1. An integration device for a vehicle, comprising:
at least one data interface for exchanging data with at least one of a communication system, a navigation system, a sensor, a surveillance system or a control system of a vehicle;
a data conversion unit in data communication with the at least one data interface for converting data received from the at least one of the communication system, the navigation system, the sensor, the surveillance system or the control system of the vehicle to be compatible with data used by at least another of the communication system, the navigation system, the sensor, the surveillance system or the control system of the vehicle; and
a configuration update unit communicating with the data conversion device,
wherein when any component of the at least one of the communication system, the navigation system, the sensor, the surveillance system or the control system of the vehicle with which the at least one data interface is exchanging data is physically changed, the configuration update unit updates the data conversion unit such that the data conversion is substantially unaffected by the change.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one data interface, the data conversion unit and the configuration update unit are all housed in a single enclosure with no linear dimension (height, width or length) greater than 12 inches, two of the three linear dimensions are less than 6 inches, and a weight of less than 10 pounds.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one data interface comprises one or more inputoutput ports according to at least one of MIL-STD-1553, RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, ARINC 429, Ethernet, Discrete or Analog.
4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a data verification unit for verifying at least one of the integrity and compatibility of data with an intended receiving system after the data conversion.
5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface that allows a user to communicate directly with the device.
6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a data storage unit for storing configuration information regarding individual systems to be referenced by the configuration update unit.
7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a built-in test unit for running system diagnostics on at least one of the interface device or the at least one of the communication system, the navigation system, the sensor, the surveillance system or the control system of the vehicle with which the at least one data interface is exchanging data.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aerial vehicle and the at least one of the communication system, the navigation system, the sensor, the surveillance system or the control system of the vehicle with which the at least one data interface is exchanging data is an avionics unit.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the device is configured to be qualified according to MIL-STD-810 and MIL-STD-461464, and designed to MIL-STD-704F and MIL-E-5400T standards for Class 1A aviation operations.
10. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one of the communication system, the navigation system, the sensor, the surveillance system or the control system of the vehicle with which the at least one data interface is exchanging data includes at least the vehicle control system.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein the vehicle control system comprises at least one computer executing an operation flight program.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device can be carried by a user.
13. A method for integrating data exchange among a plurality of systems in a vehicle, comprising:
exchanging data between at least two of a communication system, a navigation system, a sensor, a surveillance system or a control system of a vehicle via an interface unit;
converting data received from the at least one of the communication system, the navigation system, the sensor, the surveillance system or the control system of the vehicle to be compatible with data used by at least another of the communication system, the navigation system, the sensor, the surveillance system or the control system of the vehicle in the interface unit; and
updating a configuration of the interface unit when any component of the at least one of the communication system, the navigation system, the sensor, the surveillance system or the control system of the vehicle is physically changed such that the data conversion is substantially unaffected by the change,
wherein, based on the change, individual modification of any of the other installed systems is not required to facilitate data exchange.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system for inductively heating a workpiece, the system comprising:
a cradle to support the workpiece, the workpiece having a side face and two end faces;
a heating coil which encloses the workpiece, the cradle being located below the workpiece;
a heating coil comprising:
an upper support bar located above the workpiece;
at least one rotation mechanism attached to the upper support bar;
a first coil assembly that encloses approximately half of the side face and approximately half of each of the end faces of the workpiece; and
a second coil assembly that encloses a remaining portion of the side face and a remaining portion of each of the end faces of the workpiece, wherein an upper end of the first and second coil assemblies are attached to the rotation mechanism; and
at least one fastener attached to a bottom end of the first and second coil assemblies, the fastener being adapted to fasten the bottom end of the first coil assembly to the bottom end of the second coil assembly; and a power supply operatively connected to the first coil assembly and the second coil assembly.
2. A system as defined in claim 1, the system further comprising an adjustor attached to a portion of each of the first and second coil assemblies which encloses the end faces of the workpiece, the adjustor being adapted to adjust the first and second coil assemblies to a distance of 1-1.5 inches from the end faces of the workpiece.
3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the system is arranged to provide a substantially uniform heating profile in the workpiece.
4. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the heating coil is rigid.
5. A system as defined in claim 1, the system further comprising sensors which measure the temperature of the workpiece.
6. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second coil assemblies are arranged to heat each surface area of the workpiece.