Visual representation of different structure ports in schematics of photonic integrated circuits
In one aspect, a method for displaying incompatible ports at the schematic design stage comprises the following. A schematic of a photonic integrated circuit is accessed. The schematic comprises a plurality of optical components that have ports, and the optical components are connected at their ports. A processor determines the structures of the ports. Typically, the structure of a port is determined by the cross-sectional shape and the material(s) of the port. The schematic of the photonic integrated circuit is displayed, with different visual indicators for ports with different structures. For example, ports with different structures may be represented by symbols of different colors, different outlines, different fill patterns or other types of non-textual visual indicators.
1. A method comprising:
accessing a schematic of a photonic integrated circuit, wherein the schematic comprises aplurality of optical components that have ports and the optical components are connected at the ports;
determining, by a processor, structures of the ports; and
providing the schematic with visual indicators for the ports based on the determined structures of the ports, wherein the ports with different structures are associated with different visual indicators.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the schematic further comprises providing the same visual indicator for ports with the same structure.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the structures of the ports include cross-sectional shapes of the ports.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the structures of the ports include materials comprising the ports.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the schematic comprises providing symbols of different colors for the ports with the different structures.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the schematic comprises providing symbols with different fill patterns and/or different outlines for the ports with the different structures.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the visual indicators are non-textual.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the optical components comprise transition components that transition between the ports with the different structures.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the visual indicators indicate which of the transition components have the same structure.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the schematic does not distinguish whether the ports are input ports or output ports.
11. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising stored instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
access a schematic of a photonic integrated circuit, the schematic comprising a plurality of connected optical components, wherein the optical components have ports and the optical components are connected at the ports;
determine structures of the ports; and
provide the schematic with visual indicators for the ports based on the determined structures of the ports, wherein the ports with different structures are associated with different visual indicators.
12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the structures of the ports include cross-sectional shapes of the ports and materials comprising the ports.
13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein providing the schematic comprises providing symbols of different colors for the ports with the different structures.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein providing the schematic comprises providing symbols with different fill patterns and/or different outlines for the ports with the different structures.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the optical components comprise transition components that transition between the ports with the different structures, and the visual indicators indicate which of the transition components have the same structure.
16. A system comprising:
a memory storing instructions; and
a processor, coupled with the memory and to execute the instructions, the instructions when executed cause the processor to:
access a schematic of a photonic integrated circuit, the schematic comprising a plurality of connected optical components, wherein the optical components have ports and the optical components are connected at the ports;
determine structures of the ports; and
provide the schematic with visual indicators for the ports based on the determined structures of the ports, wherein the ports with different structures are associated with different visual indicators.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein the structures of the ports include cross-sectional shapes of the ports and materials comprising the ports.
18. The system of claim 16 wherein the visual representation of the schematic comprises symbols of different colors for the ports with the different structures.
19. The system of claim 16 wherein the visual representation of the schematic comprises symbols with different fill patterns and/or different outlines for the ports with the different structures.
20. The system of claim 16 wherein the optical components comprise transition components that transition between the ports with the different structures, and the visual indicators indicate which of the transition components have the same structure.