The USPTO has issued a patent grant (US12581870B2) for a Josephson junction (JJ) device and its manufacturing method. The invention, assigned to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, includes a novel design incorporating hydrogen-trapping JJs to protect the primary operating JJ from hydrogen diffusion, a common issue affecting superconductor performance. The patent details the device's components, including the operating JJ, first and second hydrogen-trapping JJs, and superconductor wires, aiming to enhance device stability and longevity.

This patent grant signifies a new intellectual property right for Northrop Grumman in the field of advanced electronic components, potentially impacting future research and development in areas such as quantum computing and high-speed electronics. While this is a patent grant and not a regulatory rule imposing obligations on other entities, companies operating in related technology sectors, particularly those developing or utilizing Josephson junctions, should be aware of this granted patent and its claims. The filing date was May 17, 2022, and the grant date is March 17, 2026.