Latest Blog Articles

Improve Your AR/VR Design Simulations with Optical Scattering Measurements

See how bidirectional scattering distribution function (BSDF) and total integrated scattering (TIS) measurements can improve your AR/VR designs with the help of Synopsys optical measurement systems.

The Next Revolution in Optics – Metalenses

What are metalenses, the challenges in designing them, and how could they potentially be the next revolution in optics? Metalenses hold great promise in reducing the size of optical systems, but there are challenges, in both designing and manufacturing them to scale.

Software Updates and Features

Important Notice Regarding Older Versions of Optical Solutions Software

As part of our move to Synopsys Common Licensing (SCL), we will be discontinuing the distribution of older versions of some Optical Solutions software. Effective October 1, 2023, we will remove older versions of CODE V, LightTools, LucidShape, LucidShape CAA V5 Based, and LucidDrive from the download pages on SolvNetPlus.

If you anticipate needing to install these versions after October 1, 2023, please download the software executables to archive locally prior to October 1, 2023.

If you are still using older versions of Optical Solutions software tools, you can continue to use and receive support for them in accordance with the terms of your license agreement. However, affected versions will no longer be available for download from Synopsys after October 1, 2023. If you anticipate that you might need to reinstall them at some point in the future, we advise you to download the software executables from SolvNetPlus before October 1, 2023 and to archive them at your site. This will ensure that you can continue using older versions without interruption. Please note that you must be on active maintenance and have an active SolvNetPlus account to download software from SolvNetPlus. 

The software versions affected by this change are listed below. 

Software Versions No Longer Available after October 1, 2023
CODE V

2022.03-1 and before

LightTools

2022.03-1 and before

LucidShape

2022.03 and before

LucidShape CAA V5 Based

2022.06-1 and before

LucidDrive

2021.12 and before

Floating License Manager

9.3 and before

Previous versions of RSoft Photonic Device Tools are not affected by this licensing transition and will continue to be available on SolvNetPlus. Note that we are planning releases of LucidShape and LucidShape CAA V5 Based between now and October that will remain on SolvNetPlus after October 1, 2023. 

Your existing licenses and renewed licenses for the listed products will continue to work with the software past October 1, 2023. Note that the listed product versions do not support Synopsys Common Licensing (SCL). 

Because we will no longer be able to distribute the versions listed above after October 1, 2023, please take action soon. Synopsys would like to assist you if you have questions or concerns about this change, interest in enhancements provided in new versions of the software, or concerns about upgrading your legacy software versions to the current versions. If you are a distributor customer, please contact your distributor for assistance. 

We appreciate your business and hope that you find continued value in our software features, accuracy, and customer service for many years to come. If you have any questions or concerns about the software versions to be removed from SolvNetPlus or the SCL transition, please reach out to Optical Solutions Sales at osg_sales@synopsys.com. We will be happy to assist you. 

SmartStart Library Updates

The SmartStart Library includes optical properties and materials for commercially available diffusers, reflectors, mold textures, plastics, and glasses to help designers model optical systems with greater accuracy and physical realism. It is available as a separate module in LightTools and LucidShape.

Synopsys regularly adds content to the SmartStart Library on SolvNetPlus. The latest updates include additional optical properties and materials from well-known manufacturers including Brightview, Covestro, LG Chem, Luminit, MOCOM, Plaskolite, Rhoem and Trinseo. Additionally, some new catalogs were added for INEOS and Hecker.

To achieve the most accurate simulation results, we recommend downloading the new quarterly release, and replacing those datasets in your downloaded SmartStart Library with these newly published ones.

To access the SmartStart library updates and installation instructions:

1. Log into SolvNetPlus.

2. Click one of the following links:

If you are not currently licensing the SmartStart Library and would like to learn more, read our datasheet. You can also contact the SmartStart Library team at smartstart_support@synopsys.com.

Upcoming Events

SPIE Optics + Photonics

August 22-24, 2023, Booth 319

Visit Synopsys to learn more about our optical design software, hardware, and services. We’ll be glad to show you how our latest innovations can help you get superior optical products to market faster. Also, attend presentations by Synopsys staff.

US Driving Vision News Workshop

August 29-30, 2023

Visit Synopsys at the 28th annual DVN Workshop in San Francisco. This year's theme will highlight how new technologies will contribute to increase safety in our world. The event will bring together more than 250 worldwide participants, managers, and experts in the automotive lighting industry.

Save the Date: Optical Solutions User Conference

November 8, 2023
Sunnyvale, CA, 9:00 a.m. PDT
In-person and virtual event

Save the Date: Optical Solutions User Conference | Synopsys

Europe

  • September 21: LightTools Optical Design Day – Hyeres, France
  • September 25–27: ISAL – Darmstadt, Germany
  • October 2–4: ECOC – Glasgow, Scotland
  • October 10: LightTools Optical Design Day – Theale, United Kingdom
  • October 17: LightTools Optical Design Day – Munich, Germany

Singapore

Tech Talks on Demand


Check out these tech talks on SolvNetPlus (account required):

Product Help Articles

Browse our expanding library of technical articles about a particular topic or learn a new tip on any of our software. First, log into SolvNetPlus, and then browse the collection of articles:

Latest Articles:

Other Announcements

Call for Technical Papers

Have you written a technical paper that used our software? Let us know! We may feature it in our social media promotions, and you will also receive a gift from us. Email us

Technical Papers

Optics Glossary Terms You Should Know

Need Engineering Help?

Our expert optical design consultants can help you meet your product design goals. Contact us today and let us do the work for you.

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Maryvonne teaches the workshop on MetaOptic Designer at the META Conference
Chenglin Xu at the Synopsys booth at the META Conference

Staff engineer, Chenglin Xu, at the recent META Conference 2023 in Paris, France on July 18

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