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: 11722135Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 14, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Aurelius L. Graninger, Aaron A. Pesetski, Joel D. Strand
-
Patent number: 11616187Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 5, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Aurelius L. Graninger, Joel D. Strand, Micah John Atman Stoutimore, Zachary Kyle Keane, Jeffrey David Hartman, Justin C. Hackley
-
Publication number: 20230019017Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2021Publication date: January 19, 2023Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: AURELIUS L. GRANINGER, AARON A. PESETSKI, JOEL D. STRAND
-
Patent number: 11545288Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 15, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventor: Joel D. Strand
-
Publication number: 20220357371Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2021Publication date: November 10, 2022Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Cody James Ballard, Andrew Hostetler Miklich, Micah John Atman Stoutimore, Robert Miller, Joel D. Strand, Kurt Pleim
-
Patent number: 11486910Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 10, 2021Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Cody James Ballard, Andrew Hostetler Miklich, Micah John Atman Stoutimore, Robert Miller, Joel D. Strand, Kurt Pleim
-
Publication number: 20210327624Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2020Publication date: October 21, 2021Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventor: JOEL D. STRAND
-
Publication number: 20210257532Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: AURELIUS L. GRANINGER, JOEL D. STRAND, MICAH JOHN ATMAN STOUTIMORE, ZACHARY KYLE KEANE, JEFFREY DAVID HARTMAN, JUSTIN C. HACKLEY
-
Patent number: 10950778Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 7, 2019Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Aurelius L. Graninger, Joel D. Strand, Micah John Atman Stoutimore, Zachary Kyle Keane, Jeffrey David Hartman, Justin C. Hackley
-
Patent number: 10749095Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 21, 2019Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: David George Ferguson, Anthony Joseph Przybysz, Joel D. Strand
-
Patent number: 10749096Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 1, 2018Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Anthony Joseph Przybysz, Joel D. Strand
-
Publication number: 20200220064Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2019Publication date: July 9, 2020Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: AURELIUS L. GRANINGER, JOEL D. STRAND, MICAH JOHN ATMAN STOUTIMORE, ZACHARY KYLE KEANE, JEFFREY DAVID HARTMAN, JUSTIN C. HACKLEY
-
Publication number: 20200091396Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: DAVID GEORGE FERGUSON, ANTHONY JOSEPH PRZYBYSZ, JOEL D. STRAND
-
Patent number: 10546993Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 17, 2018Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: David George Ferguson, Anthony Joseph Przybysz, Joel D. Strand
-
Publication number: 20190237648Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2018Publication date: August 1, 2019Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: ANTHONY JOSEPH PRZYBYSZ, JOEL D. STRAND
-
Patent number: 10164606Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 11, 2018Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventors: Zachary Kyle Keane, Joel D. Strand, Ofer Naaman
-
Publication number: 20180342663Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2018Publication date: November 29, 2018Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: DAVID GEORGE FERGUSON, ANTHONY JOSEPH PRZYBYSZ, JOEL D. STRAND
-
Patent number: 10097186Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 2, 2018Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Ryan J. Epstein, David James Clarke, Alexander Marakov, Gregory R. Boyd, Anthony Joseph Przybysz, Joel D. Strand, David George Ferguson
-
Publication number: 20180261752Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2017Publication date: September 13, 2018Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: DAVID GEORGE FERGUSON, ANTHONY JOSEPH PRZYBYSZ, JOEL D. STRAND
-
Patent number: 10074792Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2017Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventors: David George Ferguson, Anthony Joseph Przybysz, Joel D. Strand