Auto-Triggered Methods And Systems For Protecting Against Direct And Indirect Electronic Attack

• US 20150029632A1
• Filed: 02/20/2014
• Published: 01/29/2015
• 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, Robert A. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,135,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/112
• 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 gas pressurized waveguide; and

a plurality of pairs of opposed electrodes at least partially enclosed in the gas pressurized waveguide, wherein a first electrode of a 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 a voltage source, wherein a second pair 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 opposed electrodes facilitates generating and controlling a plasma.

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

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a control system configured to control voltage applied by the voltage source and gas pressure within the gas 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 peak voltage, peak current, pulse width, pulse repetition rate, and gas pressure.

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

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of vacuum connectors coupled to the gas pressurized waveguide.

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

9. A method comprising:

disposing an electromagnetic plasma disrupter device between an external source and an electronic circuit, wherein the electromagnetic plasma disrupter device comprises a housing, two pairs of opposed electrodes at least partially enclosed in the housing, wherein a first electrode of a 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 a voltage source, wherein a second pair of the opposed electrodes is disposed within the housing and is configured in series with the electronic circuit and the external source;

applying a gas pressure in the housing; and

applying a voltage across the second electrode of the first pair of the opposed electrodes to generate a plasma.

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 of at least about 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 gas 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 plasma generation 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 gas pressurized housing; and

a first pair of opposed electrodes at least partially enclosed in the gas 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 a voltage source, and wherein the first pair of opposed electrodes facilitates generating and controlling a plasma.

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

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

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

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