Patent Application
20240313381
The invention relates to a transmission line for communicating between a first electronic device and a second electronic device.
The transmission line can be applied for transmitting and receiving signals between an electronic system and a cryogenic circuit. Known transmission lines apply adapters for connecting coaxial transmission lines to planar transmission lines. Such transmission line is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,519.
The cryogenic circuit may comprise, for example, qubit devices, quantum processors, sensing and detector systems, quantum internet apparatus, medical devices, cryptographic devices, classical computing processors, and any other electronic devices. However, there are many other applications using cryogenic electronic circuits, such as multi-pixel superconducting photon detectors used in astronomy and quantum communication applications.
Cryogenic cooling equipment is provided for maintaining the cryogenic electronic circuit at the required operating temperature of near zero Kelvin. This cryogenic cooling equipment is often built up from a stack of separated temperature stages, wherein each lower stage is cooled down to a lower temperature. Due to the fundamentals of thermodynamics, the power required to progressively cool down to lower temperatures increases exponentially. For example, a typical cryogenic cooling equipment consumes 20-30 kW for handling a thermal load of 12-18 μW at 100 mK. The control device for cryogenic systems is typically placed outside the cryogenic equipment to prevent their power dissipation from heating up the cryogenic equipment as a whole and thus the cryogenic circuits as well. Therefore, a communication path is required for exchanging signals between cryogenic circuits at the final stage of the cryogenic equipment, through the top of the cryogenic equipment to an electronic system, for example outside control electronics. Such path is typically constructed from a cascade of semi rigid transmission lines, usually coax cables, to abridge the distance during the cooling down procedure and operation. Cryogenic circuits, such as the qubit devices, require communication with the external control device for controlling the qubits and signaling back an actual state of each qubit to the control device. This requires also high frequency, HF, analogue signals. Typically, this signal can be in the range from low frequencies or DC to ultrahigh frequencies up to 80 GHz.
Recent cryogenic qubit devices have an increasing number of qubits. Each qubit requires individual communication to the control device outside the cryogenic qubit device. This individual communication requires an increasing number of the transmission lines for the qubits. For example, the cryogenic qubit device can comprise 96 qubits and requires at least 288 individual transmission lines that should be guided through subsequent thermal stages to the outside. The transmission lines may each comprise several coax connectors, for example, for bridging the consecutive stages of the cryogenic equipment. So, when the number of transmission lines increases, the total number of connectors in the transmission lines to bridge each stage is also increasing and relatively more space is required to accommodate for this increased number of connectors and may become a limiting condition for a further increase in numbers of qubits. A flat flexible transmission line can be applied to connect the coaxial transmission lines to the qubits of the cryogenic device. An adapter is then required to connect the coax transmission lines with the flat flexible transmission line. However, the connection between the coax transmission line and the flat flexible transmission line in the adapter may negatively influence a transition of an HF signal through the transmission line.
It is therefore an object of the invention to mitigate the above indicated problems and to provide a transmission line that enables miniaturization, scalability and to improve the signal transmission.
According to a first aspect of the invention this and other objects are achieved by a transmission line for communicating between a first electronic device and a second electronic device comprising
In this application planar deforming is defined as deforming the flexible transmission line such that a direction parallel to the width of the flexible transmission line and perpendicular to the signal line is constant along the flexible transmission line in the adapter.
In this arrangement the support is pressing the bare portion of the signal line to the pin to ensure an electrical contact between the pin and the coaxial transmission line at one side and the signal line of the flexible planar transmission line at the other side.
By planar bending, the first conducting layer and the second conducting layer respectively remain adjacent to the signal line up to the contact area. This arrangement provides a reduced connection path, without detour, for electrical currents from both first and second conducting layers to the contact area, and provides a fluent transition of the EM-field from the flexible transmission line to the first connector.
Furthermore, an improved HF signal transmission through this transmission line is ensured into to the GHz ranges.
Furthermore, in this arrangement the pin can be removably connected to the central core of the transmission line.
Another advantage is that this arrangement enables connections between non-superconducting layers and superconducting layers.
In a preferred embodiment according to this disclosure, the transmission line comprises the second transmission line, the second transmission line is provided with a second connector, the second connector comprising the first connection of the transmission line and the second connection of the transmission line and the first connector is detachably connected to the second connector. In this arrangement the flexible planar transmission line, the adapter and the second transmission line are integrated in one device.
In a further embodiment according to this disclosure, the second transmission line is a coaxial transmission line comprising a shielding, a dielectric and a central core, wherein the first connection is to the shielding and the second connection is to the central core and wherein the second connector is a coaxial connector provided with a housing made of metal forming the first connection and a further pin or sleeve forming the second connection. The second connector can be a coaxial connector, for example a male SMA connector or female SMA connector.
In a further embodiment according to this disclosure, the support comprises a first adjustment provided at a third side of the conducting body opposite to the second side arranged to apply a first force in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pin. By the first adjustment the force can be adjusted manually, for example, by a screw and when a correct adjustment is reached, the first adjustment can be fixed. By this force, a rigid connection is between the signal line and the pin
In a further embodiment the first adjustment comprises a first screw or a spring-loaded device. In this arrangement the first screw is mounted in a hole in the third side and can apply a force between the signal line and the pin when the first screw is tightened. The spring-loaded device can be a so-called “pogo”.
In a further embodiment according to this disclosure the first adjustment comprises an electro-mechanic actuator arranged to apply the first force when a control signal is received. The electro-mechanic actuator can be activated by a control signal. In an embodiment the electro-mechanic actuator is a piezo-electric device. Also, other electro-mechanic actuators can be applied for example an electro-magnetic device. After the transmission line is installed a control signal can be applied to the electro-mechanic actuator and the HF connection can be made.
In a further embodiment according to this disclosure the support comprises a second adjustment provided at a third side of the conducting body opposite to the second side arranged to provide a second force at an end of the transmission line. The second adjustment can be a second screw or spring-loaded device. In this arrangement, when the second screw is tightened, the second screw applies a second force on the second conducting layer to ensure electrical contact with the contact area of at the second side of the adapter. In this arrangement the support planar deforms the flexible transmission line and the signal line is connected to the pin and the first conducting layer and the second conducting layer are connected to the contact area. In this arrangement the HF path between the first conducting layer, the signal and the second conducting layer and the second connector is further reduced.
In a further embodiment according to this disclosure the transmission line is provided with a third dielectric layer at the side of the first conducting layer directed away from the first dielectric layer. This third dielectric layer protects the first conducting layer.
In a different embodiment according to this disclosure the support further comprises a conducting portion between the end of the first conducting layer and the contact area. In this arrangement the HF path between the first conducting layer, the signal line and the second conducting layer and the second connector is further reduced by the conducting portion.
In a further embodiment according to this disclosure the conducting portion comprises a third conducting layer faced to the first conducting layer and the third conducting layer is provided with a fourth dielectric layer at a side faced away from the first conducting layer. In this arrangement a simple end of the flexible transmission line can be used.
In a different embodiment according to this disclosure the adapter comprises a bead between the flexible transmission line and the first connector, wherein the bead is provided with a sheathing, a second dielectric, and the pin, wherein the sheathing is electrically connected to the contact area and the first conducting layer. This arrangement can be used for a hermetic sealing of the adapter. The bead can be, for example, a glass bead.
In a different embodiment according to this disclosure the adapter comprises a printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board is provided with a first via and a second via, wherein the contact area is electrically connected to the first conducting layer through the first via, and wherein the second via comprises the pin.
The invention further relates to an electronic device comprising a transmission line according to any of the claims 1-13.
According to a second aspect of the invention this and other objects are achieved by a method of adjusting a transmission line according to any of the claims 1-13 comprising the steps of, in this order:
In an embodiment the first adjustment can be fixed by a super glue or epoxy or welding. The characteristic of the HF output signal can be, for example, the transmission or attenuation of the transmission line in a frequency range for example from 0 to 15 GHz.
These and other features and effects of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to drawings in which preferred and illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown. The person skilled in the art will realize that other alternatives and equivalent embodiments of the invention can be conceived and reduced to practice without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In the figures like numerals refer to like parts. The invention is explained with reference to
The flexible planar transmission line 2 comprises a stack of a first conductive layer 21, a first dielectric layer 22, a second dielectric layer 24, and a second conductive layer 25. A signal line 23 is provided on the first dielectric layer 22 at a side directed away from the first conducting layer 21 between the first and second dielectric layers. The signal line 23 is provided with a bare portion 26 of the flexible planar transmission line 2 inserted in the adapter 3. The flexible planar transmission line 2 can have rectangular geometry with a length of, for example, 100 mm or 200 mm and a width of e.g., 4 mm and a thickness of e.g., 0.3 mm. The first and second dielectric layers can be for example polyimide or Polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE, Ethylene tetrafluoride ethylene, ETFE. In embodiments quartz, silicon and printed circuit board materials can be applied. The flexible planar transmission line 2 can be manufactured by providing a polyimide sheet forming the first dielectric layer 22 with the first conductive layer 21. For example, the first conductive layer 21 can be provided by sputtering, electroplating or another thin or thick film process as is well known by the person skilled in the art. The thickness of the polyimide sheet is in the range, for example, from 0.012 mm to 0.4 mm. In an embodiment the conductive layer comprises silver Ag. Also, gold Au and copper Cu can be applied. In an embodiment the conductive layers 21,25 comprise superconductors, for example one of Aluminum, Al, Niobium Nb, NiobiumTitanium, NbTi, NiobiumTitaniumnitride, NbTiN, and Indium, In.
In an embodiment the conductive layers 21,25 comprise a resistive film, for example, one of Nichrome, NiCr, Carbon C, platinum Pt and IndiumTinOxide, ITO. The thickness of the first and second conductive layers 21, 25 is, for example, 2 μm. The second dielectric layer 24 can also be formed by a polyimide sheet. The first dielectric layer can be provided with the first signal line 23. In an embodiment the side of the first dielectric layer 22 facing away from the first conductive layer 21 can be provided with the first signal line 23. The signal line 23 can be located at the center of the first dielectric layer. The signal line 23 comprises a conductive material for signal transmission. In an embodiment the signal line 23 can be made of the same conductive material as is used in the first conductive layer 21. The signal line 23 can have a width of, for example, 0.15 mm and a thickness of, for example, 0.002 mm. The thickness of the polyimide sheet can be, for example. 0.1 mm. Then the second dielectric layer 24 and the second conducting layer 25 are provided. The flexible planar transmission line 2 can be provided with additional layers of polyimide to obtain a wished thickness. The stack of layers can be formed by gluing, laminating, welding, cold welding, ultrasonic soldering, sealing, blade coating, spin coating or dielectric resin. The total thickness of the flexible planar transmission lines may be, for example, 0.3 mm.
In embodiments the thicknesses of the first and second conducting layers 21,25 of the flexible planar transmission line can have a value selected from the range between 0.1 and 5 μm. For example, this value can be 2 μm. In an embodiment an end of the conductive layer at a cold side of the flexible planar transmission line may comprise a superconductor, for example one of Aluminum, Al, Niobium Nb, NiobiumTitanium, NbTi, NiobiumTitaniumnitride, NbTiN, and Indium, In. and at that end the thickness may be reduced to 10 nm and at the other end of flexible planar transmission line the conductive layer may comprise silver with a thickness of up to 35 μm, typically in the range of 10-100 nm.
In an embodiment the adapter 3 is formed by a conducting body. The conducting body can be a rectangular block or box. The block can be made of metal, for example, a copper plate or a copper plate provided with gold plating on the inner side and the outside. The thickness of the walls of the conducting block can be for example 3 mm. The conducting block is provided with a first opening 33 in a first side of the block and a first connector 5 in a second side of the conducting block, adjacent to the first side, wherein the first opening receives the flexible flat transmission line 2.
The first connector 5 is provided with a contact area, a first dielectric 56 in the second side and a pin 53 centrally located in the first dielectric. The contact area comprises a part of the second side of the conducting block and is connected to the first conducting layer 21, the second conducting layer 25 of the flexible planar transmission line 2 and a first connection of the second transmission line 4.
In an embodiment the second transmission line 4 is a coaxial transmission line, wherein the coaxial transmission line comprises a shielding 41, a first dielectric 42 and a central core 43. Furthermore, the transmission line 4 is provided with a second connector 6. The second connector 6 fits with the first connector 5, wherein the second connector comprises the first connection and the second connection of the second transmission line 4. In this arrangement the first connector 5 is detachably connected to the second connector 6.
Furthermore, the second connector 6 is a coaxial connector provided with a housing 61, a second dielectric 63 and a further pin 62, wherein the housing 61 is connected to the shielding 41 and the further pin or sleeve is connected to the central core 43. The housing can be made out of demagnetized stainless steel, the second dielectric can be a synthetic material, for example PTFE, and the central core can be copper. In this embodiment the first connection is a part of the housing 61. The pin 53 is detachably connected to the second connection of the second transmission line 4, wherein the second connection comprises the further pin 62.
In an embodiment the second dielectric layer 24 and the second conducting layer 25 can be left out of the flexible planar transmission. In that embodiment, the first opening 33 of the adapter is provided with a dielectric layer for example polyimide, PTFE or ETFE, to insulate the first opening from the signal line 23. Furthermore, in this embodiment the first contact area is connected to the first conducting layer 21 only.
In an embodiment the signal line 23 can be provided at a part of the same side of the dielectric layer where the first metallic layer is provided and separated from the first conducting layer by a spacing.
Furthermore, the adapter is provided with a support. In this embodiment the support comprises a first adjustment. The first adjustment comprises a first screw 32 wherein the force is set-up by tightening the first screw 32. In an embodiment the first adjustment comprises an electro-mechanic actuator wherein a force is actively applied by the electro-mechanic actuator, for example a piezo-electro device 91 or an electro-magnetic device. An embodiment wherein the electro-mechanic actuator is a piezo-electric device is described with reference to the description of
Furthermore, in the adapter 3 a first screw hole is provided inside a third side of the conducting block opposite to the second side and in line with a longitudinal axis of the pin 53 to receive the first screw 32. The first screw 32 can have a diameter of 2 mm diameter and a length of 10 mm. When the first screw is tightened a force is applied on the bare portion 26 at the end of the signal line 23 of the flexible planar transmission line 3 via the first metallic layer 21 and the first dielectric layer 22 in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pin 53. This force planar deforms the flexible planar transmission line 3 and connects the signal line 23 to the pin 53. and the first conducting layer 21 to the contact area. This force ensures a good contact quality between the signal line 23 and the pin 53 for transmission of HF signals in the range between 0 and 80 GHz. After testing the first screw 32 can be fixed for example with a super glue or epoxy.
Furthermore, when the first screw is rotated for tightening, the first dielectric layer 22 prevents damage of signal line 23 due to the rotating end of the first screw 32. Furthermore, the pin 53 of the first connector 5 electrically connects to the further pin 62 of the second connector 6 to the bare portion 26 at the end of signal line 23 of the flexible planar transmission line 2. The length of the pin 53 can be in the range between 1.5 and 5 mm. The diameter of the pin can be about 1 mm. The end of the pin can be tapered. The pin can be made of copper or brass. This embodiment provides a smooth transition in geometric dimensions of the cross-sections between the central core 43 and the signal line 23 of the flexible planar transmission line and the coaxial transmission line respectively resulting in an improved transition of the HF signals. Furthermore, this arrangement provides a detachable connection between the pin 53 of the first connector 5 and the further pin 62 of the second connector 6.
In this embodiment the housing 61 is provided with a flange and the first connector is provided with two clips 51,52 and screw holes. The screws 54,55 fasten the clips 51,52 such that the clips hold the flange of the housing 61 of the second connector 6. Furthermore, the first conducting layer 21 and the second conducting layer 22 are electrically connected to the shielding 41 of the coaxial transmission line 2 via the contact area of the first connector 5 and the housing 61. In this embodiment the contact area is formed by a part of the clips 51,52 and a part of the conducting block.
Furthermore, in an embodiment the first adjustment can be a spring-loaded device, for example, a so-called Pogo. An advantage of the Pogo is that due to the resilience in the contacts remain reliable at lower or even cryogenic temperatures In an embodiment the first connector 5 is a male SMA connector and the second connector 6 is a female SMA connector.
Furthermore, in embodiments the flexible planar transmission line 2 can be provided with multiple, for example 6, signal lines 23 and the adapter 3 can be provided with six connectors 5 to receive second connectors of six coaxial transmission lines respectively and the adapter is provided with six pins 53 to electrically connect the central core 43 of each coaxial transmission line 4 to the bare portion of each of the signal lines 23 respectively through the further pins 62. Furthermore, the adapter comprises then six first screws 32 to apply a force on the bare portion of the flexible transmission lines 23 respectively in a direction aligned with a longitudinal axis of the respective pins 53.
Furthermore, the support comprises the first adjustment, for example, the first screw, 32 and a second adjustment, for example, a second screw 32′. Furthermore, a second screw hole is provided in the third side besides the first screw hole such that, when the second screw 32′is tightened, a force is provided at the end of the first conducting layer 21 through the third dielectric layer 27 parallel to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pin 53 and the end of the first conducting layer 21 is electrically connected to the contact area at the second side of the conducting block 3′. In this arrangement the support planar deforms the flexible transmission line 2 to connect the signal line 32 to the pin 53 and first conducting layer 21 to the contact area respectively. In this arrangement the ends of first conducting layer 21 and the second conducting layer 25 respectively are adjacent to the signal line 23 at the contact area at the second side and a fluent transition of the EM-field from the flexible transmission line to the first connector is provided.
Also, in this embodiment the adapter 3′ is provided with the first connector 5 to detachably connect the second connector 6 at the end of the coaxial transmission line 4. When the first connector 5 is connected to the second connector 6, the two clips 51,52 and the conducting block 3′ are electrically connected to the housing 61 of the second connector 6 to the first metallic layer 21 and the second metallic layer 25 respectively via the contact area of the first connector. The contact area is formed by a part of the clips 51,52 and the second side of the conducting block 3′. The pin 53 of the first connector is electrically connected to the further pin 62 of the second connector and the central core 43 of the coaxial transmission line 4. In this arrangement the HF signal path in the adapter 3′ is shortened compared to the HF path through the adapter in the embodiment of
Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the second screw 32′ is rotated for tightening, the first conducting layer 21 cannot be damaged by second screw 32′ because the second screw is touching the third dielectric layer 27 that protects the first conducting layer 21.
In an embodiment the second adjustment can be a spring-loaded device. In an embodiment the first and second connector can be coaxial connectors, for example SMA connectors.
In embodiments the third dielectric layer 27 can be dispensed and the second screw can be directly arranged to the first conducting layer 21.
In this arrangement the support planar deforms the flexible transmission line 2 to connect the signal line 32 to the pin 53 and first conducting layer 21 to the contact area respectively. In this arrangement the ends of first conducting layer 21 and the second conducting layer 21 respectively are adjacent to the signal line 23 at the contact area at the second side and the HF and a fluent transition of the EM-field from the flexible transmission line to the first connector is provided.
Also, in this embodiment the first adjustment in adapter 3′ comprises the first screw 32. The first screw 32 applies a force on the end of the flexible planar transmission line 2 in a direction aligned with a longitudinal axis of the pin 53. The force ensures the HF connection between signal line 23 and the pin 53. Furthermore, the second adjustment comprises the second screw 32′. The second screw provides a force at the end of the third dielectric layer 27 parallel to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pin 53 to electrically connect the first conducting layer 21 to the contact area of the block 3′ and the housing 61.
In this arrangement the support planar deforms the flexible transmission line 2 to connect the signal line 23 to the pin 53 and first conducting layer 21 to the contact area respectively. In this arrangement the ends of first conducting layer 21 and the second conducting layer 21 respectively are adjacent to the signal line 23 at the contact area at the second side and the HF and a fluent transition of the EM-field from the flexible transmission line to the first connector is provided.
Furthermore, the support comprising a second adjustment. The second adjustment comprises the second screw 32′. The second screw when tightened, provides a g force at the end of the third dielectric layer 27 to electrically connect the first conducting layer 21 to the housing 61 through the conducting block 3′. The force ensures a good connection between signal line 23 and the pin 53. In this arrangement the support planar deforms the flexible transmission line 2 to connect the signal line 23 to the pin 53 and first conducting layer 21 to the contact area respectively. In this arrangement the ends of first conducting layer 21 and the second conducting layer 21 respectively are adjacent to the signal line 23 at the contact area at the second side and the HF and a fluent transition of the EM-field from the flexible transmission line to the first connector is provided.
Furthermore, in this embodiment the adapter 3′ comprises a bead 81, for example a glass bead, wherein the glass bead comprising a sheathing 82, a third dielectric 83 and the pin 53. The sheathing 82, can be made of copper. The third dielectric can be glass. The length of the pin 53 is sufficient to engage with the conducing sleeve 65. In this embodiment the pin 53 is electrically connected to the conducting sleeve 65 and the signal line 23. The first conducting layer 21 and the second conducting layers 21,25 are electrically connected to the housing 61 through the contact area, wherein the contact area comprises a part of the housing 61 and an area of the adapter between the adapter and the housing 61. Also, in this embodiment the support comprises the first adjustment. The first adjustment comprises the first screw 32. The first screw applies a force on the end of the flexible planar transmission line 2 in a direction aligned with a longitudinal axis of the pin 53 through the third dielectric layer 27, the first metallic layer 21 and the first dielectric layer 22. When the first screw 32 is tightened this force ensures the HF connection between signal line 23 and the pin 53. Furthermore, the support comprises the second adjustment. The second adjustment comprises the second screw 32′. The second screw 32′, when tightened provides a force at the end of the third dielectric layer 27 in a direction parallel the longitudinal axis of the pin 53 and electrically connects the first conducting layer 21 to the contact area of the conducting block 3′. In this arrangement the support planar deforms the flexible transmission line 2 to connect the signal line 23 to the pin 53 and first conducting layer 21 to the contact area respectively. In this arrangement the ends of first conducting layer 21 and the second conducting layer 21 respectively are adjacent to the signal line 23 at the contact area at the second side and the HF and a fluent transition of the EM-field from the flexible transmission line to the first connector is provided.
The VNA 101 can be a P937xA as can be obtained from Keysight, USA. The VNA is connected to a personal computer. Furthermore, the inputs and outputs of VNA 101 are connected to an input of the coaxial transmission line 4 and the output of the flexible planar transmission line 2 respectively. Alternatively, the inputs and outputs of the VNA can be connected to only one side of the transmission line.
In operation, the VNA generates the HF signal. The HF signal contains frequencies in the range between 0 and 80 GHz. The adjustment of the transmission line can be then performed by the following steps, in this order,
Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Various changes or modifications may be affected by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims. Accordingly, reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, it is noted that the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028607 | Jul 2021 | NL | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/NL2022/050370 | 6/29/2022 | WO |
