Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

This half day morning course is run for anyone working with patients with a cochlear implant who would like to feel more confident using and handling the speech processors.  It will take place at the Southampton University Avenue Campus.

You will have time working in small groups handling the processors and accessories. The AIS Team will be available on the day to guide you through the 3 different manufacturers' processors and explain how to troubleshoot so that you can feel more confident when you are out in the field. 

Delegates will be asked to choose 2 out of the 3 manufacturers to spend time learning about (Med-EL, Advanced Bionics and Cochlear).

It will take place in the morning and will be delivered FREE OF CHARGE if you are supporting an USAIS patient.

If you are not supporting an USAIS patient, the cost for the course will be £25.00.

Booking Information

Payment using the Online Store can only be completed via Visa and Mastercard Credit/Debit Card or PayPal.  AMEX is not accepted.

If you have NOT previously created an account for the Online Store, you will need to create an account to make a booking.

Please ensure you complete the questionnaire fully and provide your car registration number if you would like parking. 

Please make a note of which car registration number you have provided in case this changes.  Bring evidence of booking, which will be provided prior to the course date.

If you have any accessibility requirements, we will contact you to ensure you are aware of what we can do to support you.

This advanced course provides practical training in the design and simulation of photonic devices and photonic integrated circuits (PICs) using Ansys Lumerical and Synopsys OptoCompiler. Delegates will learn the underlying theory of key photonic components and circuits, then apply it through guided design and simulation exercises using industry-standard tools and the CORNERSTONE process design kit (PDK).

This course was developed with funding from the CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre programme (EP/Z531066/1) and is offered at a heavily discounted rate exclusively to eligible delegates from UK academia and other EPSRC-eligible organisations, and qualifying UK start-ups. Please contact cornerstone@soton.ac.uk with any eligibility queries.

What will you gain?

• An understanding of where PICs can be deployed, their advantages and limitations.
• A high-level comprehension of PIC components and how they can form larger circuits.
• Industrial level skills in PIC design through hands-on guided lesson plans

Pre-requisites:
Delegates should have background experience in PICs and their applications. Some previous experience of using design and simulation software would be beneficial.

Access to some design tools software may be subject to applicable US export-control requirements. Registration is therefore subject to an eligibility and export-control check undertaken by STFC. Payment and submission of a registration do not constitute acceptance onto the course; participation will be confirmed once these checks have been completed and an order acceptance confirmation has been issued.

Further details:
This course will cover the following topics:

• An introduction to the field of photonics and a selection of devices typically found in a PDK
• Good-practice design flow for photonic devices and photonic integrated circuits
• The theory of optical waveguiding and cross-sectional (mode) design
• The Lumerical CAD environment and defining device structures
• Performing modal analysis with Lumerical MODE, FDE and FEEM
• Exploring and optimising a parameter space with the built in Optimizer
• Performing propagation analysis with EME (Eigenmode Expansion, FDTD (Finite Difference Time Domain) and varFDTD
• Incorporating additional physical effects using the Multi-Physics Utility
• Example device theory and implementation: directional coupler, MZI, MMI, ring resonator and carrier effect phase shifter
• Custom device model creation in the Custom Model Library Compiler (CML)
• An introduction to the OptoCompiler environment and cell libraries
• Circuit schematic design with optical and electronic components
• An introduction to electro-optic circuit design and simulation theory
• Functional vs physical circuit simulation, in an OptSim testbench in PrimeWave
• Performing parametric sweeps, Monte-Carlo simulations, and Corner analysis
• Mask layout design with manual place-and-connect, or SDL
• Circuit verification with DRC and LVS
• Example circuit theory and implementation: PAM-4 transceiver, QPSK, 16-QAM

Background theory and design concepts are presented in lectures, prior to hands-on practical exercises with the Synopsys tools and the CORNERSTONE process design kit (PDK).

This advanced course provides practical training in the design and simulation of photonic devices and photonic integrated circuits (PICs) using Ansys Lumerical and Synopsys OptoCompiler. Delegates will learn the underlying theory of key photonic components and circuits, then apply it through guided design and simulation exercises using industry-standard tools and the CORNERSTONE process design kit (PDK).

This course was developed with funding from the CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre programme (EP/Z531066/1) and is offered at a heavily discounted rate exclusively to eligible delegates from UK academia and other EPSRC-eligible organisations, and qualifying UK start-ups. Please contact cornerstone@soton.ac.uk with any eligibility queries.

What will you gain?

• An understanding of where PICs can be deployed, their advantages and limitations.
• A high-level comprehension of PIC components and how they can form larger circuits.
• Industrial level skills in PIC design through hands-on guided lesson plans

Pre-requisites:
Delegates should have background experience in PICs and their applications. Some previous experience of using design and simulation software would be beneficial.

Access to some design tools software may be subject to applicable US export-control requirements. Registration is therefore subject to an eligibility and export-control check undertaken by STFC. Payment and submission of a registration do not constitute acceptance onto the course; participation will be confirmed once these checks have been completed and an order acceptance confirmation has been issued.

Further details:
This course will cover the following topics:

• An introduction to the field of photonics and a selection of devices typically found in a PDK
• Good-practice design flow for photonic devices and photonic integrated circuits
• The theory of optical waveguiding and cross-sectional (mode) design
• The Lumerical CAD environment and defining device structures
• Performing modal analysis with Lumerical MODE, FDE and FEEM
• Exploring and optimising a parameter space with the built in Optimizer
• Performing propagation analysis with EME (Eigenmode Expansion, FDTD (Finite Difference Time Domain) and varFDTD
• Incorporating additional physical effects using the Multi-Physics Utility
• Example device theory and implementation: directional coupler, MZI, MMI, ring resonator and carrier effect phase shifter
• Custom device model creation in the Custom Model Library Compiler (CML)
• An introduction to the OptoCompiler environment and cell libraries
• Circuit schematic design with optical and electronic components
• An introduction to electro-optic circuit design and simulation theory
• Functional vs physical circuit simulation, in an OptSim testbench in PrimeWave
• Performing parametric sweeps, Monte-Carlo simulations, and Corner analysis
• Mask layout design with manual place-and-connect, or SDL
• Circuit verification with DRC and LVS
• Example circuit theory and implementation: PAM-4 transceiver, QPSK, 16-QAM

Background theory and design concepts are presented in lectures, prior to hands-on practical exercises with the Synopsys tools and the CORNERSTONE process design kit (PDK).

This two-day in-person lab introduces the core fabrication processes for PICs, highlighting how process constraints drive design choices and influence yield. Participants rotate through six cleanroom stations, gaining hands-on experience with equipment, safety procedures, and inspection steps while following the journey of a PIC that they take away at the end.

What will you gain?

• Clear understanding of each stage in a typical PIC fabrication flow
• Practical familiarity with cleanroom tooling, safety, and process controls
• Appreciation of how fabrication tolerances affect performance and layout decisions
• A fabricated Course PIC to reinforce learning beyond the classroom

Planned Activities

• Introductory lectures on fabrication steps and typical failure modes
• Guided practice across lithography, etch, deposition, and metrology stations
• Small-group rotations to maximise time on tools and supervision
• Final debrief covering design-for-manufacture tips and troubleshooting

Payment using the Online Store can only be completed via Visa and Mastercard Credit/Debit Card or PayPal.  AMEX is not accepted.
If you have not previously created an account for the Online Store, you will need to create an account to make a booking.

Email 05/11/2026

This two-day in-person lab introduces the core fabrication processes for PICs, highlighting how process constraints drive design choices and influence yield. Participants rotate through six cleanroom stations, gaining hands-on experience with equipment, safety procedures, and inspection steps while following the journey of a PIC that they take away at the end.

What will you gain?

• Clear understanding of each stage in a typical PIC fabrication flow
• Practical familiarity with cleanroom tooling, safety, and process controls
• Appreciation of how fabrication tolerances affect performance and layout decisions
• A fabricated Course PIC to reinforce learning beyond the classroom

Planned Activities

• Introductory lectures on fabrication steps and typical failure modes
• Guided practice across lithography, etch, deposition, and metrology stations
• Small-group rotations to maximise time on tools and supervision
• Final debrief covering design-for-manufacture tips and troubleshooting

Payment using the Online Store can only be completed via Visa and Mastercard Credit/Debit Card or PayPal.  AMEX is not accepted.
If you have not previously created an account for the Online Store, you will need to create an account to make a booking.

Email 05/11/2026