System and method for suppressing radio frequency transmissions

• US 8,193,964 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pegasus Global Strategic Solutions LLC (Pegasus Global Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pegasus Global Strategic Solutions LLC (Pegasus Global Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brumley, Robert Haywood II, Reedy, Michael J., Brumley, Robert Haywood III
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B
• Application Number:
  US12/823,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20100259436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 342 13- 19, 455/1
• US Class Current: 342/13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/38 Jamming means, e.g. producing false echoes
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/24 for communication related to weapons
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/92 related to allowing or preventing remote control

Abstract

A system and method for suppressing radio frequency (“RF”) transmissions includes a transmitter for transmitting electronic signals that suppresses (e.g., prevents, disrupts, jams, interferes with or otherwise disables) RF transmissions. Some embodiments of the invention include a transmitter that suppresses one or more signals transmitted from a target transmitter in an RF transmission system to a target receiver in a wireless device operating in the RF transmission system to prevent, disrupt, jam, interfere with or otherwise disable an RF transmission between the target transmitter and the target receiver in the wireless device (i.e., target wireless device). These systems and methods may be used to interrupt communication, command and control of non-friendly combatant. These systems and methods may also be used to suppress RF transmissions to prevent the detonation of improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.

Claims

1. A system operable to suppress radio frequency transmissions to prevent the detonation of a variety of improvised explosive devices, the system comprising:

a transmitting unit, comprising;

(i) a first portion operable to generate a first suppressing signal within a first predetermined frequency band, wherein the first suppressing signal suppresses radio frequency transmissions within a first volume of influence to which the first suppressing signal is broadcast; and

(ii) a second portion operable to generate a second suppressing signal within a second predetermined frequency band, wherein the second suppressing signal suppresses radio frequency transmissions within a second volume of influence to which the second suppressing signal is broadcast;

an antenna port, in operative communication with the transmitting unit, for enabling operative connection of an antenna configured to broadcast suppressing signals received from the transmitting unit; and

a power source port, in operative communication with the transmitting unit, enabling operative connection of a power source configured to provide power to the transmitting unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined frequency band comprises a center frequency and a frequency bandwidth.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a power level is associated with the first predetermined frequency band.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined frequency band is a wireless frequency band associated with a short-range wireless device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined frequency band is a wireless frequency band associated with a long-range wireless device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined frequency band is associated with a particular communications protocol.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first volume of influence is varied at predetermined time intervals.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first volume of influence is varied randomly.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first volume of influence is selected to be larger than a detonation volume impacted by a detonation of an improvised explosive device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first suppressing signal is generated at a signal strength such that the first volume of influence is large enough to inhibit radio frequency transmissions to an explosive device when the transmitting unit is inside of a kill zone of the explosive device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit is mounted on a mobile platform, and wherein the first volume of influence is selected based on the actual speed or expected speed of the mobile platform.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined frequency band comprises a center frequency and a frequency bandwidth.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein a power level is associated with the second predetermined frequency band.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined frequency band is a wireless frequency band associated with a short-range wireless device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined frequency band is a wireless frequency band associated with a long-range wireless device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined frequency band is associated with a particular communications protocol.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the second volume of influence is varied at predetermined time intervals.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the second volume of influence is varied randomly.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the second volume of influence is selected to be larger than a detonation volume impacted by a detonation of an improvised explosive device.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the first suppressing signal is generated at a signal strength such that the first volume of influence is large enough to inhibit radio frequency transmissions to an explosive device when the transmitting unit is inside of a kill zone of the explosive device.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit is mounted on a mobile platform, and wherein the second volume of influence is selected based on the actual speed or expected speed of the mobile platform.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first predetermined frequency band comprises a center frequency and a frequency bandwidth, and has an associated power level; and

wherein the second predetermined frequency band comprises a center frequency and a frequency bandwidth, and has an associated power level.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the first volume of influence and the second volume of influence create an aggregate volume of influence.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first predetermined frequency band is a wireless frequency band associated with a short-range wireless device; and

the second predetermined frequency band is a wireless frequency band associated with a long-range wireless device.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit is mounted on a mobile platform, and wherein the first volume of influence and the second volume of influence are each selected based on the actual speed or expected speed of the mobile platform.

26. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a case housing the transmitting unit, wherein the case comprises an external bus that includes the antenna port and the power source port.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

an antenna, operatively connected to the antenna port; and

a power source, operatively connected to the power source port.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the antenna comprises an omni-directional antenna.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the antenna comprises a directional antenna.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the antenna and the power source are mounted to a vehicle, such that the case housing the transmitting unit can be removed from the vehicle without dismounting and removing the antenna and the power source from the vehicle.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the antenna is mounted to the roof of the vehicle such that the roof of the vehicle acts as a ground plane and signal reflector for the antenna.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the vehicle comprises a military vehicle.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the vehicle comprises a civilian vehicle.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the power source is recharged by the operation of an engine of the vehicle.

35. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

a display, operatively connected to an external display port on the external bus of the case, for indicating a status of the transmitting unit;

wherein the display is mounted to the vehicle so as to be observable from a cockpit of the vehicle.

36. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna, removably connected to the antenna port;

a power source, removably connected to the power source port;

at least one article of equipment configured to be worn by a user of the system; and

a mounting member that mounts the transmitting unit to the at least one article of equipment.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the mounting member is provided on the transmitting unit.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the mounting member is provided on the at least one article of equipment.

39. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

an antenna mounting member, separate from the mounting member, for mounting the antenna to the at least one article of equipment.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein:

the at least one article of equipment includes a helmet and a protective vest;

the antenna mounting member mounts the antenna to the helmet; and

the mounting member mounts the transmitting unit to the protective vest.

41. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an external display port, in operative communication with the transmitting unit, for enabling operative connection of a display; and

a display, operatively connected to the external display port, for indicating a status of the transmitting unit.

42. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a screening module that screens potentially hostile parties for explosives;

wherein the transmitting unit and the screening module are configured and operated such that the effectiveness of the transmitting unit is not substantially impeded by the screening module and the effectiveness of the screening module is not substantially impeded by the transmitting unit.