Dual-grip portable countermeasure device against unmanned systems

• US 10,020,909 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2017
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Original Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Inventors: Stamm, Daniel E., Morrow, Alexander, Welsh, Raphael Joseph, Loesch, Daniel G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John J
• Application Number:
  US15/596,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20170250778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 455 6711, 455557, 4555561, 4555501, 4555751, 455 903
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/22 Antenna units of the array energised non-uniformly in amplitude or phase, e.g. tapered array or binomial array
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/18 for wireless local area networks or WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/24 for communication related to weapons
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/32 including a particular configuration of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/41 characterized by the control of the jamming activation or deactivation time control of jamming activation and deactivation time only for the purpose of alternating between jamming mode and target monitoring mode H04K3/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/42 characterized by the control of the jamming frequency or wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/65 using deceptive jamming or spoofing, e.g. transmission of false signals for premature triggering of RCIED, for forced connection or disconnection to/from a network or for generation of dummy target signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/825 by jamming
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/90 related to allowing or preventing navigation or positioning, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/92 related to allowing or preventing remote control

Abstract

A portable countermeasure device is provided comprising one or more directional antenna, one or more disruption components and at least one activator. The portable countermeasure device further comprises a body having a dual-grip configuration, with the directional antenna are affixed to a front portion of the body. The one or more disruption components may be internally mounted within the device body. The dual-grip configuration allows an operator to use his body to steady and support the device while maintaining the antenna on target. The second grip is positioned adjacent the first grip, with the first grip angled toward the rear of the device and the second grip angled toward the front of the device. The portable countermeasure device is aimed at a specific drone, the activator is engaged, and disruptive signals are directed toward the drone, disrupting the control, navigation, and other signals to and from the drone.

Claims

1. A dual-grip portable countermeasure device, comprising:

a body, the body including a first grip and a second grip, the second grip adjacent the first grip located on a bottom portion of the body;

at least one directional antenna coupled to a front of the body; and

at least one signal disruption component, wherein the at least one signal disruption component further comprises;

at least one signal generator, and

at least one amplifier coupled to the at least one signal generator, wherein the at least one signal generator is configured to generate a disruptive signal on an associated frequency band and the corresponding at least one amplifier amplifies the generated disruptive signal.

2. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first activator located adjacent the first grip; and

a second activator located adjacent the second grip, wherein the first activator and the second activator are in electronic communication with the at least one signal disruption component.

3. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 2, wherein the first grip is angled toward a buttstock of the body, and wherein the second grip is angled opposite the first grip toward the front of the body.

4. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 3, wherein the first and second grips are pistol-style grips.

5. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 4, wherein the at least one directional antenna is selected from the group consisting of a helical antenna, a Yagi antenna, a spiral antenna, a conical antenna, a patch antenna, a phased array antenna, an LPDA antenna, or a parabolic antenna.

6. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 5, further comprising at least one haptic feedback component, the haptic feedback component in communication with at least one of the first activator or the second activator, wherein the at least one haptic feedback component is operative to generate haptic feedback in accordance with an activation of the first activator or the second activator.

7. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 6, further comprising a power source selected from the group comprising a battery pack or an external power supply.

8. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 7, wherein the body further comprises a connector component located on the buttstock, the connector component configured to removably couple the at least one signal disruption component to the power source.

9. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 8, further comprising a selector switch, the selector switch in communication with the at least one signal disruption component and operable to select one or more frequency bands in which a signal is generated.

10. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 9, wherein the at least one disruption component generates disruption signals in at least one of the 72 MHZ frequency band, the 400 MHz frequency band, the 800 MHz frequency band, the 900 MHz frequency band, the 1.2 GHz frequency band, the 1.5 GHz frequency band, the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or the 5.8 GHz frequency band.

11. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 10, wherein disruption signals include at least one of noise, spoofing, or alternate control commands.

12. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 11, further comprising a display component in communication with the at least one signal disruption component, wherein the display component is operable to visually indicate an activation of the at least one signal disruption component.

13. A dual-grip portable countermeasure device, comprising:

a body, the body including;

a first grip located on a bottom portion of the body,

a second grip, the second grip adjacent the first grip located on the bottom portion of the body, and

a buttstock formed on a rear portion of the body, wherein the first grip is angled toward a buttstock of the body, and wherein the second grip is angled opposite the first grip toward the front of the body; and

a connector located on the buttstock, the connector configured to removably couple with an external power supply; and

a plurality of disruption components located within the body and in communication with the external power supply via the connector, the disruption components configured to generate a plurality of disruption signals on a corresponding plurality of associated frequency bands.

14. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 13, further comprising:

a first activator coupled to the body adjacent the first grip and in operable communication with the external power supply and at least one of the plurality of disruption component;

a second activator coupled to the body adjacent the second grip and in operable communication with the external power supply and at least one of the plurality of disruption components; and

a plurality of directional antennae in communication with the plurality of disruption components, the plurality of directional antennae configured to emit a corresponding plurality of disruption signals generated by the plurality of disruption components.

15. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 14, further comprising at least one haptic feedback component, the haptic feedback component in communication with at least one of the first activator or the second activator, wherein the at least one haptic feedback component is operative to generate haptic feedback in accordance with an activation of the first activator or the second activator.

16. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 15, further comprising a display component in communication with the at least one signal disruption component, wherein the display component is operable to visually indicate an activation of the at least one signal disruption component.

17. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 16, wherein the frequency bands correspond to the 72 MHz frequency band, the 400 MHz frequency band, the 800 MHz frequency band, the 900 MHz frequency band, the 1.2 GHz frequency band, the 1.5 GHz frequency band, and the 2.4 GHz frequency band, and the 5.8 GHz frequency band.

18. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 17, further comprising a selector switch on a first side of the body, the selector switch operable to enable activation of at least one of the plurality of disruption components responsive to a corresponding activation of the first activator or the second activator.

19. The dual-grip portable countermeasure device of claim 18, further comprising a display component in communication with the at least one signal disruption component, wherein the display component is operable to visually indicate an activation of the at least one signal disruption component.