IBM Applies for Patent of “Quantum Computing Device Design”
The list of claims is much longer than we are presenting here. Interesting read. Provokes some thoughts as to where IBM is heading. Because Quantum is Coming. Qubit.
“Quantum Computing Device Design” in Patent Application Approval Process (USPTO 20190236218): International Business Machines Corporation
In brief…
+ The following quote was obtained by the news editors from the background information supplied by the inventors: “The subject disclosure relates to quantum computing devices, and more specifically, to quantum computing device design. Quantum computing employs quantum physics to encode information rather than binary digital techniques based on transistors. For example, a quantum computing device can employ quantum bits (e.g., qubits) that operate according to a superposition principle of quantum physics and an entanglement principle of quantum physics. The superposition principle of quantum physics allows each qubit to represent both a value of ‘1’ and a value of ‘0’ at the same time. The entanglement principle of quantum physics states allows qubits in a superposition to be correlated with each other. For instance, a state of a first value (e.g., a value of ‘1’ or a value of ‘0’) can depend on a state of a second value. As such, a quantum computing device can employ qubits to encode information rather than binary digital techniques based on transistors.
+ However, design of a quantum computing device is generally difficult and/or time consuming as compared to conventional binary digital devices. For instance, Svore, et al., ‘Toward a Software Architecture for Quantum Computing Design Tools,’ discloses ‘a computer-aided design flow that transforms a high-level language program representing a quantum computing algorithm into a technology-specific implementation.’ Svore et al. also discloses ‘the design flow… is a four-phase process that maps a high-level program representing a quantum algorithm into a technology-specific implementation or simulation.’ Further, Svore et al. states ‘the first three phases of the design flow are part of the quantum computer compiler (QCC) . . . [T]he last phase is a simulation or an implementation of the quantum algorithm on a quantum device.’ As such, a design process for a quantum computing device and/or a design of quantum computing device can be improved.
+ The claims supplied by the inventors are:
“1. A system of a quantum computing device design tool, comprising: a memory that stores computer executable components; a processor that executes computer executable components stored in the memory, wherein the computer executable components comprise: a modeling component that models a quantum device element of a quantum computing device as an electromagnetic circuit element to generate electromagnetic circuit data for the quantum computing device; and a simulation component that simulates the quantum computing device using the electromagnetic circuit data to generate response function data indicative of a response function for the quantum computing device.”
“2. The system of claim 1, wherein the quantum device element is a first quantum device element of the quantum computing device, and wherein the modeling component generates connection data indicative of information associated with a connection between the first quantum device element and a second quantum device element of the quantum computing device.”
“3. The system of claim 2, wherein the modeling component generates the electromagnetic circuit data for the quantum computing device based on the connection data.”
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