Superconductive crossbar switch

Abstract

A superconductor crossbar switch for connecting a plurality of inputs with a plurality of outputs, including a switching cell having an input, an output and a circuit for connecting the input with the output for bidirectionally transmitting data therebetween. The connection of the retaining and releasing circuitry of a plurality of cells enables the switch to simultaneously retain a selected cell or cells of a group of cells and disable the remaining cells of that group, whereby a subsequent query on a disabled cell is inoperative until the selected cell or cells is released. The crossbar switch is characterized by latency on the order of nanoseconds, a data rate per channel on the order of gigabits per second, essentially zero crosstalk, and detection of contention in nanoseconds or less and resolution of contention in nanoseconds or less.

1 . A superconducting crossbar switch, comprising:
 a plurality of input lines;   a matrix of a plurality of cells, each of the plurality of cells being coupled to one of the plurality of input lines, wherein each cell includes:
 a first circuit portion containing a first superconducting switch; and 
 a second circuit portion, wherein a first signal via the second circuit portion triggers the first superconducting switch; 
   a plurality of output lines, each of the plurality of output lines coupled to one of the plurality of cells.   
   
   
       2 . The switch of  claim 1 , wherein the second circuit portion includes a second superconducting switch. 
   
   
       3 . The switch of  claim 1 , wherein the first circuit portion includes a first resistor in series with the first superconducting switch. 
   
   
       4 . The switch of  claim 3 , wherein the first superconducting switch is in series with a coupling to a first ground connection. 
   
   
       5 . A superconducting crossbar switch, comprising:
 a matrix of a plurality of cells, wherein each cell includes:
 a first circuit portion containing a first superconducting switch; and 
 a second circuit portion, wherein a first signal via the second circuit portion triggers the first superconducting switch. 
   
   
   
       6 . A superconducting crossbar switch, comprising:
 a matrix of a plurality of cells, wherein each cell includes:
 a first circuit portion containing a first superconducting switch; and 
 a second circuit portion, wherein a first signal via the second circuit portion triggers the first superconducting switch; 
   first and second processor glue chips coupled to the matrix of a plurality of cells;   first and second memory glue chips coupled to the matrix of a plurality of cells;   a first plurality of processors coupled to the first glue chip via a first input data line;   a second plurality of processors coupled to the second glue chip;   a first plurality of memory devices coupled to the first memory glue chip; and   a second plurality of memory devices coupled to the second memory glue chip.