Continuous superconductor to semiconductor converter circuit

• US 5,424,656 A
• Filed: 05/07/1993
• Issued: 06/13/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Gibson, David A., Ghoshal, Uttam S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Westin, Edward P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DRISCOLL, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US08/059,476
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 307/541, 307/245, 307/306, 307/475, 307/476
• US Class Current: 326/63
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/018521 of complementary type, e.g. CMOS
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/195 using superconductive devices

Abstract

Apparatus for converting superconductor low level signals to semiconductor signal levels utilizing a continuous superconductor to semiconductor converter circuit biased for maximum gain and without the need for a clocked reset signal. Employing a unique biasing arrangement utilizing two capacitors and one transistor, this circuit has long term bias voltage retention and good power supply noise rejection ratio.

Claims

1. An electrical circuit for continuously converting superconductor signal levels to semiconductor transistor signal levels, said circuit comprising:

a capacitive bias means connected to a power supply having first and second voltage terminals, said first voltage terminal having a different voltage potential than said second voltage terminal;

a first amplifier having an input and output;

said first amplifier connected to said first and second voltage terminals;

said first amplifier input connected to a superconductor signal;

said first amplifier connected to said capacitive bias means for biasing at maximum gain; and

a first switch connected between said first amplifier output and said capacitive bias means, wherein said first switch connects said capacitive bias means to said first amplifier output when a superconductor calibration signal is used to initialize a bias voltage value that maximizes the gain of said first amplifier.

2. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a second amplifier having an input and output;

said second amplifier input connected to said first amplifier output;

said second amplifier connected to said first and second voltage terminals.

3. The circuit of claim 2, further comprising:

a third amplifier having an input and output;

said third amplifier input connected to said second amplifier output;

said third amplifier connected to said first and second voltage terminals.

4. The circuit of claim 2, wherein said capacitive bias means comprises:

first and second capacitors, said first and second capacitors connected in series and connected to said first and second voltage terminals; and

said first switch connected between the junction of said series connected first and second capacitors and said first amplifier output.

5. The circuit of claim 4, further comprising:

a second switch connected between said first and second capacitors; and

said second switch connected to and controlled by said superconductor calibration signal.

6. The circuit of claim 3, further comprising:

a second switch connected between said third amplifier output and said first amplifier output; and

said second switch connected to and controlled by a latching control signal.

7. An electrical circuit for continuously converting superconductor signal levels to semiconductor transistor signal levels, said circuit comprising:

first and second capacitors, said first and second capacitors connected in series and connected to a power supply having first and second voltage terminals, said first voltage terminal having a different voltage potential than said second voltage terminal;

first, second and third transistors, each having a source, gate and drain;

said first transistor source connected to said first voltage terminal;

said first transistor drain, said second transistor drain and said third transistor drain connected together to form a first output node, wherein said first output node generates semiconductor transistor signal levels;

said first transistor gate, said second transistor gate, and said third transistor source connected to the junction of said series connected first and second capacitors;

said third transistor gate connected to a bias initialization control signal; and

said second transistor source connected to a superconductor signal.

8. The circuit of claim 7, wherein said first transistor gate is connected to said first output node.

9. The circuit of claim 7, further comprising:

fourth and fifth transistors, each having a source, gate and drain;

said fourth transistor source connected to said first voltage terminal;

said fourth and fifth transistor gates connected to said first output node;

said fifth transistor source connected to said second voltage terminal; and

said fourth transistor drain and said fifth transistor drain connected together to form a second output node, wherein said second output node generates semiconductor transistor signal levels.

10. The circuit of claim 9, further comprising:

sixth and seventh transistors, each having a source, gate and drain;

said sixth transistor source connected to said first voltage terminal;

said sixth and said seventh transistor gates connected to said second output node;

said seventh transistor source connected to said second voltage terminal; and

said sixth transistor drain and said seventh transistor drain connected together to form a third output node, wherein said third output node generates semiconductor transistor signal levels.

11. The circuit of claim 10, further comprising:

an eighth transistor having a source, gate and drain;

said eighth transistor source connected to said third output node;

said eighth transistor drain connected to said first output node; and

said eighth transistor gate connected to a latching control signal.

12. The circuit of claim 7, further comprising:

a fourth transistor having a source, gate and drain;

said fourth transistor source and drain connected therebetween said series connected first and second capacitors; and

said fourth transistor gate connected to said third transistor gate and connected to said bias initialization control signal.

13. The circuit of claim 7, wherein said transistors are semiconductor field effect transistors.

14. The circuit of claim 7, wherein said transistors have Beta ratios near unity.

15. The circuit of claim 7, wherein said transistors are complementary metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors.

16. The circuit of claim 7, wherein said transistors are negative channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors.

17. The circuit of claim 8 wherein said transistors are negative channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors and said first transistor is a depletion mode transistor.