Multi-Taper Superconducting Connectors for Current Crowding Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Superconductors face current crowding issues due to geometric shapes like corners, leading to increased current density and a lower superconducting threshold, and mathematically-optimal tapered connectors are difficult to manufacture, especially for widths less than 1 micron, as they are prone to manufacturing inaccuracies.

Innovation Solution

The use of tapered connectors with specific slope profiles, defined by equations such as Equations (1)-(7), which include non-linear and linear tapers, and elongated tapered shapes, to minimize current crowding effects, while being manufacturable and adaptable to lithography processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mathematically-optimal tapered connectors are used to minimize current crowding, then current density distribution is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to difficulties in fabricating sub-micron features

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent density distributionVSAvoidtaper connector fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the tapered connector, specifically using standard lithography-compatible dimensions (widths greater than 1 micron) and conventional taper angles (15-45 degrees) that are manufacturable with standard semiconductor fabrication processes while still achieving effective current crowding reduction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies tapered connectors selectively at specific locations where current crowding occurs (such as connection points between components of different widths) rather than throughout the entire superconducting circuit, maintaining superconducting performance where needed while avoiding manufacturing complexity in other regions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional geometric shapes with corners are used, then manufacturing ease is improved, but current crowding increases leading to exceeded superconducting threshold density

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegeometric shape fabricationVSAvoidsuperconducting threshold density

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces sharp corners with curved transitions in the superconducting circuit geometry, specifically using tapered connectors with smooth width variations that eliminate abrupt angular changes, thereby distributing current more evenly while remaining compatible with standard fabrication processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS12199039B2Tapered connectors for superconductor circuits

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 PSIQUANTUM CORP

AI summary

A superconducting circuit includes a photon detector component, a second component, and a multi-taper superconducting connector shaped to reduce current crowding, the superconducting connector electrically connecting the photon detector component and the second component. The multi-taper superconducting connector includes a first taper arranged adjacent the photon detector component and a second taper arranged adjacent the second component.