Non-linear junction detector

• US 6,057,765 A
• Filed: 10/07/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Research Electronics International LLC (Heico Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Research Electronics International LLC (Heico Corporation)
• Inventors: Jones, Thomas H., Barsumian, Bruce R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/167,844
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.2, 340/693.6, 340/693.5, 340/691.1, 340/825.54, 342/46, 342/44, 455/115, 455/67.2, 455/166.1, 455/228, 367/128
• US Class Current: 340/572.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2471 Antenna signal processing by receiver or emitter
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2474 Antenna or antenna activator geometry, arrangement or layout loop antennae H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2488 Timing issues, e.g. synchronising measures to avoid signal collision, with multiple emitters or a single emitter and receiver

Abstract

A non-linear junction detector designed for counter surveillance measures achieves superior performance by using a single circularly polarized antenna to transmit a signal and to receive harmonics of the transmitted signal that are re-radiated by a non-linear junction such as would be found in a eavesdropping device containing a semiconductor. The antenna is mounted on a telescoping antenna extension assembly. A single electrically conductive cable is contained inside the antenna and connects the antenna to the transceiver case which houses the non-linear junction detector electronics. A cable winder is built into the antenna and is employed to provide automatic dispensing and retraction of the cable when the antenna extension assembly is extended or retracted. A display is built into the antenna head assembly to provide signal strength indications and operational information concerning the functioning of the non-linear junction detector to the user of the device. The control signals and power for the display are multiplexed onto the single electrically conductive cable.

Claims

1. An electronic device for detecting the presence of non-linear junctions, the electronic device comprising:

a transmitter for producing a transmit signal having an amplitude;

a single circular polarized antenna that is electrically connected to the transmitter so that the single antenna receives the transmit signal from the transmitter and produces electromagnetic waves that radiate outward from the single antenna and wherein the single antenna produces at least one re-radiated harmonic signal in response to electromagnetic waves that have been re-radiated by a non-linear junction in response to the electromagnetic waves produced by the single antenna; and

a receiver that is electrically connected to the single antenna so that the receiver receives the at least one re-radiated harmonic signal from the antenna and produces a conditioned harmonic signal.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein a single electrically conductive cable electrically connects the transmitter and receiver to the single antenna.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising a diplexer for electrically connecting the transmitter and receiver to the single antenna and isolating the transmitted signal from the receiver so that any harmonic signal generated by the transmitter will not interfere with receiver'"'"'s reception of the at least one re-radiated harmonic signal of the transmitted signal produced by the transmitter.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the diplexer further comprises a low pass filter for preventing any harmonic signal generated in the transmitter from interfering with the receiver receiving the at least one re-radiated harmonic signal and a high pass filter that prevents the transmitted signal from entering the receiver.

5. The device of claim 2 further comprising a retractable antenna extension assembly for supporting the single antenna and housing the electrically conductive cable that electrically connects the receiver and the transmitter to the single antenna.

6. The device of claim 5 further comprising a cable winder for automatically removing any slack produced in the electrically conductive cable when the retractable antenna extension assembly is retracted and providing additional electrically conductive cable when the retractable antenna extension assembly is extended.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a display for displaying the results of at least one measurement or calculation representing either the transmit signal'"'"'s amplitude or the amplitude of the at least one re-radiated harmonic signal.

8. An apparatus for detecting the presence of a non-linear junction, the apparatus comprising:

a case housing electronic circuitry implementing the non-linear junction detector;

a transmitter for producing a transmit signal having a frequency and an amplitude, and radiating electromagnetic waves corresponding to the transmit signal;

a receiver for receiving re-radiated electromagnetic waves that were re-radiated by a non-linear junction in response to the radiated electromagnetic waves and producing a re-radiated harmonic signal;

a single circularly polarized antenna;

a cable connected at one end to said antenna and connected at the other end to at least one of said transmitter and receiver;

a cable winder for storing said cable, for rotating in one direction to wind said cable onto said winder for storage, and for rotating in the other direction for winding said cable off of said winder for use in extending the distance between said antenna and at least one of said receiver and transmitter.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a retractable antenna extension assembly mechanically disposed between the antenna and the housing for extending and retracting the antenna relative to the case.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a connection joint for rotatably connecting the case to the retractable antenna extension assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a microprocessor and display for receiving signals from the receiver and providing visual signals corresponding to the re-radiated harmonic signals and indicating when a non-linear junction has been detected.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said cable winder is attached to said antenna.

13. An apparatus for detecting the presence of a covert surveillance device having a non-linear junction, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for producing and transmitting a transmit signal having an amplitude;

a receiver for receiving and conditioning harmonic signals that were re-radiated by a non-linear junction in response to the transmitted signal to produce conditioned harmonic signals;

a microprocessor control circuit for receiving the conditioned harmonic signals from the receiver and producing audio signals representing amplitudes of the harmonic signals; and

a speaker for receiving the audio signals from the microprocessor control circuit and producing audible sounds corresponding to the audio signals, whereby an operator may listen to the audible sounds and distinguish between different types of non-linear junctions based on the differences in the audible sounds.

14. The device of claim 13 further comprising an infrared transmitter for transmitting the audio signals representing the amplitudes of the harmonic signals to a pair of wireless infrared headphones wherein the pair of wireless infrared headphones receive and broadcast the audio signals.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a display that receives signals from the microprocessor concerning properties of the harmonic signals and creates visual displays that indicate the presence of a non-linear junction to an operator of the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the audio signals are demodulated versions of the received harmonic signals.

17. A device for detecting the presence of non-linear junctions, the device comprising:

a transmitter for producing a transmit signal having an amplitude;

a circular polarization antenna electrically connected to the transmitter for circularly polarizing and transmitting the transmit signal and for receiving circularly polarized harmonics of the transmit signal that are re-radiated by a non-linear junction in response to the transmit signal; and

a receiver for receiving the circularly polarized harmonics of the transmit signal from the circularly polarized antenna and determining if a non-linear junction has been detected.

18. The device of claim 17 further comprising said circular polarization antenna being configured to transmit and receive signals of the same polarization.

19. The device of claim 17 further comprising a display for displaying an alpha-numeric message, a transmit power reading, a second harmonic power reading, or a third harmonic power reading.

20. The device of claim 17 further comprising a retractable antenna extension assembly for supporting the circular polarization antenna and an electrically conductive cable that electrically connects the receiver and the transmitter to the circular polarization antenna.

21. An electronic device for detecting the presence of non-linear junctions, the electronic device comprising:

a transmitter for producing a transmit signal having an amplitude;

a single circularly polarized antenna that is electrically connected to the transmitter so that the antenna receives the transmit signal from the transmitter and produces electromagnetic waves that radiate outward from the antenna and wherein the antenna produces at least one re-radiated harmonic signal in response to electromagnetic waves that have been re-radiated by a non-linear junction in response to the electromagnetic waves produced by the antenna;

a receiver that is electrically connected to the antenna so that the receiver receives the at least one re-radiated harmonic signal from the antenna and produces a conditioned harmonic signal;

a microprocessor that is electrically connected to the receiver for receiving the conditioned harmonic signal, examining the amplitude of the conditioned harmonic signal and determining if a non-linear junction is present;

a cable connecting the transmitter and receiver to the antenna;

a retractable antenna extension assembly for supporting the antenna and the electrically conductive cable that electrically connects the receiver and the transmitter to the antenna; and

a cable winder holding the cable for automatically removing any slack produced in the electrically conductive cable when the retractable antenna extension assembly is retracted and providing additional electrically conductive cable when the retractable antenna extension assembly is extended.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said antenna is a circular polarization antenna having a center axis and said winder is integrally built into the circular antenna so that said circular antenna rotates about its center axis as the cable is wound on or off the winder.

23. An apparatus for detecting the presence of covert surveillance devices containing non-linear semi-conductor junctions, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for producing a transmit signal having an amplitude;

a single broadband antenna for transmitting the transmit signal and for receiving a second harmonic signal and a third harmonic signal of the transmitted signal that have been re-radiated by a non-linear junction;

a receiver for receiving the second and third harmonic signals from the broadband antenna, producing signals corresponding to the amplitude of the second and third harmonics and producing demodulated versions of the second and third harmonic signals;

a display located on the antenna for displaying an alpha-numeric message, a transmit power reading, a second harmonic signal power reading, and a third harmonic signal power reading;

an electrically conductive cable for electrically connecting the transmitter and the receiver to the broadband antenna and for providing power and control signals to the display;

a diplexer for separating the transmit signal from the receiver, the diplexer comprising a low pass filter for preventing any harmonics generated by the transmitter from interfering with the received harmonic signals and a high pass filter for preventing the transmitted signal from entering the receiver;

a retractable antenna extension assembly for supporting the broadband antenna and housing the single electrically conductive cable that electrically connects the receiver and the transmitter to the broadband antenna;

an antenna connection joint attached to the retractable antenna extension assembly and the broadband antenna in a manner that provides two axis of rotation for the broadband antenna;

a keypad for providing user control of the non-linear junction detector;

a microprocessor control circuit for receiving signals from the keypad, sending signals to the display, receiving signals corresponding to the amplitudes of the second and third harmonic signals from the receiver, receiving demodulated versions of the second and third harmonic signals from the receiver, producing encoded audio signals representing demodulated versions of the second and third harmonic signals and producing encoded audio signals representing the amplitude of the second and third harmonic signals;

a cable winder for automatically removing any slack produced in the electrically conductive cable when the retractable antenna extension assembly is retracted and providing additional electrically conductive cable when the retractable antenna extension assembly is extended;

a transceiver case for mounting the retractable antenna extension assembly and containing the transmitter, receiver and microprocessor control circuit;

a connection joint for rotatably connecting the transceiver case to the retractable antenna extension assembly;

a slip ring assembly for electrically connecting the conductive cable to the display;

an audio circuit for receiving encoded audio signals representing demodulated versions of the second and third harmonic signals and producing sounds corresponding to the demodulated versions of the second and third harmonic signals; and

an infrared transmitter for receiving the encoded audio signals representing the amplitude of the second and third harmonics from the microprocessor control circuit and transmitting the signals to a pair of wireless infrared headphones.