Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physics Procedia

Optimization of SFQ Logic Gate Considering Dependence of its Signal Propagation Delay on the Bias Voltage

Mikio Otsubo, Yuki Yamanashi, Nobuyuki Yoshikawa

Published Jan 1, 2014• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Superconductive single flux quantum (SFQ) digital circuits can operate at a clock frequency of several tens of gigahertz. The operating margin of an SFQ logic circuit generally decreases with an increase in the operating frequency because of the timing error in the low-bias region caused by the difference in bias dependence of the signal-propagation delay between the data and clock lines. We proposed an improvement in the operating margin by controlling the dependence of the signal-propagation time on the bias voltage. In the present study, we investigated a new optimization method for an SFQ logic gate. We developed a new circuit parameter optimizer, which takes into account not only the bias margin but also the dependence of the signal-propagation delay on the bias voltage. We defined an appropriate evaluation function for the optimization. From the result of the optimization using the defined evaluation function, we designed and demonstrated an SFQ AND gate optimized using the new optimizer.

DOI
10.1016/j.phpro.2014.09.059

Related papers

Improvement of Operating Margin of SFQ Circuits by Controlling Dependence of Signal Propagation Time on Bias Voltage

Mikio Otsubo, Yuki Yamanashi, Nobuyuki Yoshikawa

Superconductive single flux quantum (SFQ) digital circuits can operate at a clock frequency of several tens of gigahertz. However, the operating margin of these circuits decreases with an increase in the operating frequency because a timing error occurs in the low bias region. In this study, a novel design method that enables a wide operating margin at a high operating frequency has been investigated. The proposed circuits incorporate an additional bias feeding line in addition to the conventional bias feeding lines of the conventional Josephson transmission lines (JTLs) and can control the dependence of signal propagation time on the bias voltage. We have shown experimentally that in our proposed JTLs, the signal propagation time becomes more sensitive to the bias voltage. Timing errors can be avoided by inserting proposed JTL cells in the critical data path of the SFQ digital circuits. Circuit simulation results indicate that the operating margin of a bit-serial SFQ full adder, designed assuming the 2.5 kA/cm2Nb process, can be improved by 15% compared with the conventional design at a frequency of 20 GHz by employing our novel design method.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Dec 13, 2012•5 citations

Design Method of Single Flux Quantum Logic Circuits Using Dynamically Reconfigurable Logic Gates

Shohei Nishimoto

In this study, we designed and tested dynamically reconfigurable AND/OR and NAND/NOR single flux quantum (SFQ) logic gates. The measured dc bias margins at low frequency were 99%-126% and 121%-144% for AND/OR and NAND/NOR gates, respectively. The experimentally confirmed maximum operating frequencies of the AND/OR and NAND/NOR gates were 36 and 24 GHz, respectively. We investigated a circuit design method that enables the efficient design of SFQ logic circuits by using dynamically reconfigurable SFQ logic gates. The logic circuits were designed with a small number of gates using the input data pattern dependence of the Boolean function and reconfiguring the dynamically reconfigurable SFQ logic gates. As a case study, we designed and tested a bit-serial SFQ full adder using the investigated circuit design method. Compared with the conventional bit-serial SFQ full adder, the delay of the proposed full adder was reduced by 27%, assuming a clock frequency of 20 GHz. We confirmed correct operation of the adder with a low-speed test.

The Japan Society of Applied Physics•Feb 6, 2014•0 citations

Design Method of Single-Flux-Quantum Logic Circuits Using Dynamically Reconfigurable Logic Gates

Shohei Nishimoto, Yuki Yamanashi, Nobuyuki Yoshikawa

In this study, we designed and tested dynamically reconfigurable AND/OR and NAND/NOR single flux quantum (SFQ) logic gates. The measured dc bias margins at low frequency were 99%-126% and 121%-144% for AND/OR and NAND/NOR gates, respectively. The experimentally confirmed maximum operating frequencies of the AND/OR and NAND/NOR gates were 36 and 24 GHz, respectively. We investigated a circuit design method that enables the efficient design of SFQ logic circuits by using dynamically reconfigurable SFQ logic gates. The logic circuits were designed with a small number of gates using the input data pattern dependence of the Boolean function and reconfiguring the dynamically reconfigurable SFQ logic gates. As a case study, we designed and tested a bit-serial SFQ full adder using the investigated circuit design method. Compared with the conventional bit-serial SFQ full adder, the delay of the proposed full adder was reduced by 27%, assuming a clock frequency of 20 GHz. We confirmed correct operation of the adder with a low-speed test.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Jan 1, 2015•9 citations

Design Approach of Dynamically Reconfigurable Single Flux Quantum Logic Gates

Yuki Yamanashi, 一朗 大河, Nobuyuki Yoshikawa

Novel reconfigurable superconductive single flux quantum (SFQ) logic devices, the functions of which can be dynamically reconfigured by inputting control signals, have been investigated. The characteristics of single flux quantum circuits can be easily modulated by applying currents or magnetic fields because of the high sensitivity of superconductive circuits. We investigated several design approaches for the realization of dynamically reconfigurable SFQ logic devices. We employed direct current injection to the logic gate using a non-destructive read-out flip-flop. By changing the internal state of the non-destructive read-out flip-flop, the logic function can be dynamically reconfigured. We have designed and tested a dynamically reconfigurable Josephson transmission line (JTL)/delay flip-flop (DFF) circuit. The measured dc bias margin was 72.5-107.2%. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the operation of a variable bit-length shift register, composed of the dynamically reconfigurable JTL/DFF circuits. The investigated design approach can be applied to more sophisticated dynamically reconfigurable single flux quantum logic gates.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Dec 14, 2010•11 citations

Delay Analysis of Self-Timing-Aligned Clock Synchronization Technique for Superconductive SFQ Logic Circuits

Gyu Moon, J. Park, S. Lee +2 more

Delay analysis for superconductive Single Flux Quantum (SFQ) logic is performed for Self-Timing-Aligned Clock Synchronization Technique (STAC). With its pipelined-structure, the SFQ generates and propagates pulses that are to be processed sequentially through serial-connected functional logic blocks, and thus it is critical to acquire a ultra-high-speed and exactly synchronized clock/control signals with a few pico-second resolution. Both passive and Josephson-Junction circuits are investigated for the delay control. These delays, being connected in parallel with input line, and to the clocked-power/control node, produce a self-timing-aligned synchronization. Ways to achieve precision delays are seek by using Mo resistors along with junction inherent capacitors. Both current margins for the bias and critical timing information for the maximum throughput are also investigated. Layouts for the test SFQ circuits, such as D- and RS-flip-flops are done with XIC, and verifications are done through WRSpice with Hypres process parameters.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Jun 1, 2005•1 citation

Development of an Optimization Tool for RSFQ Digital Cell Library Using Particle Swarm

Y. Tukel, Ali Bozbey, C.A. Tunc

Successful fabrication and demonstration of complex Rapid Single Flux Quantum (RSFQ) circuits depend heavily on the reliability of the cell library that is used for the design. In large-scale RSFQ integrated circuits, delay fluctuations (jitter) of each cell may occur due to fabrication tolerances. The fabrication-induced jitter of each cell might accumulate at each stage and bring out larger variations comparable with the designed delay. If such jitter is not considered while arranging timing of the circuit, it may cause the circuit to malfunction due to the shifting of SFQ pulses. Therefore, it is important to optimize and determine the delay fluctuations of each cell well before designing a large-scale integrated circuit. There are quite a number of parameters that affect the functioning and the performance of a logic gate; hence, an optimization tool is required. In this study, the progress on development of an optimization tool for a digital RSFQ cell library composed of fundamental logic gates, such as Josephson transmission lines, D-flip-flops, T-Flip-flops, splitters, and mergers are presented. Particle swarm optimization is used for an optimization algorithm, which determines the circuit parameters with minimum delay and/or jitter satisfying the required critical margin conditions.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Dec 12, 2012•18 citations
Superconductive single flux quantum (SFQ) digital circuits can operate at a clock frequency of several tens of gigahertz. The operating margin of an SFQ logic circuit generally decreases with an increase in the operating frequency because of the timing error in the low-bias region caused by the difference in bias dependence of the signal-propagation delay between the data and clock lines. We proposed an improvement in the operating margin by controlling the dependence of the signal-propagation time on the bias voltage. In the present study, we investigated a new optimization method for an SFQ logic gate. We developed a new circuit parameter optimizer, which takes into account not only the bias margin but also the dependence of the signal-propagation delay on the bias voltage. We defined an appropriate evaluation function for the optimization. From the result of the optimization using the defined evaluation function, we designed and demonstrated an SFQ AND gate optimized using the new optimizer.
Superconductive single flux quantum (SFQ) digital circuits can operate at a clock frequency of several tens of gigahertz. However, the operating margin of these circuits decreases with an increase in the operating frequency because a timing error occurs in the low bias region. In this study, a novel design method that enables a wide operating margin at a high operating frequency has been investigated. The proposed circuits incorporate an additional bias feeding line in addition to the conventional bias feeding lines of the conventional Josephson transmission lines (JTLs) and can control the dependence of signal propagation time on the bias voltage. We have shown experimentally that in our proposed JTLs, the signal propagation time becomes more sensitive to the bias voltage. Timing errors can be avoided by inserting proposed JTL cells in the critical data path of the SFQ digital circuits. Circuit simulation results indicate that the operating margin of a bit-serial SFQ full adder, designed assuming the 2.5 kA/cm2Nb process, can be improved by 15% compared with the conventional design at a frequency of 20 GHz by employing our novel design method.
In this study, we designed and tested dynamically reconfigurable AND/OR and NAND/NOR single flux quantum (SFQ) logic gates. The measured dc bias margins at low frequency were 99%-126% and 121%-144% for AND/OR and NAND/NOR gates, respectively. The experimentally confirmed maximum operating frequencies of the AND/OR and NAND/NOR gates were 36 and 24 GHz, respectively. We investigated a circuit design method that enables the efficient design of SFQ logic circuits by using dynamically reconfigurable SFQ logic gates. The logic circuits were designed with a small number of gates using the input data pattern dependence of the Boolean function and reconfiguring the dynamically reconfigurable SFQ logic gates. As a case study, we designed and tested a bit-serial SFQ full adder using the investigated circuit design method. Compared with the conventional bit-serial SFQ full adder, the delay of the proposed full adder was reduced by 27%, assuming a clock frequency of 20 GHz. We confirmed correct operation of the adder with a low-speed test.
In this study, we designed and tested dynamically reconfigurable AND/OR and NAND/NOR single flux quantum (SFQ) logic gates. The measured dc bias margins at low frequency were 99%-126% and 121%-144% for AND/OR and NAND/NOR gates, respectively. The experimentally confirmed maximum operating frequencies of the AND/OR and NAND/NOR gates were 36 and 24 GHz, respectively. We investigated a circuit design method that enables the efficient design of SFQ logic circuits by using dynamically reconfigurable SFQ logic gates. The logic circuits were designed with a small number of gates using the input data pattern dependence of the Boolean function and reconfiguring the dynamically reconfigurable SFQ logic gates. As a case study, we designed and tested a bit-serial SFQ full adder using the investigated circuit design method. Compared with the conventional bit-serial SFQ full adder, the delay of the proposed full adder was reduced by 27%, assuming a clock frequency of 20 GHz. We confirmed correct operation of the adder with a low-speed test.
Novel reconfigurable superconductive single flux quantum (SFQ) logic devices, the functions of which can be dynamically reconfigured by inputting control signals, have been investigated. The characteristics of single flux quantum circuits can be easily modulated by applying currents or magnetic fields because of the high sensitivity of superconductive circuits. We investigated several design approaches for the realization of dynamically reconfigurable SFQ logic devices. We employed direct current injection to the logic gate using a non-destructive read-out flip-flop. By changing the internal state of the non-destructive read-out flip-flop, the logic function can be dynamically reconfigured. We have designed and tested a dynamically reconfigurable Josephson transmission line (JTL)/delay flip-flop (DFF) circuit. The measured dc bias margin was 72.5-107.2%. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the operation of a variable bit-length shift register, composed of the dynamically reconfigurable JTL/DFF circuits. The investigated design approach can be applied to more sophisticated dynamically reconfigurable single flux quantum logic gates.
Delay analysis for superconductive Single Flux Quantum (SFQ) logic is performed for Self-Timing-Aligned Clock Synchronization Technique (STAC). With its pipelined-structure, the SFQ generates and propagates pulses that are to be processed sequentially through serial-connected functional logic blocks, and thus it is critical to acquire a ultra-high-speed and exactly synchronized clock/control signals with a few pico-second resolution. Both passive and Josephson-Junction circuits are investigated for the delay control. These delays, being connected in parallel with input line, and to the clocked-power/control node, produce a self-timing-aligned synchronization. Ways to achieve precision delays are seek by using Mo resistors along with junction inherent capacitors. Both current margins for the bias and critical timing information for the maximum throughput are also investigated. Layouts for the test SFQ circuits, such as D- and RS-flip-flops are done with XIC, and verifications are done through WRSpice with Hypres process parameters.
Successful fabrication and demonstration of complex Rapid Single Flux Quantum (RSFQ) circuits depend heavily on the reliability of the cell library that is used for the design. In large-scale RSFQ integrated circuits, delay fluctuations (jitter) of each cell may occur due to fabrication tolerances. The fabrication-induced jitter of each cell might accumulate at each stage and bring out larger variations comparable with the designed delay. If such jitter is not considered while arranging timing of the circuit, it may cause the circuit to malfunction due to the shifting of SFQ pulses. Therefore, it is important to optimize and determine the delay fluctuations of each cell well before designing a large-scale integrated circuit. There are quite a number of parameters that affect the functioning and the performance of a logic gate; hence, an optimization tool is required. In this study, the progress on development of an optimization tool for a digital RSFQ cell library composed of fundamental logic gates, such as Josephson transmission lines, D-flip-flops, T-Flip-flops, splitters, and mergers are presented. Particle swarm optimization is used for an optimization algorithm, which determines the circuit parameters with minimum delay and/or jitter satisfying the required critical margin conditions.