Auto-triggered methods and systems for protecting against direct and indirect electronic attack

• US 10,135,236 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2014
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education (State of Nevada)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education (State of Nevada)
• Inventors: Schill, Jr., Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Dharti
• Application Number:
  US14/185,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20150029632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 361231, 361111-112, 361 911, 361 76, 361 86, 333135, 333137, 333157, 333208, 333 99, 333 13, 31511121, 342 13
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/005 responsive to ionising radiation; Nuclear-radiation circumvention circuits radiation detectors G01T; nuclear-explosion detection G21J5/00

Abstract

Methods and systems for preventing direct and indirect electronic attacks, cyber attacks, and/or minimizing the impact of high voltage pulses are disclosed. In an aspect, an example system can comprise an electromagnetic plasma disrupter device. The electromagnetic plasma disrupter device can comprise a gas pressurized enclosure such a waveguide, grounded metal enclosure, or Faraday shield having a first pair of opposed electrodes at least partially enclosed in the enclosure. A first electrode of a first pair of the opposed electrodes can be connected to ground. A second electrode of the first pair of opposed electrodes can be coupled to a voltage source. The system can optionally comprise a second pair of opposed electrodes. The second pair of electrodes can allow, under normal operation, for signals to enter and leave an electronic circuit that is being protected.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic plasma disrupter device comprising:

a vacuum pressurized waveguide;

a capacitor bank connected to the vacuum pressurized waveguide;

a plurality of vacuum connectors coupled to the vacuum pressurized waveguide, wherein the plurality of vacuum connectors are configured to regulate vacuum pressure within the vacuum pressurized waveguide; and

a plurality of pairs of opposed electrodes at least partially enclosed in the vacuum pressurized waveguide, wherein a first electrode of a first pair of the plurality of pairs of the opposed electrodes is connected to ground and a second electrode of the first pair of the plurality of pairs of the opposed electrodes is coupled to the capacitor bank, wherein the capacitor back provides a voltage, wherein a second pair of the plurality of pairs of the opposed electrodes is disposed within the waveguide and is configured in series with an electronic circuit and one or more of an external source and an external load, wherein the first pair of the plurality of pairs of the opposed electrodes facilitate generating and controlling a glow discharge.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the vacuum pressurized waveguide comprises one or more of a grounded metal enclosure, or a Faraday enclosure.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the external source comprises one or more of an antenna, a power source, and a power outlet, and the external load comprises one or more of an electrical device, an electromagnetic device, an optical device, an electromechanical device, or a mechanical device.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a control system configured to control voltage applied by the capacitor bank and gas pressure within the vacuum pressurized waveguide, wherein the voltage applied biases the first pair of the opposed electrodes.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the control system is configured to adjust one or more of a peak voltage, a peak current, a pulse width, a pulse repetition rate, and a gas pressure.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the glow discharge comprises a stable, pulsed plasma wire.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein a gas pressure within the vacuum pressurized waveguide is between about 3 and about 20 Torr.

8. The electromagnetic plasma disrupter device of claim 1, wherein voltage provided by the capacitor bank is between about 100 volts and about 10,000 volts.

9. A method comprising:

disposing an electromagnetic plasma disrupter device between an external source and an electronic circuit, wherein the electromagnetic plasma disrupter device is coupled to a capacitor bank and comprises a housing, a plurality of vacuum connectors coupled to the housing, wherein the plurality of vacuum connectors are configured to regulate vacuum pressure within the housing, two pairs of opposed electrodes at least partially enclosed in the housing, wherein a first electrode of a first pair of the two pairs of the opposed electrodes is connected to ground and a second electrode of the first pair of the two pairs of the opposed electrodes is coupled to a voltage source, wherein a second pair of the two pairs of the opposed electrodes is disposed within the housing and is configured in series with the electronic circuit and the external source;

applying a vacuum pressure in the housing; and

applying, via the capacitor bank, a voltage across the second electrode of the first pair of the opposed electrodes to generate a glow discharge.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the voltage applied across the first pair of the opposed electrodes is an electromagnetic pulse of a base biasing voltage either equal to or greater than 100 volts.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the voltage applied across the first pair of the opposed electrodes is between about 100 volts and about 10,000 volts.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein vacuum pressure within the housing is between about 3 and about 20 Torr.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the voltage applied to the first electrode pair triggers the generation of the glow discharge in response to an electromagnetic pulse.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the voltage and pressure are adjusted through a control system.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein one or more of peak voltage, peak current, pulse width, pulse repetition rate, gas pressure are adjusted through the control system.

16. An electromagnetic plasma disrupter device comprising:

a vacuum pressurized housing;

a capacitor bank;

a plurality of vacuum connectors coupled to the vacuum pressurized housing, wherein the plurality of vacuum connectors are configured to regulate vacuum pressure within the vacuum pressurized housing; and

a first pair of opposed electrodes at least partially enclosed in the vacuum pressurized housing, wherein a first electrode of the first pair of the opposed electrodes is connected to ground, and a second electrode of the first pair of the opposed electrodes is coupled to the capacitor bank, wherein the capacitor back provides a voltage source, and wherein the first pair of opposed electrodes facilitates generating and controlling a glow discharge.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising a control system configured to control voltage applied by the capacitor bank and gas pressure within the vacuum pressurized housing.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the control system is configured to adjust one or more of a peak voltage, a peak current, a pulse width, or a pulse repetition rate.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein voltage applied by the capacitor bank is between about 100 volts and about 10,000 volts.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein gas pressure within the vacuum pressurized housing is between about 3 and about 20 Torr.