IBM Quantum patents are an increasingly large part of Big Blue’s prolific IP legacy

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• IBM will be America’s most productive patent holder in 2023 with 3,953 granted patents.
• A growing number of these patents are in the field of quantum information science.
• As the number of Big Blue quantum patents grows, other companies and individuals are using IBM Quantum products for their own product innovations and research into the quantum world.

IBM will be America’s most productive patent holder in 2023, according to a study by small business lender OnDeck.

The study found that IBM is America’s most innovative company, with 3,953 patents issued by 2023. While IBM has an extensive intellectual property (IP) portfolio, the company’s IP is growing, driving advances in quantum computing protects.

In this article we will focus on the growing number of quantum patents in that portfolio. It’s also important to note that IBM’s quantum IP portfolio is involved in another aspect of the patent collection process: many companies now rely on IBM Quantum – both the research and the actual equipment – ​​to build their own collection of patents and build other forms of intellectual property. property. We will also discuss some recent examples of these efforts relying on the Quantum Insider Market Intelligence Platform.

Examples of IBM Quantum patents

Here are some of the most recent and relevant patents found on The Quantum Insider’s Market Intelligence Platform that may involve quantum science or directly impact quantum computing. The descriptions of the inventions based on applicants’ summaries.

Mounting a chip on a substrate

This patent describes a method for connecting a semiconductor chip to an organic laminate substrate. At a specific bonding temperature, solder is used to attach the chip to the substrate. Without allowing everything to cool, underfill is applied between the chip and the substrate, followed by curing at a higher temperature. Another detailed method involves applying solder to the pads and chip pillars of the substrate, allowing bonding by direct contact.

Synchronizing physical and virtual environments using Quantum Entanglement

IBM scientists wrote this patent to cover a technique for connecting physical and virtual environments using quantum entanglement. It captures video of a physical object and detects a feature in the footage. A first qubit is encoded based on the value of the feature and then entangled with a second qubit, forming a qubit pair. The quantum state of the second qubit determines the representation of a virtual object that corresponds to the physical object, creating a synchronized virtual environment.

Pulsed sharp tones to reduce collisions

This patent presents techniques for reducing cross-resonance collisions in qubits using Stark tone pulses. A tone management component manages the application of pulses by a tone generator to prevent frequency collisions. The tone generator can apply a non-resonant tone pulse to a qubit, which induces a Stark shift, and a cross-resonant tone pulse to a control qubit, which can also affect its frequency. The patent also outlines different types of gates, such as cross-resonance, two-qubit and measurement gates, which can use echo sequences or other techniques.

Cryogenic filter modules for scalable quantum computer architectures

This patent describes systems, devices and methods for signal filters in scalable quantum computer architectures. The device contains a multi-layer circuit board, with each layer made of different absorbent materials, and signal lines passing through it. A layer can filter signals passing through it, ensuring the proper functioning of each line.

Linking data quantum bits to auxiliary quantum bits

This patent outlines a device with a data qubit, first and second qubit links, and an auxiliary qubit. The first coupler connects to the data qubit, and the second coupler connects to the first and the auxiliary qubit. The couplers can suppress or enable interactions between the data and auxiliary qubits, which can entangle them for various quantum computing operations.

Examples of IBM Quantum patents using or referencing IBM

In the following granted patent applications, we see that IBM is referenced in the prior art, or that IBM Quantum equipment was relied upon as part of the process of creating the invention.

Compiler for quantum processors

This patent outlines a computer system and method for compiling programs that can run on multi-qubit or audit quantum processors. The system includes a compiler with four modules: a uniform level module that restructures code written in a uniform language and converts it into a first code, a high level module that compiles this first code into a second code that contains loops, subroutines and power support. control, a low-level module that converts the second code into a third code containing quantum gate operations, and a gate-level module that converts the third code into a fourth code expressed in a quantum gate-level language, according to the requirements of the quantum processor of the target instruction set and constraints.

The prior art refers to IBM’s patent.

Semi-quantum safe multi-part summation method

This patented invention introduces a semi-quantum security method for multi-party summation using high-dimensional entangled states and discrete states. A quantum server prepares an entangled state and applies a quantum Fourier transform to each particle, combining it with a set of discrete states that are sent to classical users. Users measure and return the particles or send them back directly, allowing the server to take specific measurements after the operation. This process verifies the presence of eavesdroppers and the integrity of the server, establishing a key that allows users to encrypt their data sent to the server. Finally, the server collects this data to produce and publish a sum, improving secure multi-party calculations.

The application specifically mentions IBM Qiskit, which can be used to simulate quantum states and measurements.

Quantum technology-based gene search BLAST acceleration method and system

A new invention introduces a BLAST acceleration method and system for gene searching that uses quantum technology to improve the classic BLAST algorithm. The method is divided into three parts: the first part uses quantum computation to reduce the time complexity of BLAST, thereby breaking computational bottlenecks. The second part simplifies the quantum circuit used in the acceleration process, reducing both the time and space complexity of these circuits. The third part provides a simple quantum wire mapping scheme for implementation on physical quantum computers. The method significantly improves the efficiency of the BLAST algorithm and reduces the space complexity of the corresponding quantum circuits.

Robot path planning method using quantum clustering based on quantum ant colony algorithm

A new invention introduces an advanced robot path planning method that uses quantum clustering in combination with a quantum ant colony algorithm to tackle large-scale path planning challenges. This method breaks down a large-scale path planning problem into smaller, more manageable components. It assesses whether the available quantum computing resources can handle these smaller problems; if not, they are further parsed until they match the current computing capacity. Once the small-scale problems are within the processing capacity, the quantum ant colony algorithm is used to solve each one individually. The solutions are then merged to derive an optimal path for the original large-scale problem, greatly increasing the feasibility of large-scale path planning with quantum technology.

The future of IBM’s IP legacy

Since its inception, IBM has been a huge invention. Some wonder how long that dominance will last.

Recently, several media sources reported that IBM has overhauled its long-standing inventor compensation program, causing frustration among some employees who feel they are missing out on bonuses.

The company has ended its “Invention Achievement Award Plan,” which incentivized employees to file patents and publish articles with points that could be redeemed for cash rewards.

Under the old system, employees received points for successful disclosures, publications and patent applications, with significant bonuses awarded once they collected 12 points, according to a report by The Register.

The newspaper reported that the elimination of this program also means the nullification of unredeemed points, essentially erasing a financial obligation for IBM and preventing these points from being converted into cash rewards.

It remains to be seen what effect this will have on overall patent production at IBM and, specifically, whether that will change IBM’s growing collection of quantum-related patents.