Joel D Strand

US Patent:

20220357371, Nov 10, 2022

Filed:

May 10, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/315492

Inventors:

Cody James Ballard - Catonsville MD, US
Andrew Hostetler Miklich - Columbia MD, US
Micah John Atman Stoutimore - Kensington MD, US
Robert Miller - Hanover MD, US
Joel D. Strand - Ellicott City MD, US
Kurt Pleim - Halethorpe MD, US

Assignee:

NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION - FALLS CHURCH VA

International Classification:

G01R 19/14
G01R 15/18

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.

US Patent:

20230019017, Jan 19, 2023

Filed:

Jul 14, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/375210

Inventors:

AURELIUS L. GRANINGER - SYKESVILLE MD, US
AARON A. PESETSKI - GAMBRILLS MD, US
JOEL D. STRAND - ELLICOTT CITY MD, US

Assignee:

NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION - FALLS CHURCH VA

International Classification:

H03K 17/92
H01F 7/06

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.

US Patent:

20210327624, Oct 21, 2021

Filed:

Apr 15, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/849595

Inventors:

JOEL D. STRAND - ELLICOTT CITY MD, US

Assignee:

NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION - FALLS CHURCH VA

International Classification:

H01F 6/00
H01L 27/18
H01L 39/02
H01L 39/22
G06N 10/00

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.

US Patent:

20210257532, Aug 19, 2021

Filed:

Feb 5, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/168443

Inventors:

AURELIUS L. GRANINGER - SYKESVILLE MD, US
JOEL D. STRAND - ELLICOTT CITY MD, US
MICAH JOHN ATMAN STOUTIMORE - KENSINGTON MD, US
ZACHARY KYLE KEANE - BALTIMORE MD, US
JEFFREY DAVID HARTMAN - SEVERN MD, US
JUSTIN C. HACKLEY - CATONSVILLE MD, US

Assignee:

NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION - FALLS CHURCH VA

International Classification:

H01L 39/02
G01R 31/28
H01L 21/66
H01L 23/00
H01L 25/065
H01L 27/18
H01L 39/08
H01L 39/10
H01L 39/12
H01L 39/06
H01L 39/22

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.

US Patent:

20200220064, Jul 9, 2020

Filed:

Jan 7, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/241661

Inventors:

AURELIUS L. GRANINGER - SYKESVILLE MD, US
JOEL D. STRAND - ELLICOTT CITY MD, US
MICAH JOHN ATMAN STOUTIMORE - KENSINGTON MD, US
ZACHARY KYLE KEANE - BALTIMORE MD, US
JEFFREY DAVID HARTMAN - SEVERN MD, US
JUSTIN C. HACKLEY - CATONSVILLE MD, US

Assignee:

NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION - FALLS CHURCH VA

International Classification:

H01L 39/02
H01L 25/065
H01L 23/00
H01L 27/18
H01L 21/66
G01R 31/28

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.

US Patent:

20200091396, Mar 19, 2020

Filed:

Nov 21, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/690190

Inventors:

DAVID GEORGE FERGUSON - TAKOMA PARK MD, US
ANTHONY JOSEPH PRZYBYSZ - LINTHICUM MD, US
JOEL D. STRAND - ELLICOTT CITY MD, US

Assignee:

NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION - FALLS CHURCH VA

International Classification:

H01L 39/02
H03K 19/195
G06N 10/00

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.

US Patent:

20190237648, Aug 1, 2019

Filed:

Feb 1, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/886602

Inventors:

ANTHONY JOSEPH PRZYBYSZ - LINTHICUM MD, US
JOEL D. STRAND - ELLICOTT CITY MD, US

Assignee:

NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION - FALLS CHURCH VA

International Classification:

H01L 39/04
G06N 99/00
B82Y 10/00

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.

US Patent:

20180342663, Nov 29, 2018

Filed:

Jul 17, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/037539

Inventors:

DAVID GEORGE FERGUSON - TAKOMA PARK MD, US
ANTHONY JOSEPH PRZYBYSZ - LINTHICUM MD, US
JOEL D. STRAND - ELLICOTT CITY MD, US

Assignee:

NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION - FALLS CHURCH VA

International Classification:

H01L 39/02
G06N 99/00
H03K 19/195

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.