What is claimed is:
1. A system for providing audio signals to a radio receiver from an auxiliary audio source comprising:
an input for receiving said audio signals from said auxiliary audio source;
a processing device connected to said input and operable to substantially continuously monitor a selected radio frequency spectrum to identify radio frequency channels that satisfy a predetermined open channel criteria, and to automatically select at least one radio frequency satisfying said predetermined open channel criteria at which to transmit said audio signals to said radio receiver via a wireless link, and to modulate said audio signals on said selected radio frequency; and
an antenna connected to said processing device and operable to transmit said audio signals to said radio receiver using said at least one radio frequency;
wherein said processing device further comprises an output device for indicating said at least one radio frequency to a user to allow said user to tune said radio receiver to said at least one radio frequency.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one radio frequency is selected from one of an amplitude modulation radio broadcast spectrum and a frequency modulation radio broadcast spectrum.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing device is operable to monitor the quality of said at least one radio frequency, to select another radio frequency when said at least one radio frequency degrades, and to generate a second indication signal to instruct said user to tune said radio receiver to said another radio frequency.
4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing device is operable to randomly select a first radio frequency which satisfies said predetermined open channel criteria from said selected radio frequency spectrum in response to powering up of said processing device.
5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing device comprises a scanning receiver for automatically scanning said predetermined radio frequency spectrum and selecting a radio frequency therein for said wireless link.
6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing device is operable to automatically and dynamically identify a plurality of radio frequencies satisfying said predetermined open channel criteria at which to transmit said audio signals to said radio receiver.
7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said processing device further comprises a display device for displaying said plurality of radio frequencies and a selection device to allow a user to select one of said plurality of radio frequencies.
8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said processing device modulates said audio signals using said selected one of said plurality of radio frequencies in response to said selection device.
9. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said processing device is operable to monitor the quality of said at least one radio frequency selected via said processing device, and to generate a signal to instruct said user to tune to another said plurality of radio frequencies when said at least one radio frequency degrades, said user selecting said another one of said plurality of radio frequencies via said selection device.
10. A method of providing a audio signals to a radio receiver from an auxiliary audio source comprising the steps of:
receiving said audio signals from said auxiliary audio source;
substantially continuously monitor a selected radio frequency spectrum to identify radio frequency channels that satisfy a predetermined open channel criteria;
automatically selecting at least one radio frequency satisfying said predetermined open channel criteria at which to transmit said audio signals to said radio receiver via a wireless link;
modulating said audio signals to said selected radio frequency;
transmitting said audio signals to said radio receiver using said at least one radio frequency; and
indicating said at least one radio frequency to a user to allow said user to tune said radio receiver to said at least one radio frequency.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said step of automatically selecting said at least one radio frequency comprises the step of randomly selecting a first radio frequency which satisfies said predetermined open channel criteria from said selected radio frequency spectrum in response to powering up of said processing device.
12. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the steps of:
monitoring the quality of said at least one radio frequency;
selecting another radio frequency when said at least one radio frequency degrades; and generating a signal to instruct said user to tune said radio receiver to said another radio frequency.
13. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the steps of:
scanning said predetermined radio frequency spectrum; and
selecting a radio frequency therein for said wireless link.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said predetermined radio frequency spectrum is one of an amplitude modulation radio broadcast spectrum and a frequency modulation radio broadcast spectrum.
15. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the steps of automatically and dynamically identifying a plurality of radio frequencies at which to transmit said audio signals to said radio receiver.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the steps of:
displaying said device to allow a user to select one of said plurality of radio frequencies. plurality of radio frequencies; and
providing a selection
17. A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the step of modulating said audio signals using said selected one of said plurality of radio frequencies in response to said input device.
18. A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the steps of:
monitoring the quality of said at least one radio frequency to determine when said at least one radio frequency degrades; and
generating a signal to instruct said user to tune said radio receiver to one of said plurality of radio frequencies.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-30. (canceled)
31. An aircraft emergency inflation apparatus comprising at least one inflatable object and at least one solid propellant cool gas generating device arranged to generate gas having a temperature below 100\xb0 C. by exothermic decomposition of solid material contained within the cool gas generating device, wherein
the cool gas generating device is arranged immediately adjacent to the inflatable object in an inflated and an un-inflated state and arranged to communicate generated gas directly into the inflatable object to inflate the object,
the inflatable object is arranged only to receive gas from said cool gas generating device and to contain said gas; and
the emergency inflation apparatus further comprises at least one releasable coupling permitting the emergency inflation apparatus to be selectively and repeatedly coupled and decoupled tofrom the aircraft.
32. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the gas generator is arranged in use to provide a continuous gas flow rate to inflate the inflatable object.
33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the gas generator is arranged to inflate the inflatable object at a predetermined inflation pressure.
34. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the gas generator is arranged to generate a predetermined mass of gas and to discharge between 80% and 90% of said predetermined mass of gas into the inflatable object within 3 to 6 seconds of activation.
35. An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein 88% of said predetermined mass of gas is discharged into the inflatable object within 4 seconds of activation.
36. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein an outlet of the cool gas generating device is arranged to communicate generated gas directly to an inlet of the inflatable object.
37. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the inflatable object and cool gas generating device are coupled together in a modular arrangement.
38. An apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein in an un-inflated condition, the inflatable object and cool gas generating device are contained within a casing surrounding the apparatus.
39. An apparatus as claimed in claim 38, wherein the casing is adapted to the aerodynamic properties of the portion of the aircraft to which the apparatus is coupled.
40. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the gas generating device is arranged to receive an activating control signal causing the generation of gas.
41. An apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein the control signal is received from a submersion switch arranged on a lower portion of the aircraft.
42. An apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein the control signal is received from a manually operable activation switch within the aircraft.
43. An apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein the control signal is received from a submersion switch arranged on an exterior portion of the aircraft.
44. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the inflatable object is in the form of an elongate inflatable balloon.
45. An aircraft emergency inflation system comprising a plurality of inflation modules, each module comprising the apparatus as claimed claim 31.
46. A vehicle comprising an apparatus as claimed in claim 31.
47. A vehicle of claim 46 in the form of a helicopter.
48. A method of inflating an aircraft emergency inflation apparatus, the apparatus comprising at least one inflatable object and at least one solid propellant cool gas generating device arranged to generate gas having a temperature below 100\xb0 C. by exothermic decomposition of solid material contained within the cool gas generating device, wherein
the cool gas generating device is arranged immediately adjacent to the inflatable object in an inflated and un-inflated state and is arranged to communicate generated gas directly into the inflatable object to inflate the object,
the inflatable object is arranged only to receive gas from said cool gas generating device and to contain said gas; and
the emergency inflation apparatus further comprises at least one releasable coupling permitting the emergency inflation apparatus to be selectively and repeatedly coupled and decoupled tofrom an external portion of an aircraft,
said method comprising the steps of: receiving a signal indicating a required inflation, activating the cool gas generating device in response to said signal and communicating generated gas directly into the inflatable object.
49. A method as claimed in claim 48, wherein gas is generated to a predetermined pressure.
50. A method as claimed in claim 48, wherein gas is introduced into the inflatable object at a substantially constant mass flow rate.
51. A method as claimed in claim 48, wherein the gas generator generates a predetermined volume of gas and discharges between 80% and 90% of said predetermined volume of gas into the inflatable object within 3 to 6 seconds of activation.
52. A method as claimed in claim 51, wherein 88% of said predetermined volume of gas is discharged into the inflatable object within 4 seconds of activation.
53. An emergency helicopter inflation apparatus comprising at least one inflatable balloon and a corresponding solid propellant cool gas generator arranged in use to communicate generated gas directly into a balloon.
54. A releasable fitting emergency inflation device for fitting to a portion of an aircraft comprising a housing containing an inflatable balloon and a solid propellant cool gas generator arranged to communicate generated gas into said inflatable balloon on receipt of an activation signal, wherein the housing is provided with a fitting arrangement permitting the device to be coupled and de-coupled tofrom an aircraft.
55. An aircraft emergency inflation system comprising a plurality of inflation modules, wherein each module comprises an apparatus according to claim 31.