Physik Instrumente (PI) has introduced a new algorithm for photonic chip alignment at SPIE Photonics West, PiLightning. The company says Pilightning is completely autonomous and requires no tedious search or manual intervention, significantly reducing the cost of testing and assembly for industrial photonics alignment applications. This product opens up new possibilities for photonics to achieve large-scale manufacturing.
Back in 2016, PI introduced Fast Multichannel Photonics Alignment (FMPA). This technology reduces the time and cost of manufacturing and testing photonic devices, and increases yields. But before the optimization alignment process can begin, the optical signal above the noise level must be detected – a process known as initial light detection.
In all industrial photonics alignment applications, including wafer probing and device packaging, finding the first beam of light has always been an expensive and laborious process. This is especially time-consuming for devices with input and output ports, as the two sides must be aligned to achieve the threshold coupling amount.
To solve this problem, Pilightning is based on a new search method that integrates real-time execution capabilities based on artificial intelligence. Replacing fine-pitch scanning with high-frequency data sampling increases acquisition speed and reduces the time required to acquire the first beam of light in single- and double-sided coupled and loopback (omega) waveguide configurations. 
According to the company, tests have shown that Pilightning achieves an order of magnitude of performance improvement in single-sided alignment applications; In double-sided initial light inspection applications, the performance is even higher, and the larger the search area and the more complex the alignment, the more significant the performance gain.
The Pillightning algorithm is now available directly for use in PI's ultra-clean air bearing-based F-142 and F-143 multi-axis optoelectronic alignment systems, as well as ACS-based nanocube and directional mirror controllers. Further module expansions and potential upgrades are currently underway to the existing FMPA system.
This article was published in picmagazinenet, only as industry information and news sharing).About Luceda Photonics:
Luceda Photonics is a software provider for the design automation of optoelectronic chips spun off from the IMEC Microelectronics Research Center in Belgium, the University of Ghent and the Université Libre de Bruxelles. As a leading enterprise in the field of optoelectronic chip design automation software, we are committed to providing customers with full-process software and services for optoelectronic chip design, PDK construction and operation and maintenance, and helping optoelectronic integrated design engineers enjoy the same "first-time-successful" design experience as electronic integrated design engineers. With the landing of luceda China in Shanghai, luceda provides Chinese customers with more efficient and closer to customer services, adheres to the people-oriented concept and open and win-win attitude, and uses cutting-edge professional technology and good design experience to help improve product quality, shorten product launch cycle, cultivate core competitiveness, and promote the rapid development of China's optoelectronics and related fields.