Study of Signal Interface between Single Flux Quantum Circuit and Adiabatic Quantum Flux Parametron

Abstract

We investigated interface circuits between a single-flux-quantum (SFQ) circuit and an adiabatic quantum-flux-parametron (AQFP) for their hybrid system. The target frequency of interface circuits is several GHz. The interface circuit that transmits a signal from the SFQ circuit to the AQFP gate (SFQ/AQFP) is realized by combining an SFQ toggle flip-flop (TFF) with the AQFP buffer. The bias margin of the SFQ TFF and the excitation current margin of the SFQ/AQFP interface are 2.47 mV ±24.7% and 1.36 mA ±8.82%, respectively. The interface circuit that transmits a signal from the AQFP to the SFQ circuit (AQFP/SFQ) was designed by using a high-sensitive mutually coupled dc/SFQ converter (MC-dc/SFQ) to detect magnetic flux signal output from the AQFP. The bias margin of the high-sensitive MC-dc/SFQ and the excitation current margin of the AQFP/SFQ are 2.88 mV ±13% and 1.6 mA ±18.8%, respectively. These interface circuits also allow us to use long-distance interconnection based on SFQ passive transmission lines between AQFP gates.