Custom Signal Generation (VPI)

In co-simulation scenarios involving VPI (VPI Photonics) and MATLAB, custom signal generation serves as a critical technology that enables users to flexibly produce various complex optical or electrical signals to meet specific simulation requirements. While VPI provides comprehensive built-in signal source modules, certain scenarios necessitate custom signal waveforms or modulation formats, leveraging MATLAB's robust numerical computation and signal processing capabilities. Through the VPI-MATLAB co-simulation interface, users can develop custom signal generation scripts and seamlessly integrate them into VPI's optical communication system simulations. The typical custom signal generation workflow involves the following key steps: First, define signal characteristics in the time or frequency domain using MATLAB, specifying parameters such as pulse shape, modulation format (e.g., QAM, PSK), or noise properties through numerical arrays and signal processing functions. Then, utilize VPI's interface functions (e.g., vpi::matlab2vpi or equivalent API calls) to transfer the signal data to VPI's simulation environment, ensuring proper data format conversion and synchronization. Finally, process or analyze the signal within VPI's specialized environment, implementing operations like fiber transmission modeling using nonlinear Schrödinger equation solvers or receiver detection with photodetector components. This approach maximizes MATLAB's flexibility in signal processing algorithms (such as FIR filter design or constellation mapping) while leveraging VPI's professional-grade optical system simulation capabilities. Whether investigating novel modulation formats, testing equalization algorithms using LMS or CMA approaches, or simulating specific channel impairments like chromatic dispersion, custom signal generation provides highly customizable input signals for advanced simulation experiments. Key implementation considerations include optimizing data transfer efficiency between platforms and ensuring sample rate consistency through proper interpolation functions.