IP Library Granted Patent US 12,021,527
Granted Patent B2
US 12,021,527 · App. 17/170,887 · Granted Jun 25, 2024

Low-power biasing networks for superconducting integrated circuits

Inventors: Oleg A. Mukhanov (Putnam Valley, NY); Alexander F. Kirichenko (Pleasantville, NY); Dmitri Kirichenko (Yorktown Heights, NY)
Assignee: SeeQC, Inc.
H03K19/195H01B12/02H01B12/16H03K3/38H10N60/10H10N60/12H10N69/00Y10T29/49124
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,021,527
App. No.
17/170,887
Granted
Jun 25, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A superconducting integrated circuit, comprising a plurality of superconducting circuit elements, each having a variation in operating voltage over time; a common power line; and a plurality of bias circuits, each connected to the common power line, and to a respective superconducting circuit element, wherein each respective bias circuit is superconducting during at least one time portion of the operation of a respective superconducting circuit element, and is configured to supply the variation in operating voltage over time to the respective superconducting circuit element.

Claims (28)

1. A circuit, comprising:

a decision-making pair comprising a pair of Josephson junctions in series, configured to receive a clock pulse, wherein for each respective received clock pulse, one or the other, but not both of the pair of Josephson junctions in series switch;

a bias element configured to inject a bias current into the decision-making pair, configured to bias and critically damp the Josephson junctions of the decision-making pair, the bias element comprising a series inductor having an inductance such that the bias current is inversely proportional to the inductance over a range of operation.

2. The circuit according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of bias elements, configured to produce different operating voltages in a plurality of different branches of the circuit.

3. The circuit according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of bias elements are configured to produce different bias currents in the plurality of different branches.

4. The circuit according to claim 1 , wherein one of the pair of Josephson junctions in series is connected to a ground.

5. The circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the circuit comprises a Josephson transmission line (JTL).

6. The circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the decision-making pair is configured for qubit readout.

7. The circuit according to claim 6 , wherein the decision-making pair part of a quantum computer.

8. The circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising a single flux quantum logic element.

9. The circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the series inductor is a superconducting inductor.

10. The circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the bias element limits a current passing through the decision-making pair.

11. A circuit biasing method, comprising:

providing a decision-making pair comprising a pair of Josephson junctions in series;

receiving a clock pulse through a clock line;

switching one of the Josephson junctions in series of the decision-making pair for each respective clock pulse;

injecting a bias current into the decision-making pair to bias and critically damp the Josephson junctions of the decision-making pair, with a bias element comprising a series inductor having an inductance such that the bias current is inversely proportional to the inductance over a range of operation.

12. The circuit biasing method according to claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of bias elements, configured to produce different operating voltages in a plurality of different branches of the circuit.

13. The circuit biasing method according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of bias elements are configured to produce different bias currents in the plurality of different branches.

14. The circuit biasing method according to claim 11 , wherein the circuit comprises a Josephson transmission line (JTL).

15. The circuit biasing method according to claim 11 , wherein the decision-making pair is configured for qubit readout.

16. The circuit biasing method according to claim 15 , wherein the decision-making pair part of a quantum computer.

17. The circuit biasing method according to claim 11 , wherein the circuit comprises a single flux quantum logic element.

18. The circuit biasing method according to claim 11 , wherein the series inductor is a superconducting inductor, and the bias element limits a current passing through the decision-making pair.

19. A superconducting integrated circuit, comprising:

a plurality of superconducting circuit elements each receiving an operating current, comprising a decision-making pair of Josephson junctions configured to receive clock pulses and for each clock pulse for one but not both Josephson junctions to switch;

a bias element, configured to bias the Josephson junctions of the decision-making pair below a critical current with critical damping with an inductor having a high kinetic inductance.

20. The superconducting integrated circuit according to claim 19 , wherein the decision-making pair is configured for qubit readout from a quantum computer.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2025
From: MUKHANOV, OLEG, DR.; KIRICHENKO, ALEXANDER F., DR.; KIRICHENKO, DMITRI, DR.
To: HYPRES, INC.
Reel/Frame 073347/0358 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2025
From: HYPRES, INC.
To: SEEQC INC.
Reel/Frame 074160/0792 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 15852910 · Dec 22, 2017
Continuation 15290583 · Oct 11, 2016
Continuation 14996926 · Jan 15, 2016
Continuation 14064267 · Oct 25, 2013
Continuation 12902572 · Oct 12, 2010
Provisional Application 61369927 · Aug 2, 2010
Provisional Application 61250838 · Oct 12, 2009
Related Publication 20210226635A1 · Jul 22, 2021