Device for locating audio surveillance apparatus

• US 4,264,978 A
• Filed: 10/15/1979
• Issued: 04/28/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K.K.
• Original Assignee: Glenn H. Whidden
• Inventors: Whidden, Glenn H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bookbinder, Marc E.
• Application Number:
  US06/084,561
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11, 455/9, 455/15, 455/18, 455/20, 455/67, 455/84, 455/89, 455/228, 455/226, 343/6 R, 343/13 R, 367/2, 367/128, 367/127
• US Class Current: 455/67.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/16 using difference in transit time between electrical and acoustic signals

Abstract

A pulse generator is provided for transmitting an acoustic pulse which is sensed by an audio surveillance device and retransmitted as modulated electromagnetic information. Associated with the pulse generator is a timing arrangement and display. The timer is triggered into operation by the generation of the acoustic pulse. The operating speed of the timer is established to be a function of the speed of sound. Means are provided to stop the timer upon receipt of a demodulated signal representative of the retransmitted pulse whereby the display indicates the distance to the surveillance device.

Claims

1. A device for use in conjunction with a detector of covert audio surveillance apparatus, said apparatus being of the type which secretively senses information in the audio frequency range and which includes a covert transmitter portion for generating electromagnetic signals modulated by said information, said detector demodulating the electromagnetic signals to develop an output pulse, said device comprising:

means capable of producing a discrete acoustic monopulse, signal and for propagating said signal towards said transmitter portion;

means connected to the acoustic signal producing means and operative when an acoustic signal is produced to commence a timing sequence;

means responsive to said output pulse, developed by the detector when said acoustic signal is secretively sensed by the covert audio surveillance apparatus and is transmitted as a modulated electromagnetic signal from said covert transmitter portion, for terminating said timing sequence; and

means operative as a function of the time elapsed between the commencement and termination of the timing sequence to provide an indication of the distance between the transmitter and said device.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said distance indicating means comprises:

a clock generator for producing a train of pulses;

a counter operative during said timing sequence for counting the number of pulses produced by said clock generator; and

means for displaying the number of pulses counted by said counter during said timing sequence.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said clock generator produces a train of pulses at a frequency corresponding to the speed of propagation of the acoustic signal.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for commencing a timing sequence comprises:

means for resetting said counter to zero and for clearing the display of the pulse count obtained during a previous timing sequence.

5. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for terminating a timing sequence comprises:

means for stopping the operation of said counter and for enabling the display means.

6. A device for use in conjunction with a detector of covert audio surveillance apparatus, said apparatus being of the type which secretively senses information in the audio frequency range and which includes a covert transmitter portion for generating electromagnetic signals modulated by said information, said detector demodulating the electromagnetic signals to develop an output pulse, said device comprising:

means capable of producing a discrete acoustic signal and for propagating said signal towards said transmitter portion;

a clock generator for producing a train of pulses;

a counter joined to said clock generator for counting the number of pulses produced by said clock generator;

means connected to the acoustic signal producing means and operative when an acoustic signal is produced for resetting said counter to zero;

means joined to said counter for displaying the number of pulses counted by said counter;

means joined to said counter and the displaying means, and responsive to said output pulse developed by the detector when said acoustic signal is secretive sensed by the covert audio surveillance apparatus and is transmitted as a modulated electromagnetic signal from said covert transmitter portion, for stopping the operation of said counter and for enabling the display means to display the number of pulses counted between the time of resetting and stopping of the counter.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said clock generator produces a train of pulses at a frequency corresponding to the speed of propagation of the acoustic signal whereby the displayed count when the counter is stopped is representative of the distance between the covert transmitter portion and said device.