Superconducting optical-to-digital converter
US11906877B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 11, 2022 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 26, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03M1/12
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method to convert a wideband optical signal to a multi-bit digital electrical signal using a superconducting integrated circuit. In a preferred embodiment, the optical signal modulates the phase (i.e., adjusts the timing) of a sequence of single-flux-quantum voltage pulses. The optoelectronic modulator may comprise an optically tunable Josephson junction, superconducting inductor, or bolometric detector, with switching speeds approaching 100 ps or less. The optical signal may comprise a plurality of optical signals such as a wavelength-division multiplexed signal. The optical-to-digital converter may be applied to high-speed digital communication switches, broadband digital input/output for superconducting or quantum computing, and control/readout of detector arrays.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.