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US3761798A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Superconducting circuit means

Assignee: Ford Motor Co
•
Filing: 1971-03-03
•
Granted: 1973-09-25
•
Expires: 1991-03-03
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Abstract

Abstract This disclosure relates to a superconducting circuit means that may be utilized as an ultra-high sensitivity voltmeter or a generator generating a voltage having a substantially constant amplitude. It comprises a superconductive material having a weak link positioned therein with means for applying a voltage of unknown magnitude across the weak link. An oscillator has its output coupled to the weak link so that the output signal of the oscillator generates an oscillating current through it. The voltage of unknown magnitude causes an oscillating current to be generated through the weak link with a frequency proportional to the unknown magnitude of the voltage. The weak link mixes the frequency of the two currents and a demodulating means detects the frequency of the oscillating current produced by the voltage of unknown magnitude. When the circuit means is to be employed as a voltmeter, a frequency meter may be connected to the demodulating means which has a scale readable in voltage units. If the circuit means is to be employed as a generator of a voltage having a substantially constant amplitude, a standard frequency may be fed to a comparator that also receives the output from the demodulating means. The output from the comparator may be fed back through suitable means to the weak link and the amplitude of the voltage having a substantially constant magnitude may be read out across a circuit component connected to the superconducting material.

Inventors

  • 👤 A Silver
  • 👤 J Zimmerman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 12:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R19/00; G01R19/25; G01R19/252; G01R19/0084; H; H03; H03B; H03B15/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/842; Y10S505/843

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 254 words
A superconducting circuit means comprising a superconductive material having a weak link positioned therein, means applying a voltage across said weak link, an oscillator, means coupling the outpUt of said oscillator to said weak link, the output signal of said oscillator generating an oscillating current through said weak link, said voltage causing an oscillating current to be generated through said weak link having a frequency proportional to the magnitude of said voltage, said weak link mixing the frequency of said two currents, a demodulating means coupled to said superconducting material for detecting the frequency of said oscillating current produced by said voltage, a source producing a standard frequency, a comparator, said comparator having a first input, a second input and an output, said first input coupled to said demodulator, said second input coupled to said source producing the standard frequency, said comparator producing a signal having a magnitude that is a function of the difference between the frequency of said standard frequency and the frequency of the output of said demodulator, means coupled to said comparator for producing an error signal, means coupling said last mentioned means to said means applying a voltage across said weak link for adjusting the voltage to a value to produce a signal at the output of said demodulating means having a frequency equal to the frequency of said standard frequency, and output means coupled to said superconducting material, whereby a voltage is impressed on said output means having a magnitude corresponding to the frequency of said standard frequency.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 254 words
A superconducting circuit means comprising a superconductive material having a weak link positioned therein, means applying a voltage across said weak link, an oscillator, means coupling the outpUt of said oscillator to said weak link, the output signal of said oscillator generating an oscillating current through said weak link, said voltage causing an oscillating current to be generated through said weak link having a frequency proportional to the magnitude of said voltage, said weak link mixing the frequency of said two currents, a demodulating means coupled to said superconducting material for detecting the frequency of said oscillating current produced by said voltage, a source producing a standard frequency, a comparator, said comparator having a first input, a second input and an output, said first input coupled to said demodulator, said second input coupled to said source producing the standard frequency, said comparator producing a signal having a magnitude that is a function of the difference between the frequency of said standard frequency and the frequency of the output of said demodulator, means coupled to said comparator for producing an error signal, means coupling said last mentioned means to said means applying a voltage across said weak link for adjusting the voltage to a value to produce a signal at the output of said demodulating means having a frequency equal to the frequency of said standard frequency, and output means coupled to said superconducting material, whereby a voltage is impressed on said output means having a magnitude corresponding to the frequency of said standard frequency.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 60 words
The combination of claim 1 in which said means applying a voltage across said weak link comprises a resistive section in a loop of superconductive material having the weak link position therein and a current source coupled to said resistive section, and said error signal is applied to said current source to adjust the magnitude of the current produced thereby.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
The combination of claim 2 in which said output means is connected across said resistive section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 41 words
The combination of claim 1 in which said oscillator produces an output signal having sufficient power to generate an oscillating current in said weak link having a maximum instantaneous magnitude at least equal to the active current of said weak link.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 60 words
The combination of claim 4 in which said means applying a voltage across said weak link comprises a resistive section in a loop of superconductive material having the weak link positioned therein and a current source coupled to said resistive section, and said error signal is applied to said current source to adjust the magnitude of the current produced thereby.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
The combination of claim 5 in which said output means is connected across said resistive section.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3600644A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-09-24 1977-03-26 1977-09-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-09-24 1981-03-26 1981-09-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-09-24 1985-03-26 1985-09-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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