IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,737,661
Granted Patent B2
US 12,737,661 · App. 18/826,681 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Quantum computer system and method of operating a quantum computer chip

Inventors: Flavio Heer (Zurich, CH); Arsenii Krasnov (Zurich, CH); Fabian Schenkel (Zurich, CH); Christoph Ruehle (Zurich, CH); David Mueller (Zurich, CH); Fabian Pfaeffli (Zurich, CH); Remigius Mommsen (Zurich, CH); Tobias Thiele (Zurich, CH)
Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
G06N10/40G06N10/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,737,661
App. No.
18/826,681
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A quantum computer system includes a control and analysis circuit, a transmission module, a plurality of qubits of a quantum computer chip, and a chip connection circuit. The control and analysis circuit is configured to generate a plurality of electrical signals for the plurality of qubits, and to analyze a plurality of electrical read-out signals received from the plurality of qubits. The chip connection circuit is configured to apply the plurality of electrical signals to the plurality of qubits, and to obtain the plurality of electrical read-out signals from the plurality of qubits. The transmission module includes an optical data connection, a first converter circuit, and a second converter circuit. The optical data connection connects the first converter circuit and the second converter circuit, wherein the optical data connection is configured to transmit optical signals between the first converter circuit and the second converter circuit.

Claims (58)

1 . A quantum computer system, comprising:

a control and analysis circuit, a transmission module, a plurality of qubits of a quantum computer chip, a chip connection circuit, and a cryostat having a housing,

wherein the control and analysis circuit is configured to:

generate a plurality of electrical signals for the plurality of qubits of the quantum computer chip, and

analyze a plurality of electrical read-out signals received from the plurality of qubits of the quantum computer chip,

wherein the chip connection circuit is configured to:

apply the plurality of electrical signals to the plurality of qubits of the quantum computer chip, and

obtain the plurality of electrical read-out signals from the plurality of qubits of the quantum computer chip,

wherein the transmission module comprises an optical data connection, a first converter circuit, and a second converter circuit,

wherein the optical data connection connects the first converter circuit and the second converter circuit, wherein the optical data connection is configured to transmit optical signals between the first converter circuit and the second converter circuit,

wherein the first converter circuit is configured to convert the plurality of electrical signals generated by the control and analysis circuit into a plurality of optical signals,

wherein the second converter circuit is configured to convert the plurality of optical signals back into the plurality of electrical signals,

wherein the second converter circuit further is configured to convert the plurality of electrical read-out signals obtained by the chip connection circuit into a plurality of optical read-out signals,

wherein the first converter circuit further is configured to convert the plurality of optical read-out signals back into the plurality of electrical read-out signals,

wherein the chip connection circuit is arranged within the housing, and

wherein the second converter circuit is arranged according to one of:

(a) the second converter circuit is arranged on an outside of the housing;

(b) the cryostat has a plurality of temperature zones, wherein the plurality of temperature zones comprises a first temperature zone, wherein the first temperature zone is configured to accommodate the quantum computer chip, and wherein the second converter circuit is arranged in the first temperature zone; or

(c) the cryostat has a plurality of temperature zones, wherein the plurality of temperature zones comprises a first temperature zone and a second temperature zone being different from the first temperature zone, wherein the first temperature zone is configured to accommodate the quantum computer chip, and wherein the second converter circuit is arranged in the second temperature zone.

2 . The quantum computer system of claim 1 , wherein the first converter circuit is immediately connected with the control and analysis circuit, or wherein the second converter circuit is immediately connected with the chip connection circuit.

3 . The quantum computer system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical signals generated by the control and analysis circuit comprises a plurality of control signals or a plurality of read-out request signals.

4 . The quantum computer system of claim 1 , wherein the optical data connection comprises at least one optical fiber.

5 . The quantum computer system of claim 1 , wherein the transmission module comprises a plurality of transmission channels.

6 . The quantum computer system of claim 1 , wherein the transmission module comprises a first multiplexer, wherein the first multiplexer is configured to multiplex the plurality of electrical signals, or wherein the first multiplexer is configured to multiplex the plurality of optical signals obtained by the first converter circuit.

7 . The quantum computer system of claim 6 , wherein the transmission module comprises a first de-multiplexer, wherein the first de-multiplexer and the first multiplexer are arranged on opposite ends of the optical data connection,

wherein the first de-multiplexer is configured to de-multiplex the plurality of optical signals received via the optical data connection, or wherein the first de-multiplexer is configured to de-multiplex the plurality of electrical signals obtained by the second converter circuit.

8 . The quantum computer system of claim 1 , wherein the transmission module comprises a multiplexer, wherein the multiplexer is configured to multiplex the plurality of electrical read-out signals obtained by the chip connection circuit, or wherein the multiplexer is configured to multiplex the plurality of optical read-out signals obtained by the second converter circuit.

9 . The quantum computer system of claim 8 , wherein the transmission module comprises a de-multiplexer, wherein the de-multiplexer and the multiplexer are arranged on opposite ends of the optical data connection, wherein the de-multiplexer is configured to de-multiplex the plurality of optical read-out signals received via the optical data connection, or wherein the de-multiplexer is configured to de-multiplex the plurality of electrical read-out signals obtained by the first converter circuit.

10 . The quantum computer system of claim 1 , wherein the chip connection circuit is configured to be electrically connected to the quantum computer chip.

11 . The quantum computer system of claim 1 , further comprising the quantum computer chip, wherein the quantum computer chip is arranged in the cryostat, and wherein the chip connection circuit is immediately connected to the quantum computer chip.

12 . A method of operating a quantum computer chip, the method comprising:

generating, by a control and analysis circuit, a plurality of electrical signals for a plurality of qubits of the quantum computer chip, wherein the electrical signals generated by the control and analysis circuit comprise electrical control signals being configured to control the qubits to enter a predetermined quantum state or electrical read-out request signals configured to initiate a read-out of quantum states of the qubits;

converting, by a first converter circuit, the plurality of electrical signals into a plurality of optical signals;

transmitting, by an optical data connection, the plurality of optical signals from the first converter circuit to a second converter circuit;

converting, by the second converter circuit, the plurality of optical signals back into the plurality of electrical signals comprising the electrical control signals being configured to control the qubits to enter the predetermined quantum state or the electrical read-out request signals configured to initiate the read-out of quantum states of the qubits; and

applying, by a chip connection circuit, the plurality of electrical signals to the quantum computer chip.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

obtaining, by the chip connection circuit, a plurality of electrical read-out signals from the quantum computer chip;

converting, by the second converter circuit, the plurality of electrical read-out signals into a plurality of optical read-out signals;

transmitting, by the optical data connection, the plurality of optical signals from the second converter circuit to the first converter circuit;

converting, by the first converter circuit, the plurality of optical read-out signals back into the plurality of electrical read-out signals; and

analyzing, by the control and analysis circuit, the plurality of electrical read-out signals.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of electrical signals generated by the control and analysis circuit comprises a plurality of control signals or a plurality of read-out request signals.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of optical signals are transmitted via different optical channels, and/or wherein the plurality of optical read-out signals are transmitted via different optical channels.

16 . A quantum computer system, comprising:

a control and analysis circuit, a transmission module, a plurality of qubits of a quantum computer chip, and a chip connection circuit,

wherein the control and analysis circuit is configured to:

generate a plurality of electrical signals for the plurality of qubits of the quantum computer chip, wherein the electrical signals generated by the control and analysis circuit comprise electrical control signals being configured to control the qubits to enter a predetermined quantum state and/or electrical read-out request signals configured to initiate a read-out of quantum states of the qubits, and

analyze a plurality of electrical read-out signals received from the plurality of qubits of the quantum computer chip,

wherein the chip connection circuit is configured to:

apply the plurality of electrical signals to the plurality of qubits of the quantum computer chip, and

obtain the plurality of electrical read-out signals from the plurality of qubits of the quantum computer chip,

wherein the transmission module comprises an optical data connection, a first converter circuit, and a second converter circuit,

wherein the optical data connection connects the first converter circuit and the second converter circuit, wherein the optical data connection is configured to transmit optical signals between the first converter circuit and the second converter circuit,

wherein the first converter circuit is configured to convert the plurality of electrical signals generated by the control and analysis circuit into a plurality of optical signals,

wherein the second converter circuit is configured to convert the plurality of optical signals back into the plurality of electrical signals comprising the electrical control signals being configured to control the qubits to enter the predetermined quantum state and/or the electrical read-out request signals configured to initiate the read-out of quantum states of the qubits,

wherein the second converter circuit further is configured to convert the plurality of electrical read-out signals obtained by the chip connection circuit into a plurality of optical read-out signals, and

wherein the first converter circuit further is configured to convert the plurality of optical read-out signals back into the plurality of electrical read-out signals.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: HEER, FLAVIO; KRASNOV, ARSENII; SCHENKEL, FABIAN; RUEHLE, CHRISTOPH; MUELLER, DAVID; PFAEFFLI, FABIAN; MOMMSEN, REMIGIUS; THIELE, TOBIAS
To: ROHDE & SCHWARZ GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 069200/0924 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20260073267A1 · Mar 12, 2026
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