The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 23, 2006
Filed:
Oct. 19, 2004
Roman Sobolewski, Pittsford, NY (US);
Grigory N. Gol'tsman, Moscow, RU;
Alexey D. Semenov, Moscow, RU;
Oleg V. Okunev, Moscow, RU;
Kenneth R. Wilsher, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Steven A. Kasapi, San Francisco, CA (US);
Roman Sobolewski, Pittsford, NY (US);
Grigory N. Gol'tsman, Moscow, RU;
Alexey D. Semenov, Moscow, RU;
Oleg V. Okunev, Moscow, RU;
Kenneth R. Wilsher, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Steven A. Kasapi, San Francisco, CA (US);
Credence Systems Corporation, Milpitas, CA (US);
University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (US);
Abstract
A single-photon detector includes a superconductor strip biased near its critical current. The superconductor strip provides a discernible output signal upon absorption of a single incident photon. In one example, the superconductor is a strip of NbN (niobium nitride). In another example, the superconductor strip meanders to increase its probability of receiving a photon from a light source. The single-photon detector is suitable for a variety of applications including free-space and satellite communications, quantum communications, quantum cryptography, weak luminescence, and semiconductor device testing.