Device and method for detecting non-linear electronic components or circuits especially of a booby trap or the like

• US 7,999,723 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2007
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH (Rheinmetall AG)
• Original Assignee: Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH (Rheinmetall AG)
• Inventors: Wollmann, Gerd, Jung, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): BYTHROW, PETER M
• Application Number:
  US12/377,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20100182189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 342 13- 20, 342/22, 342/128, 342/129, 342/175, 340/572.2
• US Class Current: 342/22
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/136 Magnetic, electromagnetic, acoustic or radiation systems, e.g. ground penetrating radars or metal-detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method wherein tunable transmitters and detectors (receivers) are integrated into a non-linear detection system and a narrow-band signal having a variable frequency is used. The scanable frequency range should be between 10-100 MHz. The frequency acceptance range for the second and third harmonic is adjusted according to the transmit frequency.

Claims

1. A device for detecting nonlinear electronic components or circuits of a target, comprising:

a junction detector with at least one transmitter and one receiver and at least one antenna, by which a signal with a frequency (f₁) is emitted, which signal is coupled into the nonlinear circuit and converted to signals with frequencies (f₂, f₃) that are multiples of the emitted frequency (f₁), which are radiated to the receiver and received by the at least one antenna; and

a device integrated in the junction detector, by which the frequency (f₁) of the narrow-band signal is varied within a predeterminable bandwidth of 10-1,000 MHz, so that a minimal value is obtained for a sum of the attenuation and coupling losses at an optimal coupled signal, wherein the received frequency for second and third harmonics is readjusted according to the emitted frequency.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the antenna is a broadband antenna that can transmit and receive in both polarizations.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein one broadband antenna for transmitting and another broadband antenna for receiving are provided.

4. A method for detecting nonlinear electronic components or circuits of a target, which device has a junction detector with at least one transmitter and one receiver and at least one antenna, the method comprising the steps of:

emitting a signal with a frequency (f₁), which signal is coupled into the nonlinear circuit and converted to signals with frequencies (f₂, f₃) that are multiples of the emitted frequency (f₁);

radiating the signals to the receiver, which signals are received by the at least one antenna; and

varying the frequency (f₁) of the narrow-band signal within a predeterminable bandwidth of 10-1,000 MHz, so that a minimal value is obtained for a sum of the attenuation and coupling losses at an optimal coupled signal, and readjusting the received frequency for second and third harmonics according to the emitted frequency.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4, including varying the frequency (f₁) both linearly and in specific steps.