Trigger signal attenuation and protection device
A protection device comprises a covering including at least a layer of ballistics material, and a layer of an electromagnetic screening material.
1. A protection device comprising a covering incorporating an electromagnetic screening layer, an antenna, and an inhibitor device operable to cause the antenna to transmit an inhibiting signal into a volume enclosed, at least in part, by the covering, in use, wherein the electromagnetic screening layer attenuates the transmission of signals into the said volume from the exterior thereof, and attenuates the transmission of the inhibiting signal out of the said volume.
2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the covering includes a layer of ballistics material.
3. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the covering comprises a blast suppression blanket.
4. A device according to claim 1 , further comprising a support frame or the like for the covering so that the protection device forms, in use, a tent-like structure.
5. A device according to claim 1 , further comprising a containment device that can be positioned around a potential explosive device and that serves, in use, to direct blast, in the event of detonation, towards the covering.
6. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor device comprises an RF inhibitor device operable to transmit a jamming signal into the volume enclosed, in part, by the covering, in use.
7. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna is incorporated into the covering.
8. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor device includes a delay means operable to delay the commencement of the transmission of the jamming signal for a predetermined period of time after activation of the inhibitor device.
9. A device according to claim 1 , wherein an end of the antenna remote from its connection to the inhibitor device is coupled to the covering.
10. A device according to claim 9 , further comprising means for detecting the presence of the coupling of the antenna to the screening layer.
11. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna is designed to be able to transmit signals over a wide range of frequencies whilst avoiding the resonances typically associated with such transmissions.
12. A device according to claim 11 , wherein the antenna is of a leaky coaxial form.
13. An antenna and an RF inhibitor device adapted for use in a protection device according to claim 1 .
14. A layer of an electromagnetic screening material adapted for use in a protection device according to claim 1 .