon; selecting a desired interconnect from a plurality of different interconnects; placing an interconnect icon on said working area of said display between an output port on one of said first device icon or said second device icon and an input port on the other of said first device icon or said second device icon; assigning a third set of data identifying characteristics of said desired interconnect to said interconnect icon; and selecting a group of parameters common to said first and second optical devices and to said desired interconnect, said group of common parameters forming a fourth set of data, said fourth set of data being stored separately from said first, second, and third sets of identifying data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer display system for use in designing optical application specific integrated circuits, comprising:
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a central processing unit; a memory accessible by the central processing unit; a display screen which receives data from the central processing unit; means for displaying, on said display screen, a canvas upon which an optical circuit may be designed; means for displaying, on said display screen, a menu bar having at least one heading for optical components; means for displaying, on said display screen, a listing of optical components upon selection of said at least one heading; means for displaying, on said display screen, an optical component icon on said canvas for each optical component selected underneath said at least one heading; and means for displaying, on said display screen, parameters identifying characteristics of said optical components, said parameters comprising local parameters associated with individual optical components and common parameters associated with all optical components, said local parameters being stored separately from said common parameters in said memory. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A computer-implemented system for providing a spectral analysis of an optical path in an optical circuit, comprising:
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a central processing unit;
memory accessible by said central processing unit;means for defining said optical circuit with at least one optical component; means for assigning data identifying characteristics of each optical component in said optical circuit, said data comprising local parameters associated with each said optical component and common parameters associated with all said optical components, said local parameters being stored separately from said common parameters in said memory; means for defining said optical path in said optical circuit; and means for receiving a request for said spectral analysis and for routing said request to said central processing unit; wherein said central processing unit performs said spectral analysis of said optical path upon receipt of said request from said receiving means. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A computer-implemented method for obtaining a spectral analysis of an optical path in an optical circuit, comprising the steps of:
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defining said optical circuit with at least one optical component; assigning data identifying characteristics of each optical component in said optical circuit and storing said data in memory, said data comprising local parameters associated with each said optical component and common parameters associated with all said optical components, said local parameters being stored separately from said common parameters in said memory; defining said optical path in said optical circuit; receiving a request for said spectral analysis; and deriving said spectral analysis of said optical path upon receipt of said request. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A system for designing an optical application specific integrated circuit, comprising:
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a central processing unit; a memory accessible by the central processing unit; a display screen which receives data from the central processing unit; means for displaying icons representing optical components on said display screen; means for assigning data to each icon identifying characteristics of an optical component represented by the icon, said data comprising local parameters associated with said optical component represented by the icon and common parameters associated with all said optical components, said local parameters being stored separately from said common parameters in said memory; and means for defining said optical application specific integrated circuit with at least one of said icons. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for use in designing optical application specific integrated circuits, said computer program used with a computer system to perform the steps of:
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displaying icons representing optical components on said display screen; assigning data to each icon identifying characteristics of an optical component represented by the icon, said data comprising local parameters associated with said optical component represented by the icon and common parameters associated with all said optical components, said local parameters being stored separately from said common parameters in said memory; and defining said optical application specific integrated circuit with at least one of said icons. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55)
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Specification