Abstract: A radio frequency receiver subject to a large in-band interferor employs active cancellation with coarse and fine cancellation signals, each with a respective radio frequency combiner, in order to increase the effective dynamic range of the receiver for weak signals of interest. One or both can be digitally synthesized. This is particularly applicable for co-site interference, whereby the interfering transmit signal is directly accessible. A similar system and method may also be applied to external interferors such as those produced by deliberate or unintentional jamming signals, or by strong multipath signals. An adaptive algorithm may be used for dynamic delay and gain matching. In a preferred embodiment, a hybrid technology hybrid temperature system incorporates both superconducting and semiconducting components to achieve enhanced broadband performance.

Abstract: Superconductor analog-to-digital converters (ADC) offer high sensitivity and large dynamic range. One approach to increasing the dynamic range further is with a subranging architecture, whereby the output of a coarse ADC is converted back to analog and subtracted from the input signal, and the residue signal fed to a fine ADC for generation of additional significant bits. This also requires a high-gain broadband linear amplifier, which is not generally available within superconductor technology. In a preferred embodiment, a distributed digital fluxon amplifier is presented, which also integrates the functions of integration, filtering, and flux subtraction. A subranging ADC design provides two ADCs connected with the fluxon amplifier and subtractor circuitry that would provide a dynamic range extension by about 30-35 dB.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving a signal, comprising an input adapted to receive a radio frequency signal having a strong interferer; a signal generator, adapted to produce a representation of the interferer as an analog signal generated based on an oversampled digital representation thereof; and a component adapted to cancel the strong interferer from radio frequency signal based on the generated analog signal to produce a modified radio frequency signal substantially absent the interferer. The system typically has a nonlinear component that either saturates or produces distortion from the strong interferer, which is thereby reduced. The system preferably employs high speed circuits which digitize and process radio frequency signals without analog mixers.

Abstract: Supercooled electronics often use Rapid Single Flux Quantum (RSFQ) digital circuits. The output voltages from RSFQ devices are too low to be directly interfaced with semiconductor electronics, even if the semiconductor electronics are cooled. Techniques for directly interfacing RSFQ digital circuits with semiconductor electronics are disclosed using a novel inverting transimpedance digital amplifier in conjunction with a non-inverting transimpedance digital amplifier to create a differential transimpedance digital amplifier that permits direct interfacing between RSFQ and semiconductor electronics.

Abstract: Supercooled electronics often use Rapid Single Flux Quantum (RSFQ) digital circuits. The output voltages from RSFQ devices are too low to be directly interfaced with semiconductor electronics, even if the semiconductor electronics are cooled. Techniques for directly interfacing RSFQ digital circuits with semiconductor electronics are disclosed using a novel inverting transimpedance digital amplifier in conjunction with a non-inverting transimpedance digital amplifier to create a differential transimpedance digital amplifier that permits direct interfacing between RSFQ and semiconductor electronics.

Abstract: Supercooled electronics often use Rapid Single Flux Quantum (RSFQ) digital circuits. The output voltages from RSFQ devices are too low to be directly interfaced with semiconductor electronics, even if the semiconductor electronics are cooled. Techniques for directly interfacing RSFQ digital circuits with semiconductor electronics are disclosed using a novel inverting transimpedance digital amplifier in conjunction with a non-inverting transimpedance digital amplifier to create a differential transimpedance digital amplifier that permits direct interfacing between RSFQ and semiconductor electronics.

Abstract: A superconducting switching amplifier embodying the invention includes superconductive devices responsive to input/control signals for clamping the output of the amplifier to a first voltage or to a second voltage. The amplifier includes a first set of superconducting devices serially connected between a first voltage line and an output terminal and a second set of superconducting devices serially connected between the output terminal and a second voltage line. The first set and the second set of devices are operated in a complementary fashion in response to control signals. When one of the first and second sets is driven to a superconducting (zero resistance) state the other set is driven to a resistive state. In accordance with the invention, the devices of each set are laid out in a pattern and driven in a manner to enable all the devices of each set to be driven to a selected state at substantially the same time.

Abstract: A superconducting analog-to-digital converter includes a superconducting input loop to which is applied an analog voltage to be converted to a digital format. The superconducting loop includes two Josephson junctions for converting said analog input voltage into a single flux quantum (SFQ) pulse stream having a frequency f1 which is directly proportional to the amplitude of the analog input voltage. The loop includes two outputs for distributing the pulse stream in a cyclical and staggered fashion onto the two loop outputs such that the frequency of the pulses along each one of the loop outputs is f½. Additional frequency divider circuits may be coupled to the loop outputs to produce pulse streams on N output lines having a frequency of f1/N.

Abstract: A superconducting switching amplifier embodying the invention includes superconductive devices responsive to input/control signals for clamping the output of the amplifier to a first voltage or to a second voltage. The amplifier includes a first set of superconducting devices serially connected between a first voltage line and an output terminal and a second set of superconducting devices serially connected between the output terminal and a second voltage line. The first set and the second set of devices are operated in a complementary fashion in response to control signals. When one of the first and second sets is driven to a superconducting (zero resistance) state the other set is driven to a resistive state. In accordance with the invention, the devices of each set are laid out in a pattern and driven in a manner to enable all the devices of each set to be driven to a selected state at substantially the same time.

Abstract: A superconducting analog-to-digital converter includes a superconducting input loop to which is applied an analog voltage to be converted to a digital format. The superconducting loop includes two Josephson junctions for converting said analog input voltage into a single flux quantum (SFQ) pulse stream having a frequency f1 which is directly proportional to the amplitude of the analog input voltage. The loop includes two outputs for distributing the pulse stream in a cyclical and staggered fashion onto the two loop outputs such that the frequency of the pulses along each one of the loop outputs is f1/2. Additional frequency divider circuits may be coupled to the loop outputs to produce pulse streams on N output lines having a frequency of f1/N.