SLUUDD5 September   2025

 

  1.   1
  2.   Abstract
  3.   Trademarks
  4. 1Introduction
  5. 2Quick Start Guide
  6. 3Home Screen
  7. 4Starting a New Simulation
  8. 5Running the Simulations and Outputs

4 Starting a New Simulation

Once a package type is selected, the simulation window will be displayed, as shown in Figure 4-1.

Simulation Window Figure 4-1 Simulation Window

Upon entering the design window, the user sees a 2D slice of the package within an enclosure and a light source. On the right side of the screen, there are several different parameters where the user can edit the design displayed to the left.

In the design edit menu, the first parameter of interest is the “Sensor selection” drop-down menu. This drop-down allows the user to select all the different optical sensors available for the selected package type, as shown in Figure 4-2.

Sensor Selection Drop-Down Figure 4-2 Sensor Selection Drop-Down

Below the Sensor Select Drop-down, there is a layer menu. As shown in Figure 4-3, there is already an existing layer titled “Enclosure” that already has defined properties.

Layer Settings Figure 4-3 Layer Settings

This “Enclosure” layer is the light grey layer displayed in the 2D slice window, as shown in Figure 4-4.

"Enclosure" Layer Figure 4-4 "Enclosure" Layer

In the layer settings shown in Figure 4-3, the user can edit the existing layer by changing the values of each parameter. For example, if the user wants to change the width of the enclosure hole, the user can simply enter a new value (in micrometers) in the “Aperture width” box. This will update the design immediately, as shown in Figure 4-5.

Aperture Width Figure 4-5 Aperture Width

In addition to the aperture width, the user can customize the height of enclosure as well as the distance of the enclosure from the sensor, as shown in Figure 4-6 and Figure 4-7.

Layer Height Figure 4-6 Layer Height
Distance Above Lower Layer Figure 4-7 Distance Above Lower Layer

The final layer property that the user can change is the cover type. The user can select between a window or a dark cover/light pipe as shown in Figure 4-8.

Cover Types Figure 4-8 Cover Types

By default, the “Enclosure” layer is defined as a window. For window layers, the opening above the sensor is air only. When using a dark cover/light pipe layer, the aperture is filled with a glass surface with a user defined refractive index (see Figure 4-9).

Dark Cover/Light Pipe Refractive Index Figure 4-9 Dark Cover/Light Pipe Refractive Index

Optomechanical systems may consist of more than one layer. For example, a dark cover placed over a window or light pipe. There can be several layers of adhesive or bonding materials, spacers, or mounting features that can affect the sensor’s field of view. The user has the ability to add layers for these kinds of designs by clicking the “Add Layer” button, shown in Figure 4-10.

Add Layer Button Figure 4-10 Add Layer Button

Each layer has the same properties that the user can customize. For example, Figure 4-11 shows a stack-up consisting of a dark cover and a light pipe.

Example Stack-up Figure 4-11 Example Stack-up
Cover Glass Layer Figure 4-12 Cover Glass Layer
Light Pipe Layer Figure 4-13 Light Pipe Layer

The tool allows the user to name a design by clicking the box on the top left under the “TI OptiSim” title, as shown in Figure 4-14.

Name Design Figure 4-14 Name Design

On the top right of Figure 4-15, the user can then choose to save this design to JSON by selecting the three dots under the user’s name.

Save and Import Design Figure 4-15 Save and Import Design