Abstract: A method of executing a time-encoded spiking neural network (tSNN) that includes configuring an electronic circuit connecting pairs of neurons of the tSNN, wherein each pair of the pairs of neurons connects a sender neuron to a receiver neuron through parallel channels, and operating the electronic circuit at an actual clock rate corresponding to actual time steps, for the electronic circuit to perform signaling over said each pair at each time step of the actual time steps by sending signals in parallel across the parallel channels. Sent signals encode subcycle timing information about a timing of spikes relative to subcycle time steps, a unit duration that corresponds to a duration of said each time step divided by a latency reduction factor (LRF), for the operated electronic circuit to emulate an execution of the tSNN at an effective clock rate corresponding to the actual clock rate multiplied by the LRF.

Abstract: The invention is notably directed to a voltage-to-time converter comprising a first interleaving stage configured to perform a sampling of an input voltage, thereby generating a first set of sampled voltage signals. The first interleaving stage is further configured to perform a first voltage-to-time conversion in an interleaved manner, thereby generating a first set of time-interleaved signals in the time domain. A second interleaving stage is configured to perform a time-to-voltage conversion of the first set of time-interleaved signals, thereby generating a second set of sampled voltage signals. The second interleaving stage is further configured perform a second voltage-to-time conversion in an interleaved manner, thereby generating a second set of time-interleaved signals in the time domain. The invention further concerns a related design structure and a related method.

Abstract: A successive-approximation analog-to-digital converter includes a sampling circuit for sampling an analog input signal to acquire a sampled voltage, and a regenerative comparator for comparing the sampled voltage with a succession of reference voltages to generate, for each reference voltage, a decision bit indicating the comparison result. The converter also includes a digital-to-analog converter which is adapted to generate the succession of reference voltages, in dependence on successive comparison results in the comparator, to progressively approximate the sampled voltage. The regenerative comparator comprises an integration circuit for generating output signals defining the decision bits, and a plurality of regeneration circuits for receiving these output signals. The regeneration circuits are operable, in response to respective control signals, to store respective decision bits defined by successive output signals from the integration circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises one or more A-type resistance segments, wherein each A-type resistance segment comprises one or more A-type switches, at least one A-type linear resistor coupled to the one or more A-type switches, at least one A-type tunable header unit coupled to the one or more A-type switches, and at least one A-type tunable footer unit coupled to the one or more A-type switches; one or more B-type resistance segments, wherein each B-type resistance segment comprises one or more B-type switches, at least one B-type linear resistor coupled to at least a proper subset of the one or more B-type switches, at least one B-type tunable header unit coupled to the one or more B-type switches, and at least one B-type tunable footer unit coupled to the one or more B-type switches; and wherein second terminals of the A-type linear resistors and the B-type linear resistors are coupled together.

Abstract: The invention is notably directed to a voltage-to-time converter comprising a first interleaving stage configured to perform a sampling of an input voltage, thereby generating a first set of sampled voltage signals. The first interleaving stage is further configured to perform a first voltage-to-time conversion in an interleaved manner, thereby generating a first set of time-interleaved signals in the time domain. A second interleaving stage is configured to perform a time-to-voltage conversion of the first set of time-interleaved signals, thereby generating a second set of sampled voltage signals. The second interleaving stage is further configured perform a second voltage-to-time conversion in an interleaved manner, thereby generating a second set of time-interleaved signals in the time domain. The invention further concerns a related design structure and a related method.

Abstract: A hierarchical time step generator circuit is configured to be used for a time-based analog-to-digital converter. The hierarchical time step generator is configured to generate multiphase clock signals in response to receiving a reference clock signal. The time-based analog-to-digital converter is configured to be controlled to digitize the input signal by the multiphase clock signals. The hierarchical time step generator includes a first level time step generator configured to generate the a set of first level multiphase signals in response to receiving the reference clock signal a phase interpolator circuit configured as second level to generate second level clock signals between each of the first level clock signals and a third level configured to generate the third set of multiphase clock signals using a set of time staggered multi-phase phase locked loops synchronized to each of the second level clock signals.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises one or more A-type resistance segments, wherein each A-type resistance segment comprises one or more A-type switches, at least one A-type linear resistor coupled to the one or more A-type switches, at least one A-type tunable header unit coupled to the one or more A-type switches, and at least one A-type tunable footer unit coupled to the one or more A-type switches; one or more B-type resistance segments, wherein each B-type resistance segment comprises one or more B-type switches, at least one B-type linear resistor coupled to at least a proper subset of the one or more B-type switches, at least one B-type tunable header unit coupled to the one or more B-type switches, and at least one B-type tunable footer unit coupled to the one or more B-type switches; and wherein second terminals of the A-type linear resistors and the B-type linear resistors are coupled together.

Abstract: Neuron circuits are provided for spiking neural network apparatus having multiple such neuron circuits interconnected by links, each associated with a respective weight, for transmission of signals between neuron circuits. A neuron circuit includes a digital transmitter for generating trigger signals, indicating a state of the neuron circuit, on outgoing links of the circuit. The state is encoded in a time interval defined by these trigger signals. The neuron circuit includes a digital receiver for detecting such trigger signals on incoming links of the circuit, and digital accumulator logic. In response to detecting a trigger signal on an incoming link, the digital accumulator logic is adapted to generate a weighted signal dependent on the time interval and to accumulate the weighted signals generated from trigger signals on the incoming links to determine the state of the neuron circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control unit for controlling a data transfer between a classical processor and a quantum processor with a plurality of qubits. The control unit comprises a plurality of control and read-out circuits configured for controlling and reading out the plurality of qubits. Each of the control and read-out circuits is assigned to one or more of the qubits. A controlling of the quantum processor by the control unit comprises selectively powering on a subset of the control and read-out circuits during an instruction cycle, while ensuring that the remaining control and read-out circuits are powered off during the instruction cycle. The powered-on subset of control and read-out circuits is used to control a subset of the qubits and to read out data from the subset of qubits.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an analog-to-digital converter circuit configured for digitizing an analog input signal. The analog-to-digital converter comprises an analog input configured for receiving the analog input signal. The analog-to-digital converter circuit further comprises at least one sub-ADC connected to the analog input signal, wherein the at least one sub-ADC is configured to output at least one encoded output vector in response to receiving the analog input signal. The analog-to-digital converter circuit further comprises a lookup circuit comprising a nested lookup table. The lookup circuit is configured to select an output value from the nested lookup table using the at least one encoded output vector, wherein the lookup circuit is configured to provide the output value as the digitization of the analog input signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hierarchical time step generator circuit configured to be used for a time-based analog-to-digital converter. The hierarchical time step generator is configured to generate multiphase clock signals in response to receiving a reference clock signal. The time-based analog-to-digital converter is configured to be controlled to digitize the input signal by the multiphase clock signals. The hierarchical time step generator comprises: a first level time step generator configured to generate the a set of first level multiphase signals in response to receiving the reference clock signal; a phase interpolator circuit configured as second level to generate second level clock signals between each of the first level clock signals; and a third level configured to generate the third set of multiphase clock signals using a set of time staggered multi-phase phase locked loops synchronized to each of the second level clock signals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an analog-to-digital converter circuit configured for digitizing an analog input signal. The analog-to-digital converter comprises an analog input configured for receiving the analog input signal. The analog-to-digital converter circuit further comprises at least one sub-ADC connected to the analog input signal, wherein the at least one sub-ADC is configured to output at least one encoded output vector in response to receiving the analog input signal. The analog-to-digital converter circuit further comprises a lookup circuit comprising a nested lookup table. The lookup circuit is configured to select an output value from the nested lookup table using the at least one encoded output vector, wherein the lookup circuit is configured to provide the output value as the digitization of the analog input signal.

Abstract: Provided is a low noise amplifier circuit for a quantum computer. The low noise amplifier circuit comprises a plurality of input stages, a shared output stage, and a voltage controller. Each input stage is coupled to one or more qubits. The shared output stage is coupled to the plurality of input stages. The voltage controller is coupled to the plurality of input stages and the shared output stage. The voltage controller is configured to selectively activate an input stage of the plurality of input stages in order to read a qubit coupled to the input stage.

Abstract: A successive-approximation analog-to-digital converter includes a sampling circuit for sampling an analog input signal to acquire a sampled voltage, and a regenerative comparator for comparing the sampled voltage with a succession of reference voltages to generate, for each reference voltage, a decision bit indicating the comparison result. The converter also includes a digital-to-analog converter which is adapted to generate the succession of reference voltages, in dependence on successive comparison results in the comparator, to progressively approximate the sampled voltage. The regenerative comparator comprises an integration circuit for generating output signals defining the decision bits, and a plurality of regeneration circuits for receiving these output signals. The regeneration circuits are operable, in response to respective control signals, to store respective decision bits defined by successive output signals from the integration circuit.

Abstract: A successive-approximation analog-to-digital converter includes a sampling circuit for sampling an analog input signal to acquire a sampled voltage, and a regenerative comparator for comparing the sampled voltage with a succession of reference voltages to generate, for each reference voltage, a decision bit indicating the comparison result. The converter also includes a digital-to-analog converter which is adapted to generate the succession of reference voltages, in dependence on successive comparison results in the comparator, to progressively approximate the sampled voltage. The regenerative comparator comprises an integration circuit for generating output signals defining the decision bits, and a plurality of regeneration circuits for receiving these output signals. The regeneration circuits are operable, in response to respective control signals, to store respective decision bits defined by successive output signals from the integration circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control unit for controlling a data transfer between a classical processor and a quantum processor with a plurality of qubits. The control unit comprises a plurality of control and read-out circuits configured for controlling and reading out the plurality of qubits. Each of the control and read-out circuits is assigned to one or more of the qubits. A controlling of the quantum processor by the control unit comprises selectively powering on a subset of the control and read-out circuits during an instruction cycle, while ensuring that the remaining control and read-out circuits are powered off during the instruction cycle. The powered-on subset of control and read-out circuits is used to control a subset of the qubits and to read out data from the subset of qubits.

Abstract: Systems and methods directed to a quantum processing apparatus are provided. The apparatus comprises M solid-state qubits, where M>1, and control electronics, which are connected to the solid-state qubits. The control electronics comprise one or more qubit readout circuits, where each of the qubit readout circuits is connected to at least one of the solid-state qubits and comprises a downsampling analog-to-digital converter (hereafter DSADC). Each DSADC is configured to downsample analog signals obtained from the at least one of the solid-state qubits. Such a DSADC operates in the nth Nyquist zone of the spectrum of the analog signals obtained, so as to down-convert such analog signals from the nth Nyquist zone to the mth Nyquist zone of the spectrum, where n>m?1, prior to sampling the analog signals to convert them into digital signals, in operation. One or more embodiments of the invention are further directed to a related method of operating such a quantum processing apparatus.

Abstract: A successive-approximation analog-to-digital converter includes a sampling circuit for sampling an analog input signal to acquire a sampled voltage, and a regenerative comparator for comparing the sampled voltage with a succession of reference voltages to generate, for each reference voltage, a decision bit indicating the comparison result. The converter also includes a digital-to-analog converter which is adapted to generate the succession of reference voltages, in dependence on successive comparison results in the comparator, to progressively approximate the sampled voltage. The regenerative comparator comprises an integration circuit for generating output signals defining the decision bits, and a plurality of regeneration circuits for receiving these output signals. The regeneration circuits are operable, in response to respective control signals, to store respective decision bits defined by successive output signals from the integration circuit.

Abstract: A synchronous divider circuit with time-synchronized outputs. The synchronous divider circuit includes a plurality of divider stages including each a D-flip-flop circuit and a respective retiming flip-flop circuit, wherein an output terminal of the retiming flip-flop circuit of a current divider stage is connected to an input of the D-flip-flop circuit of a next divider stage, and wherein the current divider stage includes an additional retiming flip-flop circuit, wherein the output terminal of the retiming flip-flop circuit of the current divider stage is connected to an input terminal of the additional retiming flip-flop circuit of the current divider stage, so that an output signal of the additional retiming flip-flop circuit of the current divider stage and an output terminal of the retiming flip-flop circuit of the next divider stage are time-synchronized with respect to each other.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for calculating branch metrics, associated with possible transitions between states of a trellis, in a sequence detector for detecting symbol values corresponding to samples of an analog signal transmitted over a channel. For each sample and each transition, the method calculates a plurality of distance values indicative of distance between that sample and respective hypothesized sample values for that transition. In parallel with calculation of the distance values, the sample is compared with a set of thresholds, each defined between a pair of successive hypothesized symbol values arranged in value order, to produce a comparison result. An optimum distance value is selected as a branch metric for the transition in dependence on the comparison result.