How D-Wave Clears Magnetic Noise in Quantum Computers
A method for improving quantum computer accuracy by actively clearing out magnetic interference that builds up during calculations.
Original patent title: “Superconducting quantum processor and method of operating same”
A method for improving quantum computer accuracy by actively clearing out magnetic interference that builds up during calculations. Granted to D Wave Systems Inc in 2022 with 33 claims and 13 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2038.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
Quantum processors often suffer from 'spin-bath polarization,' which is essentially magnetic noise that builds up in the environment surrounding the qubits during a calculation. This patent describes a way to reset this environment by forcing the qubit into an opposite state after a calculation is finished. By raising a 'tunneling barrier'—which acts like a gate to lock the qubit's state—the system holds the qubit in this corrective position for a specific amount of time. This process effectively depolarizes the surrounding environment, allowing the quantum processor to start its next calculation without the lingering magnetic interference from the previous one.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover passive cooling techniques that do not involve active qubit state manipulation
- Does not cover quantum gate-based processors that do not utilize quantum annealing cycles
- Does not cover error correction methods that rely solely on software algorithms rather than physical qubit state latching
- Does not cover systems that do not use superconducting qubits
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
Instead of trying to shield the qubit from noise, the system uses the qubit itself as a tool to 'flush' the noise out by intentionally flipping its state and holding it there to cancel out the accumulated magnetic polarization.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
D-Wave Advantage quantum annealing processors
Superconducting quantum annealing hardware
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Quantum computers are incredibly sensitive to noise. If the environment doesn't 'reset' between operations, the errors accumulate, making the final result useless. D-Wave Systems, a leader in quantum annealing, uses this technology to make their processors more reliable for complex optimization problems, such as logistics or financial modeling.
Filed
July 6, 2018
Granted
April 5, 2022
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
D-Wave Systems Inc. remains the primary developer of this specific approach to quantum annealing. Other researchers in the superconducting qubit space, such as those at IBM or Google, focus on different error mitigation strategies, but the problem of environmental noise remains a central challenge for the entire industry.
Market impact
This patent helps D-Wave maintain its competitive edge in the quantum annealing market by increasing the fidelity of its hardware. By enabling more reliable repeated operations, it allows their processors to handle longer, more complex optimization chains that would otherwise be corrupted by noise.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
Quantum processors often suffer from 'spin-bath polarization,' which is essentially magnetic noise that builds up in the environment surrounding the qubits during a calculation. This patent describes a way to reset this environment by forcing the qubit into an opposite state after a calculation is finished. By raising a 'tunneling barrier'—which acts like a gate to lock the qubit's state—the system holds the qubit in this corrective position for a specific amount of time. This process effectively depolarizes the surrounding environment, allowing the quantum processor to start its next calculation without the lingering magnetic interference from the previous one.
The clever bit
Instead of trying to shield the qubit from noise, the system uses the qubit itself as a tool to 'flush' the noise out by intentionally flipping its state and holding it there to cancel out the accumulated magnetic polarization.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover passive cooling techniques that do not involve active qubit state manipulation
- Does not cover quantum gate-based processors that do not utilize quantum annealing cycles
- Does not cover error correction methods that rely solely on software algorithms rather than physical qubit state latching
- Does not cover systems that do not use superconducting qubits
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
23/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$102K – $328K
Midpoint $205K · 12.0 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
33 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Hoskinson, E. M., & Lanting, T. M. (2022). How D-Wave Clears Magnetic Noise in Quantum Computers (U.S. Patent No. 11,295,225). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11295225/superconducting-quantum-processor-and-method-of-operating-same
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How D-Wave Clears Magnetic Noise in Quantum Computers cover?
A method for improving quantum computer accuracy by actively clearing out magnetic interference that builds up during calculations.
Who owns patent US 11295225?
D Wave Systems Inc owns this patent, granted in 2022.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on July 6, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11295225 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 13 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Quantum computers are incredibly sensitive to noise. If the environment doesn't 'reset' between operations, the errors accumulate, making the final result useless. D-Wave Systems, a leader in quantum annealing, uses this technology to make their processors more reliable for complex optimization problems, such as logistics or financial modeling.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover passive cooling techniques that do not involve active qubit state manipulation
Patent monitoring