Advanced electromagnetic location of electronic equipment

• US 7,515,094 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2005
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokomis Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nokomis Inc.
• Inventors: Keller, Walter J. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory; Bernarr E
• Application Number:
  US11/252,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20060082488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 342 13- 20, 342 89-103, 342/175, 342/195, 342/27, 342/28, 342192-194, 342/196, 342/197, 342 36- 51, 342/59, 342/147, 342/157, 342/158, 342450-465, 382/103
• US Class Current: 342/90
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0043 Directed energy weapons, i.e. devices that direct a beam of high energy content toward a target for incapacitating or destroying the target
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 3/00 Camouflage, i.e. means or methods for concealment or disguise for vessels B63G8/34, B63G13/02 ; sound camouflage, i.e. simulating gun fire noise, F41A33/04; dummy or decoy targets F41J; chaff per se F41J2/00; ammunition for dispensing chaff F42B5/15, F42B12/70; radar absorbing fabrics H01Q17/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/38 Jamming means, e.g. producing false echoes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/412 based on a comparison between measured values and known or stored values

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring at least one of unintentional and intentional electromagnetic emissions for at least one of enabling electromagnetic location of predetermined electronic equipment giving off such at least one of such unintentional and intentional electromagnetic emissions, tagging such predetermined electronic equipment and tracking such predetermined electronic equipment and various combination thereof. The apparatus comprises an emitter mechanism for providing an amplified electromagnetic energy which at least one of amplifies and changes a frequency content of the at least one of such unintentional and intentional electromagnetic emissions signature of a targeted electronic device by using an applied electromagnetic field generated by the emitter mechanism. There is a receiver for receiving the at least one of such unintentional and intentional electromagnetic emissions signature of such targeted electronic device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring at least one of an unintentional electromagnetic emissions signature and an intentional electromagnetic emissions signature for at least one of enabling electromagnetic location of predetermined electronic equipment giving off said at least one of said unintentional electromagnetic emissions signature and said intentional electromagnetic emissions signature, at least one of tagging such predetermined electronic equipment by increasing power incident thereto, identifying such predetermined electronic equipment and tracking such predetermined electronic equipment and a combination thereof, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an emitter means for causing at least one a changed frequency content and amplification of said at least one of said unintentional electromagnetic emissions signature and said intentional electromagnetic emissions signature of a targeted electronic device by said emitter means providing an amplified electromagnetic energy to generate an applied electromagnetic field, and said emitter means further for at least one of enabling location of such targeted electronic device, tagging such targeted electronic device by increasing power incident thereto, identifying such targeted electronic device, and tracking such targeted electronic device; and

(b) a receiver for measuring said at least one of said unintentional electromagnetic emissions signature and said intentional electromagnetic emissions signature for at least one of said location, tagging, identifying, and tracking of such targeted electronic device.

2. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said applied electromagnetic field generated by said emitter means is at least one of in a form of a microwave source, high power microwaves, pulsed high power microwaves, a non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse, a radio frequency source, a pulsed radio frequency source, a millimeter source and radar.

3. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said emitter means further includes means for utilizing amplification of said emission signatures of such targeted electronic device through semiconductor component degradation to said at least one of locate, tag, identify and track such targeted electronic device emitting equipment.

4. An apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said semiconductor component degradation is accomplished by an external RF energy.

5. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein field strengths necessary to cause a desired response is insufficient to cause at least one of circuit degradation and failure and said apparatus further includes a means electrically connected to said emitter means for enabling lower field strengths with specific intents to be used to alter at least one circuit function thereby substantially causing emissions that adequately provide an emission signature that is at least sufficient to at least one of locate, identify and track such predetermined electronic equipment.

6. An apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein such predetermined electronic equipment contains at least one of an oscillator, a voltage control oscillator, a ceramic resonator, a local oscillator, and a stable local oscillator.

7. An apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said means electrically connected to said emitter means for enabling lower field strengths with specific intents to be used to alter at least one circuit function affects a clock in such predetermined electronic equipment.

8. An apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein said clock harmonics are affected.

9. An apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said means electrically connected to said emitter means for enabling lower field strengths with specific intents to be used to alter at least one circuit function affects a clock in such predetermined electronic equipment by coupling to at least one of such clock'"'"'s ground and to output traces of such clock.

10. An apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said receiver samples electromagnetic emissions of such predetermined electronic equipment and said emitter means emits energy at frequencies selected based on anticipated characteristics of such predetermined electronic equipment.

11. An apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said frequencies correspond to such clocks of such predetermined electronic equipment.

12. An apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said means electrically connected to said emitter means for enabling lower field strengths with specific intents to be used to alter at least one circuit function affects a semiconductor in such predetermined electronic equipment by coupling to at least one of a ground and to output traces of such semiconductor.

13. An apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said apparatus affects a harmonic content of a switching power supply.

14. An apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said apparatus affects a harmonic content of a semiconductor device.

15. A measuring apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined electronic components emissions are one of at a same, multiple and sub multiple of a frequency of an electromagnetic energy of said emitter.

16. A measuring apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined electronic components emissions are broadband.

17. A measuring apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein an electromagnetic energy of said emitter is at least one of tuned to and amplify electromagnetic emissions of such predetermined electronic component by an applied electromagnetic field generated by said emitter.

18. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein such targeted device emissions signature received by said receiver is used specifically to tune said emitter to frequencies contained within such targeted device emissions signature to facilitate more efficient coupling of electromagnetic energy into electronics of such targeted device.

19. An apparatus, according to claim 18, wherein said emitter means impacts such targeted electronics device.

20. An apparatus, according to claim 18, wherein said emitter means causes a failure of said targeted electronics device.

21. An apparatus, according to claim 18, wherein said emitter means causes at least one of a failure of such targeted electronics device being used as an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) trigger and at least one of tagging, location, identification and tracking of such targeted electronics device being used as an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) trigger.

22. A measuring apparatus for obtaining information with respect to at least one of contents and persons in a building, said measuring apparatus comprising:

(a) a receiver for tracking a known characteristic signature of a predetermined electronic component possessed by an individual;

(b) an emitter means for causing said characteristic signature being tracked to change thereby enabling such information with respect to said at least one of such contents and such persons in such building to be obtained;

(c) a portable high power electromagnetic generator for generating a signal; and

(d) means engageable with said emitter means for scanning said emitter 360 degrees and facilitating locating such predetermined electronic component.

23. A measuring apparatus, according to claim 22, wherein said emitter means is remotely located and amplifies an electromagnetic emissions characteristic signal so that said receiver will locate such predetermined electronic component.

24. A measuring apparatus, according to claim 23, wherein said emitter means is positioned on at least one of a platform located in outer space, land and water.

25. A measuring apparatus, according to claim 24, wherein said emitter means is positioned on said platform located in outer space and said apparatus measures an unintentional emission signature of substantially an entire landscape before and after firing of at least one of a directed energy and a radiation type weapon to locate specific emissions signature changes to provide information about equipment at a particular location.

26. A measuring apparatus, according to claim 25, wherein said measuring apparatus is disposed at a predetermined distance from said weapon to at least one of prevent failure and upset of said measuring apparatus and allow continuous monitoring of a measured landscape.

27. A measuring apparatus, according to claim 24, wherein said platform is a high power microwave platform.

28. A measuring apparatus, according to claim 22, wherein said receiver utilizes electromagnetic sources focused on a targeted predetermined electronic component to amplify said characteristic signal.

29. A measuring apparatus, according to claim 22, wherein at least one of said receiver and said emitter means is disposed for aerial surveillance.

30. A method for locating predetermined electronic equipment, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a receiver for measuring an unintentional electromagnetic emissions signature and an intentional electromagnetic signature of a targeted electronic device for locating said predetermined electronic equipment;

(b) providing an emitter means for providing an amplified electromagnetic energy for locating said predetermined electronic equipment; and

(c) at least one of amplifying at least one of said unintentional and an intentional electromagnetic emissions signature of such targeted electronic device by using an applied electromagnetic field generated by said emitter means and at least one of shifting a frequency and changing a frequency content of said at least one of said unintentional and intentional electromagnetic emissions signature for locating said predetermined electronic equipment.

31. The method, according to claim 30, wherein said method includes the additional step of causing such targeted electronic device to emit electromagnetic radiation which enables at least one of better tracking, locating, eavesdropping and causing failure of such targeted electronic device.

32. The method, according to claim 30, wherein said method includes the additional step of using RF energy from at least one of an RF and a microwave source for enhancing ability to establish characteristics of an emissions source in conjunction with an active high power RF that drives emission signature changes.

33. The method, according to claim 30, wherein said method includes the additional step of causing changes in emission signatures in order to impact remotely such targeted electronic device.

34. The method, according to claim 30, wherein said method includes the additional step of measuring a level of field strength necessary to impact such targeted electronic device for use in deciding to use other assets to learn more about said emitter.

35. The method, according to claim 30, wherein said method includes the additional step of tuning source of such emission signatures of such targeted electronic device to enable measuring a relative distance of such targeted electronic device from at least one of said receiver and such source.

36. The method, according to claim 30, wherein said method includes the additional step of measuring a direction of such emission signatures of such targeted electronic device by sweeping such source across at least one of a number of degrees and radians for measuring a direction of such targeted electronic device from at least one of said receiver and such source.

37. The method, according to claim 30, wherein said method includes the additional step of rapidly transforming a source of such characteristic signature into a relatively robust emitter to aid in at least one of tracking and locating such targeted electronic device.

38. The method, according to claim 30, wherein said method includes at least one of the additional steps of using integrated passive emission collection techniques and at least one of offensive RF weapons, radar and jammers for at least one of locating and tracking individuals dependant on predetermined electronic devices.

39. The method, according to claim 30, wherein said method includes the additional steps of cataloging in a database at least one of specific degradation signatures of different types of equipment and circuit components failure signatures and comparing such equipment signature change for at least one of locating and tracking such equipment.

40. The method, according to claim 30, wherein step (c) includes measuring an unintentional electromagnetic radiation of such targeted electronic device and directing electromagnetic energy at such targeted electronic device at tunable levels in order to locate such targeted electronic device over a wide beam width.

41. The method, according to claim 40, wherein said method includes the additional step of causing at least one of incrementally more degradation and failure of such targeted electronic device.

42. The method, according to claim 30, wherein said method includes the additional step of permanently altering at least one of an amplitude and a frequency characteristic of such unintentional electromagnetic emissions signature such that such electronic equipment is at least one of tagged and identified for future inspection.

43. The method, according to claim 30, wherein said method includes the additional step of tuning said emitter to a non specific frequency and using said emitter for generating Cross Modulation Products in a targeted electronic device which enables at least one of better tracking, identifying and locating of such targeted electronic device.

44. The method, according to claim 30, wherein said method includes the additional step of tuning said emitter specifically to a specific frequency that is emitted from said targeted device which results in shifts in a frequency of emissions of a specific board mounted device in a targeted electronic device by greater than 5 Hz for enabling at least one of better tracking, locating, identifying and eavesdropping of such targeted device.