Radiovision device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10996309-B2
Application number	US-201716472676-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2017
Priority date	Dec 22, 2016
Publication date	May 4, 2021
Grant date	May 4, 2021

Abstract

This patent concerns a compact and portable system for real-time detection and location of electromagnetic emissions in the spectrum used by mobile devices (cell phones and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth devices). The principle of detection and location is based on phased array technology, which enables the synthesis of a directional radiation beam that can be electrically controlled in terms of both its shape and direction. This technology is used primarily in military and astronomical applications. The device also includes localization and control algorithms. This device will allow for detecting and locating electromagnetic emissions by means of an antenna beam scan within a field of view of 80×80 degrees. Once the detection and location have been established, the results are overlaid to a visual image captured by a video camera.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A compact and portable device for real-time detecting and locating electromagnetic emissions and visual images, which provides a RF radiation image superposed with a location visual image, comprising
a flat array of antennas which are presented as a phased array, which uses a high-speed beam scan to capture radio frequency (RF) signals from scanned surfaces,
where the phased array is capable of synthesizing a directional radiation reception beam, whose shape and direction can be controlled electrically;
where each antenna can change the amplitude and phase and jointly generate the directional radiation reception beam;
where the captured RF signal is processed by high-frequency electronics, which include a printed circuit board (PCB) or board: N×N phase shifters connected to antennas that change the relative phase of the received electromagnetic waves, such as radio frequency (RF) signals,
where the output of each of the N×N phase shifters is combined in-phase into a single output of the captured RF signal, this RF signal is amplified and filtered, restricting and purifying the captured RF signal, reaching a total power detector where the total power of the captured radio frequency (RF) signal is detected as an analog voltage, which in turn is converted into a digital signal by means of an analog to digital converter;
in addition, there is a video camera, in the same focal direction as the phased array, that produces a visual image;
the device also includes a microcomputer that:
first, is responsible for controlling and synchronizing the phased array, phase shifters, amplifiers and filters to create a two-dimensional radiofrequency (RF) image from the RF captured signals, which is post-processed by establishing the location of the radiofrequency (RF) emissions;
second, is responsible for overlaying the visual images obtained by the camera with the radiofrequency (RF) images and display them on-screen; and
third, is responsible for executing an algorithm that provides a user interface.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna array comprises 64 to 4 antennas, preferably 16 antennas or transmission elements, laid out as a matrix, which are also capable of detecting multiple bands in the emission frequency range of mobile devices, or in the frequency range of mobile and/or Wifi devices, such as the 700-900 MHz, 1700-2100 MHz, 2400-2700 MHz and 5000 MHz bands.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the synthesis of a transmission beam in an arbitrary direction through the phased array, is bounded at 90×90 degrees.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the synthesis of a transmission beam in an arbitrary direction through the phased array, is bounded at 90×90 degrees.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the video camera is digital and shows the area in which the radiofrequency RF signal is to be detected.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the microcomputer sends control signals that allow shifting the phase of each of the phase shifters included in the high frequency electronic board, where it is also able to synchronize the acquisition of optical and radio frequency images with said control signals.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the minicomputer uses multiple Gaussian detection algorithms during post-processing to establish the location of radio frequency (RF) emissions, which determine the number of emitters and locate the electromagnetic emissions in the radiofrequency (RF) image.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the visual image captured by the video camera is overlaid with the radiofrequency (RF) detection and place markers at the radio frequency capture sites (RF).

Assignees

• Univ Chile

Inventors

• Finger Ricardo
• MONASTERIO David
• Muñoz Christopher
• Fuentes Roberto
• REYES Nicolás
• Bronfman Leonardo
• MENA Patricio

Classifications

• G06T11/26

  Drawing of charts or graphs · CPC title

• G01S3/46

  using antennas spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems · CPC title

• G01S3/046 Primary

  Displays or indicators · CPC title

• G01S3/72 Primary

  Diversity systems specially adapted for direction-finding · CPC title

• G01S3/78

  using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves · CPC title