Detector and method for detecting telephone-activated devices in idle state

• US 20050064922A1
• Filed: 09/19/2003
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Owens, William R., Mattingly, S. Eric, Leonard, Jon N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.500
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A detector for detecting telephone-activated devices, such as cellular telephones used for remotely triggering explosive devices, includes a transmitter for generating and transmitting a pseudo base station signal corresponding to a base station for a telephone-activated device, and a receiver for receiving and detecting a response signal transmitted by the telephone-activated device. At least part of the transmitter and at least of the receiver may be located within a shield of conductive material, such as a cone-shaped metal shield, that aids in localizing and directing the transmitting of the pseudo base station signal toward an object to be interrogated (with regard to whether or not it contains a telephone-activated device in an idle state). The detector has a response unit for providing a response when a telephone-activated device is detected, such as providing an alarm to an operator or interdicting operation of the telephone-activated device.

Claims

1. A detector for detecting telephone-activated devices, comprising:

a conductive shield having an open end for placing objects that may contain a telephone-activated device, at least in proximity thereto;

a transmitter for generating and transmitting a pseudo base station signal corresponding to a base station signal for a telephone-activated device; and

a receiver for receiving and detecting a response signal transmitted by the telephone-activated device;

wherein the transmitter directs at least at least part of the pseudo base station signal into the shield.

2. The detector of claim 1, wherein the at least part of the transmitter is within the shield.

3. The detector of claim 1, wherein at least part of the receiver is within the shield.

4. The detector of claim 3,

wherein the transmitter includes a transmitting antenna at least partially within the shield;

and

wherein the receiver includes a receiving antenna at least partially within the shield.

5. The detector of claim 1, wherein the shield is substantially conical in shape, with the open end at a wide end.

6. The detector of claim 1, wherein the shield is made of conductive sheet metal.

7. The detector of claim 6, wherein the shield is made of conductive sheet copper.

8. The detector of claim 1, further comprising a response unit operatively coupled to the receiver;

wherein the response unit generates a response based on a result of operation of the receiver; and

wherein the response unit includes a feedback unit that provides information to an operator regarding the result of the operation of the receiver.

9. The detector of claim 8, wherein the response unit also includes an interdiction device that affects operation of the telephone-activated device.

10. The detector of claim 9, wherein the interdiction device includes a jamming device for preventing the telephone-activated device from being activated.

11. The detector of claim 8, wherein the feedback unit provides a first signal to the operator when the result is that a telephone-activated device is detected, and a second signal to the operator when the result is that a telephone-activated device is not detected.

12. The detector of claim 11, wherein the receiver extracts device information associated from a particular telephone-activated device that is detected;

and wherein the first signal includes the device information.

13. The detector of claim 12, wherein the device information includes a telephone number associated with the particular telephone-activated device.

14. The detector of claim 12, wherein the device information includes a registration number associated with the particular telephone-activated device.

15. The detector of claim 1, wherein the detector has a weight no greater than about 5 pounds (2.3 kg).

16. The detector of claim 15, wherein the detector has a weight no greater than about 2 pounds (0.9 kg).

17. The detector of claim 16, wherein the detector is a portable detector having at least one handle.

18. The detector of claim 16, wherein the detector is a battery-powered detector.

19. The detector of claim 1, wherein the transmitter includes a transmitting antenna and a signal-generating unit that is coupled to the transmitting antenna.

20. The detector of claim 19, wherein the signal-generating unit is coupled to a frequency scanner adapted to successively transmit signals, scanning multiple possible base station frequencies.

21. The detector of claim 20, wherein the frequency scanner is coupled to circuitry adapted to stop the scanning when the receiver detects a telephone-activated device, while maintaining transmission at the frequency at which the transmitter was transmitting when the receiver detected the telephone-activated device.

22. A detector for detecting telephone-activated devices, comprising:

a transmitter for generating and transmitting a pseudo base station signal corresponding to a base station for a telephone-activated device; and

a receiver for receiving and detecting a response signal transmitted by the telephone-activated device;

wherein the transmitter includes a transmitting antenna and a signal-generating unit coupled to the transmitting antenna, adapted to transmit signals;

wherein the signal-generating unit is coupled to a frequency scanner adapted to successively transmit signals, scanning multiple possible base station frequencies; and

wherein the frequency scanner is coupled to circuitry adapted to stop the scanning when the receiver detects a telephone-activated device, while maintaining transmission at the frequency at which the transmitter was transmitting when the receiver detected the telephone-activated device.

23. The detector of claim 22, wherein the detector has a weight no greater than about 5 pounds (2.3 kg).

24. The detector of claim 23, wherein the detector has a weight no greater than about 2 pounds (0.9 kg).

25. The detector of claim 23, wherein the detector is a portable detector having at least one handle.

26. A method of detecting telephone-activated devices, the method comprising:

for each of multiple possible base station frequencies,

transmitting a pseudo base station signal from a transmitter of a telephone-activated device detector to an object;

checking, with a receiver of the detector, for receipt of signals from the object indicating presence of a telephone-activated device; and

if the presence of a telephone-activated device is detected, activating an interdiction device of the detector to prevent the telephone-activated device from receiving an incoming telephone call.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the interdiction device includes a jamming device, and wherein the activating the interdiction device includes sending a jamming signal from the jamming device to the telephone-activated device.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the activating the interdiction device includes sending a control signal to the telephone-activated device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein sending the control signal includes disabling the telephone-activated device.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising, if a telephone-activated device is detected, activating a feedback unit of the detector to provide an operator of the detector with an indication that the telephone-activated device has been detected.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the activating includes providing the operator with information extracted from the detected telephone-activated device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the device includes a telephone number associated with the detected telephone-activated device.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the device information includes a registration number associated with the detected telephone-activated device.

34. The method of claim 26, further comprising, if a telephone-activated device is detected, maintaining transmission of the pseudo base station signal.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the transmission of the pseudo base station signal is maintained until the object is moved to an area where access of incoming telephone signals is blocked.