Cryogenic Platform

A cryogenic platform includes a motor, a computer processor, and a vacuum chamber with a high temperature stage and a low temperature stage. The motor is attached to a cryocooler. The computer processor is connected via one or more connections through one or more feedthrough ports to one or more electronic devices. The vacuum chamber encloses the high temperature stage and the low temperature stage, where the high temperature stage and low temperature stage are attached to the motor via a temperature stage attachment.

BACKGROUND

A cryogenic cooler or cryocooler is a refrigerator designed to reach cryogenic temperatures equal to or less than 120K. Cryocoolers vary in size depending on the input and cooling power requirements. A cryocooler is a standard mechanical refrigeration platform where any type of electronic device may be cooled down, provided it functions at temperatures equal to or less than 120K. Cryocoolers are categorized according to the principle of operation that is utilized during the cooling process to achieve a temperature of equal to or less than 120K. A cryogenic fluid is compressed, precooled in a heat exchanger, and expanded to achieve a target temperature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Currently, low temperature electronic devices are designed to operate in cryogenic platforms that are regulated to function at the single specific temperature required for proper functioning of the device. Different cryogenic devices that require distinct operating temperatures will each require an independent cryogenic platform. These cryogenic platforms are connected to a cryocooler (i.e., cold-head). A cryocooler can have one or two temperature stages depending on the desired target temperature. Each cryocooler requires supporting equipment to properly operate and maintain the target temperature. Therefore, in the case of devices that operate under different temperatures, each individual device will require a dedicated cryocooler. Consequently, multiple, separate, and distinct cryogenic platforms are needed to maintain each electronic device at its target temperature. For example, if two devices need to be cooled to two separate temperatures, two distinct cryocoolers are used to cool each device to their respective temperatures. Utilizing many independent cryocoolers, to accommodate various operating temperatures is inefficient and expensive when compared to the cryogenic platform described herein. In addition, since traditional cryocoolers can only set a single temperature at the lowest temperature stage, individual cryogenic platforms cannot accommodate different temperatures within a single cryogenic platform, which limits the applications compared to the cryogenic platform described herein.

The cryogenic platform herein engineers any cryocooler (i.e., cold-head) that operates based on two temperature stages to leverage each temperature stage into a source of distinct temperature stages called “child-stages”. Each child-stage is independently controlled with a single cryocooler. Each child-stage operates at a different temperature, thereby allowing cryogenic devices that operate at different temperatures with a single cryocooler, rather than multiple, separate, and distinct cryogenic platforms with individual cryocoolers. As a result, the cryogenic platform herein is more efficient and less expensive compared to the traditional cryogenic platform. Furthermore, the cryogenic platform herein can allow for expanded applications of cryogenic devices by simultaneously incorporating multiple devices, with different characteristics into the same platform.

The cryogenic platform herein includes a motor, a computer processor, and a vacuum chamber with a high temperature stage and a low temperature stage. The motor is attached to a cryocooler. The computer processor is connected via one or more connections through one or more ports to one or more electronic devices. The vacuum chamber encloses the high temperature stage and the low temperature stage, where the high temperature stage and low temperature stage are attached to the motor via a temperature stage attachment.

Referring now toFIG.1, the cryogenic platform100includes a motor102where the motor102attaches to a cryocooler (not shown inFIG.1). The motor102also attaches to a vacuum chamber104. In some examples, the motor102moves cooling fluid through the system. However, depending on the cryogenic platform100, the motor102may perform other functions as well. In some examples, as shown inFIG.1, the motor102includes one or more feedthrough ports112that allow the computer processor108to be connected via one or more connections110to the feedthrough ports112. In other examples, the motor102has no feedthrough ports112. The required cooling power depends on the heat load of the components and devices mounted in the vacuum chamber104. For example, if the combined platform heat load is larger, the cryocooler needs a higher cooling power in order to make the temperature stage reach the desired temperature. In an example, the cryocooler can have a cooling power of about 6 watts at 20 kelvin or about 1 watt at 4 kelvin.

The feedthrough ports112make the connection between the exterior of the cryogenic platform100and the vacuum chamber104. As a result, the feedthrough ports112link external devices (e.g., a computer processor108) to internal electronics within the vacuum chamber104to control the motor102and cryogenic platform100operation. In other examples, the feedthrough ports112also link the computer processor108to the electronic devices118within the vacuum chamber104. The feedthrough ports112are capable of connecting to the interior components of the cryogenic platform100without compromising the integrity of the vacuum chamber104. The feedthrough ports112can be any ports that support the one or more connections110. For example, the feedthrough ports112may be feedthrough ports112for one or more coax cables, one or more single pair direct current cables, one or more twisted pair direct current cables, one or more optic cables, or a combination thereof.

Referring back toFIG.1, the cryogenic platform includes a computer processor108. The computer processor108is connected via one or more connections110to control the motor102and cryogenic platform100operation. A computer processor108can also be utilized to operate in conjunction with one or more electronic devices118. In the latter case, the computer processor108executes the typical operations and tasks of a central processing unit (CPU). In an example, the computer processor108may be any computer processor108capable of storing and analyzing data from the one or more electronic devices118.

In one example, the one or more connections110connect the one or more electronic devices118within the vacuum chamber104to the computer processor108outside the vacuum chamber104via the feedthrough ports112. In an example, there is at least one connection between each electronic device118and the computer processor108. In other examples, there is two or more connections110between an electronic device118and the computer processor108. In another example, the one or more connections110connect the computer processor108to the internal electronic components to control the motor102and cryogenic platform operation via the feedthrough ports112. In an example, the one or more connections110are one or more coax cables, one or more single pair direct current cables, one or more twisted pair direct current cables, one or more optic cables, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the one or more connections110wrap around the temperature stage attachment106, which can be made of the same material that may be used for the high temperature stage114, the low temperature stage116, or the cold finger208discussed below, for heat sinking purposes and attach to one of the one or more feedthrough ports112, as shown inFIG.1.

The one or more electronic devices118can vary depending on the application of the cryogenic platform100. In an example, the one or more electronic devices118may be any electronic device118capable of converting electromagnetic signals into a voltage and capable of functioning in the cryogenic platform100. Some examples of the one or more electronic devices118include one or more superconducting electronic devices, one or more RF devices, one or more superconducting analog-to-digital converters, one or more sensors, one or more RF filters, one or more RF superconducting filters, or a combination thereof. In another example, the one or more electronic devices118can be any device that is compatible with the dimensions of the vacuum chamber102and cryocooler. In some examples, when one or more RF devices are being used to monitor electromagnetic signals originated outside the vacuum chamber102, the vacuum camber102includes a window composed of an electromagnetically transparent material. In an example, the electromagnetically transparent material that allows a signal to pass through ranging from about 1 DC to about 10 THz. In another example, the signal may be greater than 10 THz depending on the type of device being probed.

Referring back toFIG.1, the cryogenic platform100further includes a vacuum chamber104where the vacuum chamber104encloses a high temperature stage114and a low temperature stage116, where the high temperature stage114and low temperature stage116are attached to the motor102. The vacuum chamber104removes as much residual gases as possible to avoid compromising the vacuum state and interfering with the ability to cool down electronic devices within the vacuum chamber104. The vacuum chamber104may be any shape, which may vary depending on the design requirements. The vacuum chamber104may be any size and material that is compatible with the cooling power associated with the cryocooler and the vacuum level requirements. The vacuum can be made of metallic, glass, or non-metallic materials depending on the application. In some examples, the vacuum chamber104can have one or more feedthrough ports112directly on the vacuum chamber104, one or more window openings directly on the vacuum chamber104, or a combination thereof.

Referring back toFIG.1, the high temperature stage114and low temperature stage116are attached to the motor102via the temperature stage attachment106. The high temperature stage114and low temperature stage116are set to separate, distinct temperatures ranging from about 3K to about 70K depending on the application. In an example, the high temperature stage114has a temperature ranging from about 40K to about 70K. In another example, the high temperature stage114has a temperature ranging from about 50K to about 70K. In an example, the low temperature stage116has a temperature ranging from about 3K to about 5K. The high temperature stage114and the low temperature stage116may be composed of the same or different material as the cold finger208(discussed below). Similarly, the high temperature stage116and the low temperature stage114may be the same material as each other or each temperature stage may be a different material. Additionally, the high temperature stage114and low temperature stage116can each accommodate the same or different electronic devices118. The number of electronic devices118attached to the high temperature stage114and low temperature stage116may vary depending on the maximum heat load the stages can sustain without interfering with the cooling capabilities of the cryocooler.

Referring now toFIG.2, a cryogenic platform with a radome200is shown. The cryogenic platform200is the same as the cryogenic platform100inFIG.1. However, the cryogenic platform200inFIG.2has a window where a radome202is attached to the vacuum chamber104via a cold finger208. In some examples, the cryogenic platform100may have one or more cold fingers208. The radome202preserves the vacuum while allowing electromagnetic waves to penetrate. InFIG.2, an antenna204is depicted within the radome202that detects electromagnetic waves. However, in other examples, any device that is capable of detecting electromagnetic waves may be used rather than the antenna204. Some examples of devices that may be used include one or more antennas, one or more sensors, or a combination thereof. The antenna204(or other device) is connected to the electronic device118via antenna sensor connections that passes through the radome wall206along the cold finger208into the vacuum chamber104. The antenna204can be any type of small antenna (e.g., a single loop antenna). The antenna or sensor connection is matched to the type of antenna or sensor that is mounted inside the radome202. For example, the antenna or sensor connection can be RF cables, fiber optics, DC cables, or a combination thereof. The electronic device118will then convert the electromagnetic radiation into voltage data and send the voltage data to the computer processor108for storage, analysis, or both. In the example shown inFIG.2, the antenna204is connected to an electronic device118on the low temperature stage116. In other examples, the antenna204(or other devices capable of detecting electromagnetic waves) may be connected to an electronic device118on the high temperature stage114or both the high temperature stage114and the low temperature stage116.

A cold finger208provides the connection between the vacuum chamber104and the radome202. The cryogenic platform100may have one or more flexible or rigid cold fingers208depending on the application and design of the cryogenic platform100. In an example, the cold finger208has a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than equal to or greater than 30 W/m·K. The cold finger208may be any material that has a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than 30 W/m·K. For example, the cold finger208may be metallic or non-metallic material depending on the application, such as sapphire (36 W/m·K), aluminum 1100 (54 W/m·K), high purity copper (320 W/m·K), or a combination thereof. Other examples of the cold finger208include a metal, such as gold, copper, silver, or a combination thereof. The cold finger208may also be non-metallic materials, such as diamond (e.g., 2000-2200 W/m·K), Aluminum nitride (e.g., 310 W/m·K), or beryllium oxide (e.g., 285 W/m·K), or a combination thereof. Additionally, the cold finger208may be any size or shape as long as the cold finger208connects the electronic device118to the antenna204(or other device) within the radome202by passing through the radome wall206. In the example shown inFIG.2, a rigid radome wall206is shown. However, the radome wall206may be a flexible radome wall206as well. In another example, no radome wall206may be used and the vacuum chamber104may have a vacuum chamber feedthrough port304to the cold finger208within the vacuum chamber104via an external connection as shown inFIG.3.

Referring now toFIG.3, an example of a cryogenic platform with two radomes300is shown. As previously stated herein, in other examples, the two antennas204shown inFIG.3may be any electronic device that is capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation. InFIG.3, there are two radomes202with two antennas204located within the radomes202. However, in other examples, there may be one or more radomes202with each radome202including a device capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation. For example, there may be one or more radomes202with one or more antennas, one or more sensors, or a combination thereof. InFIG.3, one antenna204is connected to an electronic device118on the high temperature stage114via a connection302with no radome wall306that connects directly to the vacuum chamber104via a vacuum chamber feedthrough port304. The other antenna204is connected to an electronic device118on the low temperature stage116via an antenna connection302that passes along a cold finger208and through a flexible radome wall306. In other examples not shown inFIG.3, any combination of electromagnetic detection device with or without a radome wall306may be used to connect to an electronic device118on either low temperature stage116or high temperature stage114. There may be as many radomes202and electromagnetic detection devices with or without radome walls306that can be practically used on a cryogenic platform100depending on the application.

The cryogenic platforms100,200,300may also be a cryogenic platform system. The cryogenic platform system includes the same motor102, vacuum chamber104, cold finger208, computer processor108, one or more connections110, one or more feedthrough ports112, high temperature stage114, low temperature stage116, and electronic devices118as previously described herein in reference toFIG.1,FIG.2, andFIG.3.

As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of a list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list merely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary.

Unless otherwise stated, any feature described herein can be combined with any aspect or any other feature described herein.

The ranges provided herein include the stated range and any value or sub-range within the stated range. For example, a range from about 3K to about 70K should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited limits of from about 3K to about 70K, but also to include individual values, such as 13K, 27K, 57.5K, etc., and sub-ranges, such as from about 15K to about 45K, etc.