IP Library Granted Patent US 12,620,993
Granted Patent B1
US 12,620,993 · App. 19/045,208 · Granted May 5, 2026

Ballistic superconducting circuit for asynchronous reversible logic element

Inventors: Rupert M. Lewis (Albuquerque, NM); Michael P. Frank (Albuquerque, NM); Steven B. Kaplan (Estes Park, CO)
Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
H03K19/195G01R33/0354G11C11/1673G11C11/44
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,620,993
App. No.
19/045,208
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

A ballistic, asynchronous logic circuit includes a controlled barrier which has a reversible memory cell and a polarity filter. The polarity filter is inductively coupled to the reversible memory cell. The circuit includes first and second polarity separators connected to the controlled barrier. The circuit includes a circulator connected to the controlled barrier.

Claims (68)

1 . A ballistic, asynchronous logic circuit comprising: a pair of control inputs; a pair control outputs; a pair of data inputs; a pair of data outputs; a pair of complementary data outputs; a first polarity separator having a pair of first terminals connected to the control inputs and having a pair of second terminals and a pair of third terminals; a circulator having a pair of first terminals connected to the pair of data inputs, a pair of second terminals connected to the pair of complementary data outputs and having a pair of third terminals; a second polarity separator having a pair of first terminals, a pair of second terminals connected to the second terminals of the first polarity selector and a pair of third terminals connected to the control outputs; and a superconducting controlled barrier having a pair of first terminals connected to the third terminals of the first polarity selector, a pair of second terminals connected to the third terminals of the circulator, a pair of third terminals connected to the first terminals of the second polarity selector and a pair of fourth terminals connected to the pair of complementary data outputs.

2 . The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the superconducting controlled barrier comprises: a reversible memory cell having a pair of first terminals connected to the third terminals of the first polarity separator and a pair of second terminals connected to the first terminals of the second polarity separator; and a polarity filter inductively coupled to the reversible memory cell and having a pair of first terminals connected to the third terminals of the circulator and a pair of second terminals connected to the pair of complementary data outputs.

3 . The circuit of claim 2 , wherein a circulating current in the reversible memory cell induces an oppositely circulating current in the polarity filter.

4 . The circuit of claim 2 , wherein the reversible memory cell comprises:

a first inductor having first and second terminals;

a second inductor having first and second terminals;

a first Josephson Junction having a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first inductor and a second terminal connected to the first terminal of the second inductor;

a second Josephson Junction having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first inductor and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second terminal.

5 . The circuit of claim 2 , wherein the polarity filter comprises:

a first inductor having first and second terminals;

a second inductor having first and second terminals;

a third inductor having first and second terminals;

a fourth inductor having first and second terminals;

a Josephson Junction comprising:

a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first inductor and connected to the first terminal of the second inductor;

a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the third inductor and connected to the first terminal of the fourth inductor.

6 . The circuit of claim 1 , wherein:

the pair of control inputs are configured to receive control input fluxons; and

the pair control outputs are configured to provide control output fluxons.

7 . The circuit of claim 1 , wherein:

the pair of data inputs are configured to receive input data fluxons;

the pair of data outputs are configured to provide output data fluxons; and

the pair of complementary data outputs are configured to provide complementary output data fluxons.

8 . A ballistic, asynchronous logic circuit comprising:

a first polarity separator having a pair of first terminals coupled to receive to control input fluxons and having a pair of second terminals and a pair of third terminals;

a circulator having a pair of first terminals coupled to receive to data input fluxons, a pair of second terminals configured to provide complementary output data fluxons and having a pair of third terminals;

a second polarity separator having a pair of first terminals, a pair of second terminals connected to the second terminals of the first polarity separator and a pair of third terminals configured to provide control output fluxons; and

a superconducting controlled barrier having a pair of first terminals connected to the third terminals of the first polarity selector, a pair of second terminals connected to the third terminals of the circulator, a pair of third terminals connected to the first terminals of the second polarity selector and a pair of fourth terminals configured to provide output data fluxons.

9 . The circuit of claim 8 , wherein the superconducting controlled barrier comprises:

a reversible memory cell having a pair of first terminals connected to the third terminals of the first polarity separator and a pair of second terminals connected to the first terminals of the second polarity separator; and

a polarity filter inductively coupled to the reversible memory cell and having a pair of first terminals connected to the third terminals of the circulator and a pair of second terminals configured to provide the complementary output data fluxons.

10 . The circuit of claim 9 , wherein a circulating current in the reversible memory cell induces an oppositely circulating current in the polarity filter.

11 . The circuit of claim 9 , wherein the reversible memory cell comprises:

a first inductor having first and second terminals;

a second inductor having first and second terminals;

a first Josephson Junction having a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first inductor and a second terminal connected to the first terminal of the second inductor;

a second Josephson Junction having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first inductor and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second terminal.

12 . The circuit of claim 9 , wherein the polarity filter comprises:

a first inductor having first and second terminals;

a second inductor having first and second terminals;

a third inductor having first and second terminals;

a fourth inductor having first and second terminals;

a Josephson Junction having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first inductor and connected to the first terminal of the second inductor and having a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the third inductor and connected to the first terminal of the fourth inductor.

13 . A superconducting controlled barrier comprising:

a reversible memory cell comprising:

a pair of first terminals configured to receive control fluxons and a pair of second terminals configured to receive ejected fluxons; and

a polarity filter comprising:

a pair of first terminals configured to receive input data fluxons;

a pair of second terminals configured to provide output data fluxons,

wherein the polarity filter is inductively coupled to the reversible memory cell.

14 . The controlled barrier of claim 13 , wherein a circulating current in the reversible memory cell induces an oppositely circulating current in the polarity filter.

15 . The controlled barrier of claim 13 , wherein the reversible memory cell comprises:

a first inductor having first and second terminals;

a second inductor having first and second terminals;

a first Josephson Junction having a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first inductor and a second terminal connected to the first terminal of the second inductor;

a second Josephson Junction having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first inductor and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second terminal.

16 . The controlled barrier of claim 13 , wherein the polarity filter comprises:

a first inductor having first and second terminals;

a second inductor having first and second terminals;

a third inductor having first and second terminals;

a fourth inductor having first and second terminals;

a Josephson Junction comprising:

a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first inductor and connected to the first terminal of the second inductor;

a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the third inductor and connected to the first terminal of the fourth inductor.

17 . The controlled barrier of claim 13 , wherein the controlled barrier is set to a blocking state by applying a control fluxon of negative polarity to the reversible memory cell.

18 . The controlled barrier of claim 13 , wherein the controlled barrier is set to a passing state by applying a control a fluxon of positive polarity to the reversible cell.

19 . The controlled barrier of claim 17 , wherein the polarity filter reflects data fluxons in the blocking state.

20 . The controlled barrier of claim 18 , wherein the polarity filter allows data fluxons to pass through in the passing state.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded May 29, 2025
From: NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS OF SANDIA, LLC
To: NNSA
Reel/Frame 071251/0246 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2025
From: FRANK, MICHAEL P; LEWIS, RUPERT M
To: NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS
Reel/Frame 070582/0359 →
References Cited (2)
US 11289156B2 · Frank · 2022 [cited by examiner]
Frank et al.Sandia Ballistic Asynchronous Reversible Computing in Superconducting Circuits. https://www.sandia.gov/app/uploads/sites/210/2022/12/FrankLewis_ICRC22_final2SAND.pdf (Year: 2022). [cited by examiner]