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US 11,569,816 B1Granted
Superconducting switch
AssigneePsiquantum, Corp.
InventorsFaraz Najafi, Qiaodan Jin Stone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and circuits for reducing switch transition time of superconductor switches. In some embodiments, an electrical circuit includes: (i) an input component configured to generate heat in response to an electrical input; and (ii) a first superconducting component thermally-coupled to the input component. The electrical circuit is configured such that, in the absence of the electrical input, at least a portion of the first superconducting component is maintained in a non-superconducting state in the absence of the electrical input; and, in response to the electrical input, the first superconducting component transitions to a superconducting state.
Claims18
An electrical circuit, comprising:
- an input component configured to generate heat in response to an electrical input;
- and
- a first superconducting component thermally coupled to the input component;
- wherein:
- the electrical circuit is configured such that, in the absence of the electrical input, at least a portion of the first superconducting component is maintained in a non-superconducting state;
- the first superconducting component transitions to a superconducting state in response to the electrical input;
- and
- the input component comprises:
- a first heating component;
- a second superconducting component thermally coupled to the first heating component such that heat generated by the first heating component is transferred to the second superconducting component;
- a second heating component electrically coupled to the second superconducting component such that:
- while the second superconducting component is in a superconducting state, at least a threshold amount of current from a current source flows through the second heating component via the second superconducting component, and
- while the second superconducting component is in a non-superconducting state, less than the threshold amount of current from the current source flows through the second heating component,
- wherein the second heating component is thermally coupled to the first superconducting component such that heat generated by the second heating component in response to the threshold amount of current transfers to the first superconducting component and transitions the first superconducting component to a non-superconducting state.
11 more elements
A method, comprising:
- at an electrical circuit that includes:
- an input component configured to generate heat in response to an electrical input;
- and
- a first superconducting component thermally coupled to the input component;
- wherein:
- the electrical circuit is configured such that, in the absence of the electrical input, at least a portion of the first superconducting component is maintained in a non-superconducting state;
- and
- the input component comprises:
- a first heating component;
- a second superconducting component thermally coupled to the first heating component such that heat generated by the first heating component is transferred to the second superconducting component;
- a second heating component electrically coupled to the second superconducting component such that:
- while the second superconducting component is in a superconducting state, at least a threshold amount of current from a current source flows through the second heating component via the second superconducting component, and
- while the second superconducting component is in a non-superconducting state, less than the threshold amount of current from the current source flows through the second heating component;
- and
- wherein the second heating component is thermally coupled to the first superconducting component such that heat generated by the second heating component in response to the threshold amount of current transfers to the first superconducting component and transitions the first superconducting component to a non-superconducting state:
- applying an electrical input to the input component, wherein the first superconducting component transitions to a superconducting state in response to the electrical input.
13 more elements
An electrical circuit, comprising:
- a first superconducting component;
- and
- an input component thermally coupled to, and electrically insulated from, the first superconducting component, the input component electrically coupled to an electrical source to receive an electrical input from the electrical source, and the input component comprising:
- a first heating component electrically coupled to the electrical source;
- a second superconducting component thermally coupled to, and electrically insulated from, the first heating component;
- a second heating component thermally coupled to, and electrically insulated from, the first superconducting component;
- a resistive component;
- and
- a current source electrically coupled to the second superconducting component, the second heating component, and the resistive component, such that the resistive component is coupled in parallel with a combination of the second superconducting component and the second heating component connected in series;
- and
- wherein, in the absence of the input component receiving the electrical input, the first superconducting component is in a non-superconducting state;
- and
- wherein, in response to the input component receiving the electrical input, the first superconducting component transitions from the non-superconducting state to a superconducting state.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.