Methods and apparatus to disrupt the engine of a vehicle

• US 9,079,555 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2012
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaufman, Steven L., White, Jack E., Hougo, Vincent C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANLEY, SHERMAN D
• Application Number:
  US13/372,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20120173120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/108, 701/112, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to transmit a range of frequencies targeting a vehicle, monitoring performance of an engine of the vehicle, determining a first frequency in the range of frequencies that disrupts operation of the engine, and dwelling on the first frequency to disrupt the engine, reducing power and continuing to dwell at the first frequency to maintain disruption of the engine.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a transmit antenna configured to transmit a range of frequencies targeting a to a target vehicle;

a controller configured to control frequencies transmitted by the transmit antenna;

a receive antenna configured to receive information from the target vehicle; and

a signal processor configured to monitor the performance of an engine of the target vehicle by processing information from the receive antenna to identify a frequency transmitted by the transmit antenna that disrupts operation of the engine of a the target vehicle, wherein once the disruptive signal is identified the controller controls the signal transmitted by the transmit antenna to dwell on the frequency that disrupts the engine.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein a range of frequencies for transmission by the transmit antenna range in specific region of the VHF/UHF bands.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the information from the receive antenna includes ignition timing.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the dwell frequency disrupts operation of an engine control unit (ECU) coupled to the engine.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transmit antenna comprises an array.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is mounted on a remote vehicle.

7. The system according to claim 1, further including a vehicle checkpoint along a vehicle pathway.

8. A vehicle checkpoint system, comprising:

at least one system to disable vehicles, comprising;

a transmit antenna configured to transmit a range of frequencies to a target vehicle;

a controller configured to control frequencies transmitted by the transmit antenna;

a receive antenna configured to receive information from the target vehicle; and

a signal processor configured to monitor the performance of an engine of the target vehicle by processing information from the receive antenna to identify a frequency transmitted by the transmit antenna that disrupts operation of the engine of a the target vehicle, wherein once the disruptive signal is identified the controller controls the signal transmitted by the transmit antenna to dwell on the frequency that disrupts the engine.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one system to disable vehicles is hidden.

10. A method, comprising:

transmitting a range of frequencies targeting to a target vehicle;

controlling frequencies transmitted by the transmit antenna;

receiving information from the target vehicle monitoring performance of an engine of the target vehicle;

determining from the received information a first frequency in the range of frequencies that disrupts operation of the engine of the target vehicle from the engine performance monitoring; and

dwelling on the first frequency to maintain disruption of the engine.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the vehicle comprises or more of an automobile, a truck, a boat, a helicopter, and/or snowmobile.

12. The method according to claim 10, further including reducing a power of the first frequency after the engine is disabled to a level that prevents engine restart.

13. The method according to claim 10, further including monitoring the vehicles at a vehicle checkpoint.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein a range of frequencies for transmission by the transmit antenna range in specific regions of the VHF/UHF bands.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the information from the receive antenna includes ignition timing.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the dwell frequency disrupts operation of an engine control unit (ECU) coupled to the engine.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein monitoring the performance of the engine includes closed loop feedback to determine a most disruptive frequency tone to an engine control unit (ECU) coupled to the engine.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the transmitted frequencies couple into an engine control unit (ECU) coupled to the engine through a wiring harness.