WO2020120430A1

WO2020120430A1 - System for disabling electronics of at least one carrier

Info

Publication number: WO2020120430A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/084315
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bertrand Gerfault; Alain Durand; Gilles KARTENER
Original assignee: Thales
Priority date: 2018-12-11
Filing date: 2019-12-10
Publication date: 2020-06-18
Also published as: FR3089727A1; EP3895350A1; FR3089727B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for disabling electromagnetically unshielded electronics of at least one carrier, comprising: - a device (1) for emitting an electromagnetic signal of variable frequency and amplitude comprising: - a device (2) for generating at least one signal of variable amplitude; - a device (3) for amplifying the one or more signals supplied by the generating device (2); and - a device (4) for broadcasting the one or more signals amplified by the amplifying device (3) in a broadcasting cone with an apex angle of between 5° and 15°; and - a device (5) for positioning the broadcasting device (4) in elevation and in azimuth in order to broadcast the amplified signal of variable frequency and amplitude in the direction of the one or more carriers.

Description

SYSTEM FOR DISABLING ELECTRONICS BY AT LEAST ONE

CARRIER

The present invention relates to a system for incapacitating or rendering inoperative intelligent electronics provided with weak or non-existent electromagnetic protection (ie absence of electromagnetic shielding) of at least one carrier such as a drone (steering wheel, wheeling or seagoing) , a mobile phone, a camera, or any other electronic system. Smart electronics means electronics that allow you to acquire, store and communicate information with surrounding systems.

It is known to jam communication links between a drone remote control and the corresponding drone, or information transmission links by mobile phones or video camera. It is also known to scramble GPS navigation signals. But in these cases, the carrier is not put out of working order, and in the case of a drone, it can continue its mission if it is programmed to follow a route for example by using its inertial system.

It is also known to use a low frequency electromagnetic pulse generated by the rapid discharge of a capacitor. This discharge generates a low frequency electromagnetic wave of about 300 MHz which is not very directive and causes significant collateral damage.

It is also known to use a laser, but such an implementation is difficult, and can only address one carrier at a time. It is also difficult to align a laser with a target because it requires too high detection accuracy.

For drone carriers, it is known to use net widths, which is a difficult method to deploy.

It is also known to use raptors in particular to catch flying drones, but this can cause them pain or injury to the legs and divert them from this task.

An object of the invention is to overcome the problems mentioned above, and in particular to improve the efficiency of decommissioning carriers. It is proposed, according to one aspect of the invention, a system for incapacitating electronics devoid of electromagnetic shielding of at least one carrier, by backdoor, comprising:

- a device for transmitting an electromagnetic signal of variable frequency and amplitude comprising:

- a device for generating at least one signal of variable amplitude, and of variable frequency;

- a device for amplifying the signal or signals supplied by the generation device; and

- a device for diffusing the signal or signals amplified by the amplification device in a cone with an angle of apex between 5 ° and 15 °; and

a device for positioning in elevation and in azimuth of the broadcasting device for broadcasting the amplified signal of variable frequency and amplitude in the direction of the carrier (s).

Thus, the carrier is neutralized. The system tackles the on-board electronics of the wearer by taking advantage of flaws in the inertial sensors, engine controls, microcontroller, memories, etc. The system uses the principle of vulnerability by backdoor or "backdoor" in English language, that is to say without going through the conventional reception channel. For this, a high power electromagnetic wave form generating a large electric field several hundred meters away creates false detections and interpretations by the wearer, causing loss of control by its internal processor. Such a system is based on transportable technology that can be operated with a vehicle without major modifications.

In addition, the amplification source makes it possible to provide a very high peak power necessary for the disturbance of the electronics. Peak power is understood to mean the maximum power of a system.

The waveform is very important, because it allows these variations in amplitude and frequency to cause confusion in the electronics which result in interpretation errors of the microcontroller of the electronics on board the target carrier (s).

In one embodiment, the generation device is configured to transmit a signal of variable amplitude and variable frequency.

Thus, the signal is generated by a single source which can be digital. Digital generation facilitates system programming.

Alternatively, the generation device comprises a plurality of generators configured to each generate a signal of variable amplitude and respective constant frequency.

The use of several simple generators, such as magnetrons makes it possible to reduce the production cost, and is simpler to produce, because such generators are well known.

According to one embodiment, the amplification device comprises a first amplification factor amplifier element between 30dB and 40dB with a power of 1W to 10W and a second amplification factor amplifier element between 40dB and 50dB with a power greater than or equal to 10 kWatts, for example from 10kW to 100kW.

The use of several stages makes it possible to limit the risk of system self-oscillation by limiting the gain of each of the stages.

For example, the first amplifier element comprises at least one solid state amplifier.

Thus, to make the first stage or first amplifier element, a solid-state amplifier is used, the technology of which is available and robust for this level of power, and therefore of simplified production and of limited cost.

For example, the second amplifier element comprises at least one microwave tube.

The microwave tube allows to obtain a peak power much higher than that provided by a solid state amplifier. In one embodiment, the broadcasting device comprises at least one horn antenna.

A horn antenna makes it possible to obtain good directivity and therefore a significant gain, which allows the system to produce a very large peak power in the desired direction while limiting the power in the other directions, thus limiting the collateral effects.

According to one embodiment, the system comprises a reflector.

The presence of a reflector (for example of parabolic shape) makes it possible to produce the necessary radiated power 50 MW to 100 MW, while limiting the power in the broadcasting device (like the horn antenna (s))

According to one embodiment, in which the generation device comprises a plurality of generators, a generator comprises an RF source of low power less than 10 dBm.

In one embodiment, the generation device (2) comprises at least one reprogrammable silicon integrated circuit or a processor specialized in signal processing to generate the signal in the form of a baseband wave of the continuous at a frequency below 100 MHz, transposed to the frequency of use between 6 GHz and 18 GHz, which excludes interference because all the link frequencies are <6 GHz, and includes a frequency mixer and a synthesizer.

The term baseband of the continuous at 100 MHz signals whose frequency can vary between 0Hz and 100MHz. When the signal frequency is zero, its amplitude as a function of time is constant.

According to one embodiment, the generation device is configured to generate a signal of variable amplitude, and of variable frequency, of repetition frequency between 10Hz and 1 MHz, of work cycle between 5% and 15 %, and frequency sweep between 1 MHz and 50 MHz.

The repetition frequency is the number of RF or microwave pulses transmitted each second by the generation device, and the work cycle means, for a periodic phenomenon, the ratio of the duration of the phenomenon over a period and the duration of this same period, in this case the generation of the signal. In one embodiment, the system comprises a battery.

Thus, the device can easily be moved, for example in a vehicle. It can thus be transported and easily deployed in a few minutes on the various sites of use during specific and seasonal events (Gathering, Sports competitions, movement of personalities ...)

According to one embodiment, the system is configured to incapacitate electronics from a drone.

Thus, in the event of an attack by drone, whether it is a flying, rolling or navigating drone, the system makes it possible to paralyze it in its action, by rendering it inoperative, for example in the event of drone attack on a sensitive place.

In one embodiment, the system is configured to disable electronics from a mobile phone, a camera, a camera, or a data transmission system.

Thus in case of problems to be managed by law enforcement or military forces, for example in the event of hostage taking, it is possible to render inoperative the devices which could provide live information such as videos of hostage takers.

According to one embodiment, the system comprises a control card configured to manage the system, by receiving azimuth and site information from a detected carrier and by controlling the emission of the disturbance signal, by transmitting the information to the generation device and to the positioning device.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is also proposed a method for incapacitating an electronics devoid of electromagnetic shielding of a carrier, by emission of an electromagnetic signal by backdoor of variable frequency and amplitude.

The invention will be better understood from the study of a few embodiments described by way of non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings in which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates a system for incapacitating or rendering inoperative an electronics devoid of electromagnetic shielding of a carrier, according to one aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 schematically illustrates an amplification device comprising a first amplifier element and a second amplifier element, according to one aspect of the invention; and

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an embodiment in which the generation device comprises a plurality of generators, in this case three, each configured to generate a signal of variable amplitude and respectively of constant frequency, according to one aspect of the invention.

In all of the figures, the elements having identical references are similar.

In the present description, the embodiments described are not limiting, and the characteristics and functions well known to those skilled in the art are not described in detail.

Figure 1 schematically shows a system for incapacitating or rendering inoperative an electronics devoid of electromagnetic shielding of a carrier, according to one aspect of the invention.

The system includes:

a device 2 for generating at least one signal of variable amplitude:

- an amplification device 3 of the signal or signals supplied by the generation device 2; and

- a diffusion device 4 of the signal or signals amplified by the amplification device 3 in a diffusion cone with an angle at the apex between 5 ° and 15 °; and:

a positioning device 5 in elevation and in azimuth of the broadcasting device 4 for broadcasting the amplified signal of variable frequency and amplitude in the direction of the carrier (s). The amplification device 3 can be composed of a single element, that is to say without preamplifier. In this case, the amplifier may include an electron tube of the magnetron type.

The system is powered by a power source 6 supplying electrical energy to the system, and in particular to the generation device 2.

The system therefore emits a wave or signal of microwave type frequency typically between 6 and 18 GHz, and radiated power typically between 10 and 100 MW.

The generation device 2 has a preponderant role for the efficiency of the system, by producing the waveform at variable frequency and amplitude to create false detection and interpretation in the on-board electronics of the carrier (s). This waveform is modulated in amplitude and frequency.

The power source 6 can be a battery, which makes the system easily transportable, for example to embark on a light vehicle, and an all terrain vehicle.

An optional control card 6 can be added to manage the system, receiving the azimuth and site information from a detected carrier, for example by an external detector, and controlling the emission of the disturbance signal. It transmits this information to the generation 2 device and to the positioning device 5. The system can be used in manual mode or connected to an external control system.

FIG. 2 schematically represents an embodiment in which the amplification device 3 comprising a first amplifier element 3a with an amplification factor of between 30 dB and 40 dB for a power supplied from 1 to 10 watts and a second amplifier element 3b with an amplification factor of between 40 dB and 50 dB for a peak power supplied greater than or equal to 10 kWatts, for example between 10 and 100 kW.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the amplification device 3 comprises a first amplifier element 3a comprising at least one solid-state amplifier or SSPA for acronym for "Solid-State Power Amplifier" in English, and a second element amplifier 3b comprising for example at least one microwave tube. Typically, the first amplifier element 3a in solid state can provide a power of between 1 and 10 W (30 to 40 dB of amplification gain), and the second amplifier element 3b with microwave tube (s) can provide a power greater than or equal to 10 kWatts, for example between 10 and 100 kWatts.

The broadcasting device 4 may include a horn antenna. The horn antenna can optionally include a reflector.

The horn antenna can typically have a gain between 30 and 40 dB.

The positioning device 5 in elevation and in azimuth, such as a positioning device used for positioning a turret of a small caliber gun or a positioning device for a satellite antenna, can ensure 360 ° Azimuth positioning and 60 ° site positioning. The positioning device 5 ensures the positioning given to the antenna, from data supplied by an external detection device. It can be manual or controlled by the detection system.

The generation device 2 comprises a plurality, in this case three, generators 2x, 2y, 2z configured to each generate a signal of variable amplitude and respectively of constant frequency, which in combination provide at the output of the device emission 1 a signal of variable amplitude and variable frequency.

The respective signals of the 2x, 2y, 2z generators are respectively transmitted to the amplification device 3, which can include three respective amplifiers 3x, 3y, 3z. the three signals thus amplified are transmitted to the broadcasting device 4, which can include three respective antennas 4x, 4y, 4z. The three amplified signals are emitted at the output of the diffusion device 4 towards a reflector 8, for example parabolic, and are reflected towards the carrier (s), the electromagnetic signal resulting in combination having a variable frequency and a variable amplitude. Thus thanks to its shape and its power, the signal makes it possible to incapacitate or render inoperative intelligent electronics provided with weak or non-existent electromagnetic protection (ie absence of electromagnetic shielding).

The system can be configured to disable electronics from a drone, electronics from a mobile phone, a camera or a camera.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method is also proposed for incapacitating electronics without electromagnetic shielding of a carrier, by emission of an electromagnetic signal of variable frequency and amplitude.

Claims

1. System for incapacitating electronics devoid of electromagnetic shielding of at least one carrier, by back door, comprising:

a device for transmitting (1) an electromagnetic signal of variable frequency and amplitude comprising: a device for generating (2) at least one signal of variable amplitude, and of variable frequency;

an amplification device (3) of the signal or signals supplied by the generation device (2); and

a diffusion device (4) of the signal or signals amplified by the amplification device (3) in a diffusion cone with an apex angle between 5 ° and 15 °; and

a positioning device (5) in elevation and in azimuth of the diffusion device (4) for diffusing the amplified signal of variable frequency and amplitude towards the carrier (s).

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, in which the generation device (2) comprises a plurality of generators (2a) configured to each generate a signal of variable amplitude and respectively of constant frequency.

3. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the amplification device (3) comprises a first amplifier element (3a) of amplification factor between 30dB and 40dB with a power of 1 W to 10W and a second amplifier element (3b) with an amplification factor between 40dB and 50dB with a power greater than or equal to 10kW.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first amplifier element (2a) comprises at least one solid state amplifier.

5. System according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the second amplifier element (2b) comprises at least one microwave tube.

6. System according to one of the preceding claims, depending on the claim in which the broadcasting device (4) comprises at least one horn antenna.

7. System according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a reflector.

8. System according to one of the preceding claims, dependent on claim 3, in which a generator (2a) comprises an RF source of low power less than 10 dBm.

9. The system as claimed in claim 6, in which the generation device (2) comprises at least one reprogrammable silicon integrated circuit or a processor specialized in signal processing for generating the signal in the form of a baseband wave of the continuous at a frequency below 100 MHz, transposed to the operating frequency between 2 GHz and 20 GHz, and includes a frequency mixer and a synthesizer.

10. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the generation device (2) is configured to generate a signal of variable amplitude, and of variable frequency, of repetition frequency between 10 Hz and 1 MHz, of cycle working between 5% and 15%, and frequency sweeping between 1 MHz and 50 MHz.

11. System according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a battery (6).

12. System according to one of the preceding claims, configured to incapacitate electronics of a drone.

13. System according to one of claims 1 to 1 1, configured to disable electronics of a mobile phone, a camera, a camera, or a data transmission system.

14. System according to one of the preceding claim, comprising a control card (7) configured to manage the system, by receiving azimuth and site information from a detected carrier and by controlling the emission of the disturbance signal. , by transmitting the information to the generation device (2) and to the positioning device (5).

15. Method for incapacitating an electronics without electromagnetic shielding of a carrier, by emission of an electromagnetic signal by backdoor of variable frequency and amplitude using a system according to one of the preceding claims.