Design Automation Tools for Micro-Scale Mixed Technology Systems

The confluence of “system on a chip” integration levels with new micro-scale optical, optoelectronic and electromechanical components has enabled the fabrication of an entirely new class of systems: micro-optical electrical mechanical systems, called MOEMS or OMEMS. These mixed technology micro-systems have the potential of drastically reducing the size and cost of digital communications and computation systems. Our research if focused on tools to support micro-scale mixed technology system design. This includes five main topics: light propagation models for micro-optics, mixed-domain component models, a corresponding mixed-domain simulation environment, a 3D user interface, and design and analysis techniques that directly incorporate the additional performance concerns of mixed-technology systems.