APSS outline

APSS is the new generation design tool which provides complete solution and makes designing photonic devices and circuits faster and easier than ever before. APSS combines advanced design capabilities with innovative simulation tools, making it the most sophisticated CAD software suite available. Its unique capabilities give designers unprecedented flexibility over their project development. Designed for both general and advanced users, APSS offers both the simplicity and flexibility to rapidly create innovative photonic device and circuit designs. APSS is the first-ever commencial design tool for photonic integrated circuits (PICs), and based on Object Oriented Design Flow (OODF) . APSS circuit module was introduced in 2001 , and since then it has been used by many companies worldwide. This module is so important and essential in designing complex Photonic devices that other Photonic software companies is following APSS circuit. In order to respond the progress of PC technology, we have recently released version 2.4 which can stably operate under Windows 7. Fully Integrated hierarchial platform The full integration of material, waveguide, device and circuit modeling in an easy-to-use hierarchical framework provides an easy and complete design solution to complex photonic devices and circuit. Application oriented and method embedded Following the designers' interests, APSS focus on the design problem itself, rather than the simulation algorithms, which usually require extensive knowledge in totally different fields. Equipped with all available leading algorithms, APSS will automatically determine which method should be used based on the physical problem and designers' requirements. It is possible for APSS algorithms can be changed in each region considering exact physics. Comprehensive simulation tools Powered by embedded powerful simulation technologies, the APSS emphases on solutions and makes designers focus more their physical problems, rather than the detail mathematical algorithm. All analytical and numerical methods (BPM[Beam Propagation Method], FDTD[Finite-Difference Time-Domain], CBPM[Cylindrical BPM], BPM+FDTD, CMT[Coupled Mode Theory], TMM[Transfer Matrix Method]) available in APSS, and designers can use any method based on their applications. Knowledge based libraries APSS pre-defined, knowledge-based component libraries for standard and customized device structures dramatically simplify the design procedure. To overcome the entrance barrier and shorten the learn curve for new users, all the possible known knowledge is built in those pre-defined libraries and user do not need to read all the details before they can start the design work. For instance, to design an AWG device, users could follow the wizard and make several simple selections. With the pre-built knowledge, the default structure works and meets the requirement, which can be verified by performing simulation.