Rockley Photonics Collaborates with Cadence on Hyperscale Data Centers
December 7, 2020 | Cadence Design Systems, Inc.Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has announced that Rockley Photonics, a leading supplier of integrated photonic solutions, has deployed a comprehensive set of Cadence® system analysis and custom tools to design a state-of-the-art, high-performance System-in-Package (SiP) for hyperscale data centers. Using a broad suite of Cadence tools, Rockley Photonics achieved first-pass success, accelerating time to market.
The Rockley Photonics device is a complex system-in-package solution, comprised of discrete chiplets connected through a high-speed 112G PAM4 serial interface. To successfully complete the project, the Rockley Photonics design team needed a powerful, comprehensive combination of Cadence system analysis and custom tools, featuring the Clarity™ 3D Solver, Allegro® technologies and the EMX® 3D Planar Solver; custom technologies including the Virtuoso® RF Solution and Spectre® X Simulator; and the Quantus™ Extraction System for signoff. The Cadence design tools—across chip, package, board and system—offer a tight integration that doesn’t exist with other solutions on the market, providing Rockley with a complete solution for system innovation.
The Rockley engineering team utilized the Clarity 3D Solver to analyze system-level electromagnetics effects, a task they couldn’t achieve with other tools. Using the Clarity 3D Solver from within the Virtuoso RF Solution, Rockley Photonics’ engineers successfully modeled coupling between the chiplets, the board, and the high-speed transmission lines—including wirebonds—all the way to the photonics chiplet, ensuring complete system performance. In addition, the Cadence EMX® 3D Planar Solver provided a truly differentiated electromagnetic flow that enabled Rockley Photonics to demonstrate a 12X performance improvement over legacy design flows.
“At Rockley Photonics, we routinely evaluate our system design methodology so we can find ways to improve and enable our engineering team to perform at their peaks,” said David Nelson, vice president, IC design at Rockley Photonics. “By using the integrated Cadence flow, we were able to capture a deterioration in the 50-60GHz frequency range through its cross-fabric coupling capabilities, whereas our previous flow, which utilized a single-fabric approach, was not able to capture the deterioration. In addition, the Clarity 3D Solver demonstrated impressive scaling up to 128 CPUs, and the entire 100GHz cross-fabric design was extracted in just three hours.”
The Cadence system analysis and custom tools support the company’s broader Intelligent System Design™ strategy, providing customers with an efficient path to achieve system innovation.
Cadence is a pivotal leader in electronic design, building upon more than 30 years of computational software expertise. The company applies its underlying Intelligent System Design strategy to deliver software, hardware and IP that turn design concepts into reality. Cadence customers are the world’s most innovative companies, delivering extraordinary electronic products from chips to boards to systems for the most dynamic market applications, including consumer, hyperscale computing, 5G communications, automotive, mobile, aerospace, industrial and healthcare. For six years in a row, Fortune magazine has named Cadence one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. Learn more at cadence.com.
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
Kodiak Assembly Solutions Renews ITAR Registration, Providing Secure and Compliant Manufacturing for Defense & Aerospace
09/25/2025 | Kodiak Assembly SolutionsKodiak Assembly Solutions LLLP, a leading electronics contract manufacturer, has successfully renewed its ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) registration.
Cyient DLM, A Voice from the Frontlines
09/24/2025 | Arpita Das, Global Electronics AssociationOnce seen as a low-cost, build-to-print destination, India’s EMS sector is rapidly emerging as a global hub for high-reliability electronics, particularly in strategic sectors like aerospace, defense, and medical. As such, we highlight some companies that exemplify the strength and potential of Indian manufacturing.
Nortech Systems Achieves Enhanced Fiber Optic Performance
09/16/2025 | Nortech SystemsNortech Systems Incorporated, a leading provider of design and manufacturing solutions for complex electromedical devices and electromechanical systems, announced significant advancements in its fiber optic capabilities.
Altair, Wichita State University’s NIAR Sign MoU to Accelerate Aerospace Innovation
09/16/2025 | AltairAltair, a global leader in computational intelligence, and Wichita State University’s (WSU) National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), one of the world’s leading aerospace research institutions, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance innovation across the aerospace and defense industries.
India’s Aerospace and Defence Engineered for Power, Driven by Electronics
09/16/2025 | Gaurab Majumdar, Global Electronics AssociationWith a defence budget of $82.05 billion (2025–26) and a massive $223 billion earmarked for aerospace and defence spending over the next decade, India is rapidly positioning itself as a major player in the global defence and aerospace market.