Patents Assigned to D-Wave Systems, Inc.
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Patent number: 9727823Abstract: Achieving orthogonal control of non-orthogonal qubit parameters of a logical qubit allows for increasing the length of a qubit chain thereby increasing the effective connectivity of the qubit chain. A hybrid qubit is formed by communicatively coupling a dedicated second qubit to a first qubit. By tuning a programmable parameter of the second qubit of a hybrid qubit, an effective programmable parameter of the hybrid qubit is adjusted without affecting another effective programmable parameter of the hybrid qubit thereby achieving orthogonal control of otherwise non-orthogonal qubit parameters. The length of the logical qubit may thus be increased by communicatively coupling a plurality of such hybrid qubits together.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2014Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.Inventors: Mohammad H. S. Amin, Trevor Michael Lanting, Colin Enderud
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Patent number: 9710758Abstract: In a quantum processor some couplers couple a given qubit to a nearest neighbor qubit (e.g., vertically and horizontally in an ordered 2D array), other couplers couple to next-nearest neighbor qubits (e.g., diagonally in the ordered 2D array). Couplers may include half-couplers, to selectively provide communicative coupling between a given qubit and other qubits, which may or may not be nearest or even next-nearest-neighbors. Tunable couplers selective mediate communicative coupling. A control system may impose a connectivity on a quantum processor, different than an “as designed” or “as manufactured” physical connectivity. Imposition may be via a digital processor processing a working or updated working graph, to map or embed a problem graph. A set of exclude qubits may be created from a comparison of hardware and working graphs. An annealing schedule may adjust a respective normalized inductance of one or more qubits, for instance to exclude certain qubits.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2015Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.Inventors: Paul I. Bunyk, Mohammad H. S. Amin, Richard G. Harris, Trevor Michael Lanting, Mark W. Johnson, Jeremy P. Hilton, Emile M. Hoskinson
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Patent number: 9699266Abstract: A computer system employs a network that between a data programming system and one or more superconducting programmable devices of a superconducting processor chip. Routers on the network, such as first-, second- and third-stage routers direct communications with the superconducting programmable devices. A superconducting memory register may load data signals received from a first-stage router into corresponding superconducting programmable devices. The system may employ additional superconducting chips, first-, second- or third-stage routers.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: D-Wave System Inc.Inventors: Geordie Rose, Paul I. Bunyk
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Patent number: 9665539Abstract: Solving computational problems may include generating a logic circuit representation of the computational problem, encoding the logic circuit representation as a discrete optimization problem, and solving the discrete optimization problem using a quantum processor. Output(s) of the logic circuit representation may be clamped such that the solving involves effectively executing the logic circuit representation in reverse to determine input(s) that corresponds to the clamped output(s). The representation may be of a Boolean logic circuit. The discrete optimization problem may be composed of a set of miniature optimization problems, where each miniature optimization problem encodes a respective logic gate from the logic circuit representation. A quantum processor may include multiple sets of qubits, each set coupled to respective annealing signal lines such that dynamic evolution of each set of qubits is controlled independently from the dynamic evolutions of the other sets of qubits.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2017Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.Inventors: William G. Macready, Geordie Rose, Thomas F.W. Mahon, Peter Love, Marshall Drew-Brook
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Patent number: 9634224Abstract: In one aspect, fabricating a superconductive integrated circuit with a Josephson junction includes applying oxygen or nitrogen to at least part of a structure formed from an outer superconductive layer to passivate an artifact, if any, left from removing the portion of the outer superconductive layer. In another aspect, a first superconductive layer is deposited, a second superconductive layer is deposited on the first superconductive layer, an oxide layer is formed on the first superconductive layer, a dielectric layer is deposited on the oxide layer, a portion of the dielectric layer is removed, a first portion of the oxide layer is removed, a second oxide portion is formed in place of the first portion of the oxide layer, and a third superconductive layer is deposited on the dielectric layer and the second oxide portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.Inventors: Eric Ladizinsky, Nicolas Ladizinsky, Jason Yao, Byong Hyop Oh, Richard David Neufeld
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Patent number: 9607270Abstract: Apparatus and methods enable active compensation for unwanted discrepancies in the superconducting elements of a quantum processor. A qubit may include a primary compound Josephson junction (CJJ) structure, which may include at least a first secondary CJJ structure to enable compensation for Josephson junction asymmetry in the primary CJJ structure. A qubit may include a series LC-circuit coupled in parallel with a first CJJ structure to provide a tunable capacitance. A qubit control system may include means for tuning inductance of a qubit loop, for instance a tunable coupler inductively coupled to the qubit loop and controlled by a programming interface, or a CJJ structure coupled in series with the qubit loop and controlled by a programming interface.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.Inventors: Richard G. Harris, Andrew J. Berkley, Jan Johansson, Mark Johnson, Mohammad Amin, Paul I. Bunyk
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Patent number: 9594726Abstract: Solving computational problems may include generating a logic circuit representation of the computational problem, encoding the logic circuit representation as a discrete optimization problem, and solving the discrete optimization problem using a quantum processor. Output(s) of the logic circuit representation may be clamped such that the solving involves effectively executing the logic circuit representation in reverse to determine input(s) that corresponds to the clamped output(s). The representation may be of a Boolean logic circuit. The discrete optimization problem may be composed of a set of miniature optimization problems, where each miniature optimization problem encodes a respective logic gate from the logic circuit representation. A quantum processor may include multiple sets of qubits, each set coupled to respective annealing signal lines such that dynamic evolution of each set of qubits is controlled independently from the dynamic evolutions of the other sets of qubits.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2016Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.Inventors: William G. Macready, Geordie Rose, Thomas F. W. Mahon, Peter Love, Marshall Drew-Brook
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Patent number: 9588940Abstract: The systems, devices, articles, and methods generally relate to sampling from an available probability distribution. The samples maybe used to create a desirable probability distribution, for instance for use in computing values used in computational techniques including: Importance Sampling and Markov chain Monte Carlo systems. An analog processor may operate as a sample generator, for example by: programming the analog processor with a configuration of the number of programmable parameters for the analog processor, which corresponds to a probability distribution over qubits of the analog processor, evolving the analog processor, and reading out states for the qubits. The states for the qubits in the plurality of qubits correspond to a sample from the probability distribution. Operation of the sampling device may be summarized as including updating a set of samples to include the sample from the probability distribution, and returning the set of samples.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.Inventors: Firas Hamze, James King, Evgeny Andriyash, Catherine McGeoch, Jack Raymond, Jason Rolfe, William G. Macready, Aaron Lott, Murray C. Thom
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Patent number: 9547826Abstract: Quantum processor architectures employ unit cells tiled over an area. A unit cell may include first and second sets of qubits where each qubit in the first set crosses at least one qubit in the second set. Angular deviations between qubits in one set may allow qubits in the same set to cross one another. Each unit cell is positioned proximally adjacent at least one other unit cell. Communicatively coupling between qubits is realized through respective intra-cell and inter-cell coupling devices.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.Inventor: Andrew Douglas King
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Patent number: 9501747Abstract: Systems and methods allow formulation of embeddings of problems via targeted hardware (e.g., particular quantum processor). In a first stage, sets of connected subgraphs are successively generated, each set including a respective subgraph for each decision variable in the problem graph, adjacent decisions variables in the problem graph mapped to respective vertices in the hardware graph, the respective vertices which are connected by at least one respective edge in the hardware graph. In a second stage, the connected subgraphs are refined such that no vertex represents more than a single decision variable.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.Inventor: Aidan Patrick Roy
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Patent number: 9495644Abstract: Techniques for improving the performance of a quantum processor are described. Some techniques employ improving the processor topology through design and fabrication, reducing intrinsic/control errors, reducing thermally-assisted errors and methods of encoding problems in the quantum processor for error correction.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.Inventors: Fabian Ariel Chudak, Christopher B. Rich, Paul I. Bunyk
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Patent number: 9490296Abstract: Various techniques and apparatus permit fabrication of superconductive circuits and structures, for instance Josephson junctions, which may, for example be useful in quantum computers. For instance, a low magnetic flux noise trilayer structure may be fabricated having a dielectric structure or layer interposed between two elements or layers capable of superconducting. A superconducting via may directly overlie a Josephson junction. A structure, for instance a Josephson junction, may be carried on a planarized dielectric layer. A fin may be employed to remove heat from the structure. A via capable of superconducting may have a width that is less than about 1 micrometer. The structure may be coupled to a resistor, for example by vias and/or a strap connector.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2015Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: D-WAVE SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Eric Ladizinsky, Geordie Rose, Jeremy P. Hilton, Eugene Dantsker, Byong Hyop Oh
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Patent number: 9471880Abstract: Systems and methods that employ interactions between quantum computing systems and digital computing systems are described. For an iterative method, a quantum computing system may be designed, operated, and/or adapted to provide a rate of convergence that is greater than the rate of convergence of a digital supercomputer. When the digital supercomputer is iteratively used to evaluate an objective function at a cost incurred of C per iteration, the quantum computing system may be used to provide the input parameter(s) to the objective function and quickly converge on the input parameter(s) that optimize the objective function. Thus, a quantum computing system may be used to minimize the total cost incurred CT for consumption of digital supercomputer resources when a digital supercomputer is iteratively employed to evaluate an objective function.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.Inventor: Colin P. Williams
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Patent number: 9465401Abstract: Systems and methods for magnetic shielding are described. A magnetic shield formed of a material having a high magnetic permeability may be degaussed using a toroidal degaussing coil. The toroidal degaussing coil may enclose at least a portion of the shield. Magnetic field gradients may be actively compensated using multiple magnetic field sensors and local compensation coils. Trapped fluxons may be removed by an application of Lorentz force wherein an electrical current is passed through a superconducting plane.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2013Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.Inventor: Sergey V. Uchaykin
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Patent number: 9424526Abstract: Computational techniques for mapping a continuous variable objective function into a discrete variable objective function problem that facilitate determining a solution of the problem via a quantum processor are described. The modified objective function is solved by minimizing the cost of the mapping via an iterative search algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: D-WAVE SYSTEMS INC.Inventor: Mani Ranjbar
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Patent number: 9405876Abstract: Solving computational problems may include generating a logic circuit representation of the computational problem, encoding the logic circuit representation as a discrete optimization problem, and solving the discrete optimization problem using a quantum processor. Output(s) of the logic circuit representation may be clamped such that the solving involves effectively executing the logic circuit representation in reverse to determine input(s) that corresponds to the clamped output(s). The representation may be of a Boolean logic circuit. The discrete optimization problem may be composed of a set of miniature optimization problems, where each miniature optimization problem encodes a respective logic gate from the logic circuit representation. A quantum processor may include multiple sets of qubits, each set coupled to respective annealing signal lines such that dynamic evolution of each set of qubits is controlled independently from the dynamic evolutions of the other sets of qubits.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2014Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: D-WAVE SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: William Macready, Geordie Rose, Thomas Mahon, Peter Love, Marshall Drew-Brook
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Patent number: 9400499Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating quantum computing systems into mobile systems for the purpose of providing real-time, quantum computer-based control of the mobile systems are described. A mobile system includes a data extraction subsystem that extracts data from an external environment of the mobile system and a quantum computing subsystem that receives data from the data extraction subsystem and performs a quantum computing operation in real-time using the data from the data extraction subsystem. A result of the quantum computing operation influences a behavior of the mobile system, such as the navigation of the mobile system or an action performed by the mobile system. The on-board quantum computing subsystem includes on-board quantum computing infrastructure that is adapted to suit the needs and spatial constraints of the mobile system.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: D-WAVE SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Colin P. Williams, Jeremy P. Hilton
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Patent number: 9396440Abstract: Systems and methods to solve combinatorial problems employ a permutation network which may be modeled after a sorting network where comparators are replaced by switches that controllably determine whether inputs are swapped or are left unchanged at the outputs. A quantum processor may be used to generate permutations by the permutation network by mapping the state of each switch in the network to the state of a respective qubit in the quantum processor. In this way, a quantum computation may explore all possible permutations simultaneously to identify a permutation that satisfies at least one solution criterion. The Travelling Salesman Problem is discussed as an example of a combinatorial problem that may be solved using these systems and methods.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: D-WAVE SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: William G. Macready, Edward D. Dahl
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Patent number: 9361169Abstract: The effects of decoherence and/or noise in adiabatic quantum computation and quantum annealing are reduced by implementing replica coding schemes. Multiple instances of the same problem are mapped to respective subsets of the qubits and coupling devices of a quantum processor. The multiple instances are evolved simultaneously in the presence of coupling between the qubits of different instances. Quantum processor architectures that are adapted to facilitate replica coding are also described.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2014Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.Inventor: Andrew J. Berkley
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Patent number: 9355365Abstract: A superconducting integrated circuit may include a magnetic flux transformer having an inner inductive coupling element and an outer inductive coupling element that surrounds the inner inductive coupling element along at least a portion of a length thereof. The magnetic flux transformer may have a coaxial-like geometry such that a mutual inductance between the first inductive coupling element and the second inductive coupling element is sub-linearly proportional to a distance that separates the first inner inductive coupling element from the first outer inductive coupling element. At least one of the first inductive coupling element and the second inductive coupling element may be coupled to a superconducting programmable device, such as a superconducting qubit.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.Inventors: Andrew J. Berkley, Mark W. Johnson, Paul I. Bunyk