Triggerable superconductive switching means, and apparatus comprising the means
US4754384A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 17, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jun 28, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 17, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M11/00
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed is a novel switching device. In its currently preferred embodiment the device comprises a conductive path that comprises a superconductive section, with the remainder of the path being non-superconductive, means for applying a voltage across the path such that a current flows, and means for changing the current in the path from a first value to a second value, where one of the two values is below, and the other is above, a critical current associated with the superconductive section of the path. Depending on the choice of applied voltage and path parameters changing the current from the first to the second state results in switching of the current, either oscillating between two levels of current, or to a steady value. Exemplarily, the current is changed by changing the applied voltage or by changing the resistance of the non-superconductive portion of the conductive path. The device can be used as, for instance, a microwave oscillator or a (binary) photodetector.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.