Patents by Inventor JOEL D. STRAND

JOEL D. STRAND has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11722135
    Abstract: A superconducting AC switch system includes a switch network configuration comprising a Josephson junction (JJ) coupled to a transmission line having a transmission line impedance, and a magnetic field generator that is configured to switch from inducing a magnetic field in a plane of the JJ, and providing no magnetic field in the plane of the JJ. An AC input signal applied at an input of the switch network configuration is passed through to an output of the switch network configuration in a first magnetic state, and substantially reflected back to the input of the switch network configuration in a second magnetic state. The first magnetic state is one of inducing and not inducing a magnetic field in a plane of the JJ, and the second magnetic state is the other of inducing and not inducing a magnetic field in a plane of the JJ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aurelius L. Graninger, Aaron A. Pesetski, Joel D. Strand
  • Patent number: 11616187
    Abstract: Test structures and methods for superconducting bump bond electrical characterization are used to verify the superconductivity of bump bonds that electrically connect two superconducting integrated circuit chips fabricated using a flip-chip process, and can also ascertain the self-inductance of bump bond(s) between chips. The structures and methods leverage a behavioral property of superconducting DC SQUIDs to modulate a critical current upon injection of magnetic flux in the SQUID loop, which behavior is not present when the SQUID is not superconducting, by including bump bond(s) within the loop, which loop is split among chips. The sensitivity of the bump bond superconductivity verification is therefore effectively perfect, independent of any multi-milliohm noise floor that may exist in measurement equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aurelius L. Graninger, Joel D. Strand, Micah John Atman Stoutimore, Zachary Kyle Keane, Jeffrey David Hartman, Justin C. Hackley
  • Publication number: 20230019017
    Abstract: A superconducting AC switch system includes a switch network configuration comprising a Josephson junction (JJ) coupled to a transmission line having a transmission line impedance, and a magnetic field generator that is configured to switch from inducing a magnetic field in a plane of the JJ, and providing no magnetic field in the plane of the JJ. An AC input signal applied at an input of the switch network configuration is passed through to an output of the switch network configuration in a first magnetic state, and substantially reflected back to the input of the switch network configuration in a second magnetic state. The first magnetic state is one of inducing and not inducing a magnetic field in a plane of the JJ, and the second magnetic state is the other of inducing and not inducing a magnetic field in a plane of the JJ.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: AURELIUS L. GRANINGER, AARON A. PESETSKI, JOEL D. STRAND
  • Patent number: 11545288
    Abstract: One example includes a superconducting current control system. The system includes an inductive coupler comprising a load inductor and a control inductor. The inductive coupler can be configured to inductively provide a control current from the control inductor to a superconducting circuit device based on a load current being provided through the load inductor. The system also includes a current control element comprising a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) array comprising a plurality of SQUIDs. The current control element can be coupled to the inductive coupler to control an amplitude of the load current through the load inductor, and thus to control an amplitude of the control current to the superconducting circuit device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joel D. Strand
  • Publication number: 20220357371
    Abstract: One example includes a flux switch system. The system includes an input stage configured to provide an interrogation pulse. The system also includes a plurality of flux loops configured to receive an input current. Each of the flux loops includes a Josephson junction configured to trigger to generate an output pulse in response to a first polarity of the input current and to not trigger to generate no output pulse in response to a second polarity of the input current opposite the first polarity. The system further includes an output stage configured to propagate the output pulse to an output of the flux switch system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cody James Ballard, Andrew Hostetler Miklich, Micah John Atman Stoutimore, Robert Miller, Joel D. Strand, Kurt Pleim
  • Patent number: 11486910
    Abstract: One example includes a flux switch system. The system includes an input stage configured to provide an interrogation pulse. The system also includes a plurality of flux loops configured to receive an input current. Each of the flux loops includes a Josephson junction configured to trigger to generate an output pulse in response to a first polarity of the input current and to not trigger to generate no output pulse in response to a second polarity of the input current opposite the first polarity. The system further includes an output stage configured to propagate the output pulse to an output of the flux switch system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cody James Ballard, Andrew Hostetler Miklich, Micah John Atman Stoutimore, Robert Miller, Joel D. Strand, Kurt Pleim
  • Publication number: 20210327624
    Abstract: One example includes a superconducting current control system. The system includes an inductive coupler comprising a load inductor and a control inductor. The inductive coupler can be configured to inductively provide a control current from the control inductor to a superconducting circuit device based on a load current being provided through the load inductor. The system also includes a current control element comprising a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) array comprising a plurality of SQUIDs. The current control element can be coupled to the inductive coupler to control an amplitude of the load current through the load inductor, and thus to control an amplitude of the control current to the superconducting circuit device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: JOEL D. STRAND
  • Publication number: 20210257532
    Abstract: Test structures and methods for superconducting bump bond electrical characterization are used to verify the superconductivity of bump bonds that electrically connect two superconducting integrated circuit chips fabricated using a flip-chip process, and can also ascertain the self-inductance of bump bond(s) between chips. The structures and methods leverage a behavioral property of superconducting DC SQUIDs to modulate a critical current upon injection of magnetic flux in the SQUID loop, which behavior is not present when the SQUID is not superconducting, by including bump bond(s) within the loop, which loop is split among chips. The sensitivity of the bump bond superconductivity verification is therefore effectively perfect, independent of any multi-milliohm noise floor that may exist in measurement equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: AURELIUS L. GRANINGER, JOEL D. STRAND, MICAH JOHN ATMAN STOUTIMORE, ZACHARY KYLE KEANE, JEFFREY DAVID HARTMAN, JUSTIN C. HACKLEY
  • Patent number: 10950778
    Abstract: Test structures and methods for superconducting bump bond electrical characterization are used to verify the superconductivity of bump bonds that electrically connect two superconducting integrated circuit chips fabricated using a flip-chip process, and can also ascertain the self-inductance of bump bond(s) between chips. The structures and methods leverage a behavioral property of superconducting DC SQUIDs to modulate a critical current upon injection of magnetic flux in the SQUID loop, which behavior is not present when the SQUID is not superconducting, by including bump bond(s) within the loop, which loop is split among chips. The sensitivity of the bump bond superconductivity verification is therefore effectively perfect, independent of any multi-milliohm noise floor that may exist in measurement equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aurelius L. Graninger, Joel D. Strand, Micah John Atman Stoutimore, Zachary Kyle Keane, Jeffrey David Hartman, Justin C. Hackley
  • Patent number: 10749095
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a ZZZ coupler. A first tunable coupler is coupled to the first qubit and tunable via a first control signal. A second tunable coupler is coupled to the first tunable coupler to direct a flux of the first qubit into a tuning loop of the second tunable coupler, such that when a first coupling strength associated with the first tunable coupler is non-zero, a second coupling strength, associated with the second tunable coupler, is a function of a second control signal applied to the second tunable coupler and a state of the first qubit. The second qubit and the third qubit are coupled to one another through the second tunable coupler, such that, when the second coupling strength is non-zero it is energetically favorable for the states of the first and second qubits to assume a specific relationship with respect to the Z-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: David George Ferguson, Anthony Joseph Przybysz, Joel D. Strand
  • Patent number: 10749096
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for controlling the state of a qubit. A qubit apparatus includes a load, a qubit, and a compound Josephson junction coupler coupling the qubit to the load. A coupling controller controls the coupling strength of the compound Josephson junction coupler such that a coupling between the qubit and the load is a first value when a reset of the qubit is desired and a second value during operation of the qubit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony Joseph Przybysz, Joel D. Strand
  • Publication number: 20200220064
    Abstract: Test structures and methods for superconducting bump bond electrical characterization are used to verify the superconductivity of bump bonds that electrically connect two superconducting integrated circuit chips fabricated using a flip-chip process, and can also ascertain the self-inductance of bump bond(s) between chips. The structures and methods leverage a behavioral property of superconducting DC SQUIDs to modulate a critical current upon injection of magnetic flux in the SQUID loop, which behavior is not present when the SQUID is not superconducting, by including bump bond(s) within the loop, which loop is split among chips. The sensitivity of the bump bond superconductivity verification is therefore effectively perfect, independent of any multi-milliohm noise floor that may exist in measurement equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: AURELIUS L. GRANINGER, JOEL D. STRAND, MICAH JOHN ATMAN STOUTIMORE, ZACHARY KYLE KEANE, JEFFREY DAVID HARTMAN, JUSTIN C. HACKLEY
  • Publication number: 20200091396
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a ZZZ coupler. A first tunable coupler is coupled to the first qubit and tunable via a first control signal. A second tunable coupler is coupled to the first tunable coupler to direct a flux of the first qubit into a tuning loop of the second tunable coupler, such that when a first coupling strength associated with the first tunable coupler is non-zero, a second coupling strength, associated with the second tunable coupler, is a function of a second control signal applied to the second tunable coupler and a state of the first qubit. The second qubit and the third qubit are coupled to one another through the second tunable coupler, such that, when the second coupling strength is non-zero it is energetically favorable for the states of the first and second qubits to assume a specific relationship with respect to the Z-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: DAVID GEORGE FERGUSON, ANTHONY JOSEPH PRZYBYSZ, JOEL D. STRAND
  • Patent number: 10546993
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a ZZZ coupler. A first tunable coupler is coupled to the first qubit and tunable via a first control signal. A second tunable coupler is coupled to the first tunable coupler to direct a flux of the first qubit into a tuning loop of the second tunable coupler, such that when a first coupling strength associated with the first tunable coupler is non-zero, a second coupling strength, associated with the second tunable coupler, is a function of a second control signal applied to the second tunable coupler and a state of the first qubit. The second qubit and the third qubit are coupled to one another through the second tunable coupler, such that, when the second coupling strength is non-zero it is energetically favorable for the states of the first and second qubits to assume a specific relationship with respect to the Z-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: David George Ferguson, Anthony Joseph Przybysz, Joel D. Strand
  • Publication number: 20190237648
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for controlling the state of a qubit. A qubit apparatus includes a load, a qubit, and a compound Josephson junction coupler coupling the qubit to the load. A coupling controller controls the coupling strength of the compound Josephson junction coupler such that a coupling between the qubit and the load is a first value when a reset of the qubit is desired and a second value during operation of the qubit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANTHONY JOSEPH PRZYBYSZ, JOEL D. STRAND
  • Patent number: 10164606
    Abstract: A load-compensated tunable coupler leverages a cross-bar switch and simulated loads or ballasts to provide a tunable coupling between two quantum objects that can be selectively coupled or decoupled without changing their resonant frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary Kyle Keane, Joel D. Strand, Ofer Naaman
  • Publication number: 20180342663
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a ZZZ coupler. A first tunable coupler is coupled to the first qubit and tunable via a first control signal. A second tunable coupler is coupled to the first tunable coupler to direct a flux of the first qubit into a tuning loop of the second tunable coupler, such that when a first coupling strength associated with the first tunable coupler is non-zero, a second coupling strength, associated with the second tunable coupler, is a function of a second control signal applied to the second tunable coupler and a state of the first qubit. The second qubit and the third qubit are coupled to one another through the second tunable coupler, such that, when the second coupling strength is non-zero it is energetically favorable for the states of the first and second qubits to assume a specific relationship with respect to the Z-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: DAVID GEORGE FERGUSON, ANTHONY JOSEPH PRZYBYSZ, JOEL D. STRAND
  • Patent number: 10097186
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for linking two components in a superconducting circuit. A plurality of circuit elements, each comprising one of an inductor, a capacitor, and a Josephson junction, are connected in series on a path connecting the two components. A plurality of tunable oscillators are connected from the path connecting the two components. Each tunable oscillator is responsive to a control signal to tune an associated resonance frequency of the tunable oscillator within a first frequency range, within which the two components are coupled, and within a second frequency range, within which the two components are isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryan J. Epstein, David James Clarke, Alexander Marakov, Gregory R. Boyd, Anthony Joseph Przybysz, Joel D. Strand, David George Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20180261752
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a ZZZ coupler. A first tunable coupler is coupled to the first qubit and tunable via a first control signal. A second tunable coupler is coupled to the first tunable coupler to direct a flux of the first qubit into a tuning loop of the second tunable coupler, such that when a first coupling strength associated with the first tunable coupler is non-zero, a second coupling strength, associated with the second tunable coupler, is a function of a second control signal applied to the second tunable coupler and a state of the first qubit. The second qubit and the third qubit are coupled to one another through the second tunable coupler, such that, when the second coupling strength is non-zero it is energetically favorable for the states of the first and second qubits to assume a specific relationship with respect to the Z-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: DAVID GEORGE FERGUSON, ANTHONY JOSEPH PRZYBYSZ, JOEL D. STRAND
  • Patent number: 10074792
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a ZZZ coupler. A first tunable coupler is coupled to the first qubit and tunable via a first control signal. A second tunable coupler is coupled to the first tunable coupler to direct a flux of the first qubit into a tuning loop of the second tunable coupler, such that when a first coupling strength associated with the first tunable coupler is non-zero, a second coupling strength, associated with the second tunable coupler, is a function of a second control signal applied to the second tunable coupler and a state of the first qubit. The second qubit and the third qubit are coupled to one another through the second tunable coupler, such that, when the second coupling strength is non-zero it is energetically favorable for the states of the first and second qubits to assume a specific relationship with respect to the Z-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: David George Ferguson, Anthony Joseph Przybysz, Joel D. Strand