US Patent 7529437 - Quantum dot photonic computer architecture

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7529437.html

Quantum dots may form the basis of future nanooptoelectronics but are subject to defects that can hinder operation. This patent from HPLabs teaches a switching architecture providing defect tolerant quantum dot computing. Claim 1 reads:

1. A node of a quantum-dot-based, quantum computer architecture, the node comprising:

a first photonic device supported by a substrate;

quantum dots optically coupled to the first photonic device, wherein the quantum dots are located on the top surface of the first photonic device; and

a switch supported by the substrate and located between the first photonic device and a bus waveguide, wherein the switch controls transmission of electromagnetic waves between the bus waveguide and the first photonic device so that the electromagnetic waves can be selectively coupled into and out of the quantum dots.