Josephson AC/DC converter systems and method
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation
InventorsQuentin P. Herr, Anna Y. Herr
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One embodiment describes an AC/DC converter system. The system includes a flux-shuttle loop that is inductively coupled with an AC input signal. The system also includes a plurality of Josephson junctions spaced about the flux shuttle loop that are configured to sequentially trigger in response to the AC input signal and to provide a single-flux quantum (SFQ) pulse that moves sequentially around the flux-shuttle loop that results in a DC output signal being provided through an output inductor.
Claims20
An AC/DC converter system comprising:
- a flux-shuttle loop that is inductively coupled with an AC input signal;
- and
- a plurality of stages each comprising at least one Josephson junction, the plurality of stages being spaced about the flux shuttle loop and being configured to sequentially trigger the respective at least one Josephson junction in response to the AC input signal and to provide a single-flux quantum (SFQ) pulse that moves sequentially and continuously through each stage of the plurality of stages around the flux-shuttle loop via each of the at least one Josephson junction of each of the respective stages that results in a DC output signal being provided through an output inductor.
A method for providing a DC output signal based on an AC input signal, the method comprising:
- providing an initialization bias current to a flux-shuttle loop comprising a plurality of stages;
- providing the AC input signal that is inductively coupled with each of the plurality of stages;
- and
- sequentially triggering at least one Josephson junction associated with each of the plurality of stages in response to the AC input signal and the initialization bias current to continuously circulate a single-flux quantum (SFQ) pulse around the flux-shuttle loop via each of the at least one Josephson junction associated with each of the plurality of stages to generate the DC output signal through an output inductor.
An AC/DC converter system comprising:
- a flux-shuttle loop comprising a plurality of stages and being configured to receive an AC input signal, each of the plurality of stages comprising:
- a transformer configured to generate a bias current based on inductive coupling of the AC input signal to the respective one of the plurality of stages;
- a Josephson junction configured to trigger to provide a single-flux quantum (SFQ) pulse in response to the bias current;
- and
- a storage inductor that is interconnected with the output inductor and configured to provide a current pulse output in response to the SFQ pulse;
- and
- an output inductor coupled to each of the storage inductors and being configured to provide the DC output signal based on the received current pulse outputs that are sequentially provided from each of the storage inductors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.