IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,596,951
Granted Patent B2
US 12,596,951 · App. 18/542,590 · Granted Apr 7, 2026

Multiscale contiguous block pixel entangler for image recognition on hybrid quantum-classical computing system

Inventors: Ananth Prakash Kaushik (Santa Clara, CA); Sonika Johri (Cupertino, CA); Jason John Iaconis (Boulder, CO); Soon Cheol Park (Suwon-si, KR); Hanlae Jo (Seoul, KR)
Assignees: IONQ, INC; Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation.
G06N10/40G06V10/82G06V10/955
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,596,951
App. No.
18/542,590
Granted
Apr 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of performing implementing a quantum convolutional neural network (QCNN) in a hybrid quantum-classical computing system includes performing a data load operation, a set of a convolutional layer operation and a pooling operation, a measurement operation. The data load operation includes encoding pixel data of an input image onto a quantum processor using column qubits and row qubits. The convolutional layer operation includes a contiguous block pixel entangler that entangles a column qubit and a row qubit, depending on a pattern of a feature to detect in the input image. The pooling layer operation includes applying a series of one-qubit operations to the column qubits and the row qubits. The measurement operation includes measuring a state of an output qubit among the column qubits and the row qubits.

Claims (51)

1 . A method of implementing a quantum convolutional neural network (QCNN) in a hybrid quantum-classical computing system comprising a classical computer, a quantum processor, and a system controller, the method comprising:

performing a data load operation comprising:

receiving, by the classical computer, an input image having a two dimensional array of pixels arranged in columns and rows; and

encoding, by the system controller, pixel data of the input image onto the quantum processor using a plurality of column qubits and a plurality of row qubits, wherein the plurality of column qubits represents pixels along the column direction and the plurality of row qubits represents pixels along the row direction;

performing a set of a convolutional layer operation and a pooling layer operation,

the convolutional layer operation comprising applying, by the system controller, a contiguous block pixel entangler that entangles a column qubit of the plurality of column qubits and a row qubit of the plurality of row qubits, depending on a pattern of a feature to detect in the input image; and

the pooling layer operation comprising applying, by the system controller, a series of one-qubit operations to the plurality of column qubits and the plurality of row qubits;

performing a measurement operation comprising measuring, by the system controller, a state of an output qubit among the plurality of column qubits and the plurality of row qubits; and

outputting, by the classical computer, qubit state information relating to the measured state of the output qubit, wherein the qubit state information includes information relating to whether or not the feature is contained in the input image.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contiguous block pixel entangler entangles pixels arranged diagonally in a direction between the column direction and the row direction in the input image.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contiguous block pixel entangler entangles pixels arranged horizontally in the column direction in the input image.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contiguous block pixel entangler entangles pixels arranged vertically in the row direction in the input image.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contiguous block pixel entangler applied to a first column qubit of the plurality of column qubits and a first row qubit of the plurality of row qubits entangles pixels in a block of 2×2 contiguous pixels in the input image.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the contiguous block pixel entangler applied to the first column qubit of the plurality of column qubits and a second row qubit of the plurality of row qubits entangles pixels in a block of 2×4 contiguous pixels in the input image.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the contiguous block pixel entangler applied to a second column qubit of the plurality of column qubits and the first row qubit of the plurality of row qubits entangles pixels in a block of 4×2 contiguous pixels in the input image.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of the convolutional layer operation and the pooling layer operation is repeated until the information about whether or not the feature is contained in the input image is contained in the output qubit.

9 . A hybrid quantum-classical computing system, comprising:

a quantum processor comprising a plurality of trapped ions, each of the trapped ions having two hyperfine states defining a qubit;

a system controller configured to control one or more lasers configured to emit a laser beam, which is provided to trapped ions in the quantum processor; and

a classical computer configured to:

receive an input image having a two dimensional array of pixels arranged in columns and rows;

control the system controller to encode pixel data of the input image onto the quantum processor using a plurality of column qubits and a plurality of row qubits, wherein the plurality of column qubits represents pixels along the column direction and the plurality of row qubits represents pixels along the row direction;

control the system controller to perform a set of a convolutional layer operation and a pooling layer operation,

the convolutional layer operation comprising applying a contiguous block pixel entangler that entangles a column qubit of the plurality of column qubits and a row qubit of the plurality of row qubits, depending on a pattern of a feature to detect in the input image; and

the pooling layer operation comprising applying a series of one-qubit operations to the plurality of column qubits and the plurality of row qubits;

control the system controller to perform a measurement operation comprising measuring a state of an output qubit among the plurality of column qubits and the plurality of row qubits; and

output qubit state information relating to the measured state of the output qubit, wherein the qubit state information includes information relating to whether or not the feature is contained in the input image.

10 . The hybrid quantum-classical computing system of claim 9 , wherein

each of the trapped ions is 171 Yb + having the 2 S 1/2 hyperfine states.

11 . The hybrid quantum-classical computing system of claim 9 , wherein

each of the trapped ions is one selected from Be + , Ca + , Sr + , Mg+, Ba + , Zn + , Hg + , Cd + .

12 . The hybrid quantum-classical computing system of claim 9 , wherein the contiguous block pixel entangler entangles pixels arranged diagonally in a direction between the column direction and the row direction in the input image.

13 . The hybrid quantum-classical computing system of claim 9 , wherein the contiguous block pixel entangler entangles pixels arranged horizontally in the column direction in the input image.

14 . The hybrid quantum-classical computing system of claim 9 , wherein the contiguous block pixel entangler entangles pixels arranged vertically in the row direction in the input image.

15 . The hybrid quantum-classical computing system of claim 9 , wherein the contiguous block pixel entangler applied to a first column qubit of the plurality of column qubits and a first row qubit of the plurality of row qubits entangles pixels in a block of 2×2 contiguous pixels in the input image.

16 . The hybrid quantum-classical computing system of claim 15 , wherein the contiguous block pixel entangler applied to the first column qubit of the plurality of column qubits and a second row qubit of the plurality of row qubits entangles pixels in a block of 2×4 contiguous pixels in the input image.

17 . The hybrid quantum-classical computing system of claim 16 , wherein the contiguous block pixel entangler applied to a second column qubit of the plurality of column qubits and the first row qubit of the plurality of row qubits entangles pixels in a block of 4×2 contiguous pixels in the input image.

18 . A hybrid quantum-classical computing system comprising non-volatile memory having a number of instructions stored therein which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the hybrid quantum-classical computing system to perform operations comprising:

performing a data load operation comprising:

receiving, by a classical computer, an input image having a two dimensional array of pixels arranged in columns and rows; and

encoding, by a system controller, pixel data of the input image onto a quantum processor using a plurality of column qubits and a plurality of row qubits, wherein the plurality of column qubits represents pixels along the column direction and the plurality of row qubits represents pixels along the row direction;

performing a set of a convolutional layer operation and a pooling layer operation,

the convolutional layer operation comprising applying, by the system controller, a contiguous block pixel entangler that entangles a column qubit of the plurality of column qubits and a row qubit of the plurality of row qubits, depending on a pattern of a feature to detect in the input image; and

the pooling layer operation comprising applying, by the system controller, a series of one-qubit operations to the plurality of column qubits and the plurality of row qubits;

performing a measurement operation comprising measuring, by the system controller, a state of an output qubit among the plurality of column qubits and the plurality of row qubits; and

outputting, by the classical computer, qubit state information relating to the measured state of the output qubit, wherein the qubit state information includes information relating to whether or not the feature is contained in the input image.

19 . The hybrid quantum-classical computing system of claim 18 , wherein the contiguous block pixel entangler entangles pixels arranged diagonally in a direction between the column direction and the row direction in the input image, pixels arranged horizontally in the column direction in the input image, or pixels arranged vertically in the row direction in the input image.

20 . The hybrid quantum-classical computing system of claim 18 , wherein

the contiguous block pixel entangler applied to a first column qubit of the plurality of column qubits and a first row qubit of the plurality of row qubits entangles pixels in a block of 2×2 contiguous pixels in the input image,

the contiguous block pixel entangler applied to the first column qubit of the plurality of column qubits and a second row qubit of the plurality of row qubits entangles pixels in a block of 2×4 contiguous pixels in the input image, and

the contiguous block pixel entangler applied to a second column qubit of the plurality of column qubits and the first row qubit of the plurality of row qubits entangles pixels in a block of 4×2 contiguous pixels in the input image.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2026
From: PARK, SOON CHEOL; JO, HANLAE
To: KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 073914/0699 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2026
From: PARK, SOON CHEOL; JO, HANLAE
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Reel/Frame 073914/0730 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NUMBER FROM 18/542,511 TO 18/542,590. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 69903 FRAME 750. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 27, 2025
From: PARK, SOON CHEOL; JO, HANLAE
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 070361/0450 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2025
From: PARK, SOON CHEOL; JO, HANLAE
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069903/0750 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2024
From: KAUSHIK, ANANTH PRAKASH; JOHRI, SONIKA; IACONIS, JASON JOHN
To: IONQ, INC.
Reel/Frame 067036/0600 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63435511 · Dec 27, 2022
Related Publication 20240370757A1 · Nov 7, 2024
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