Modular faraday tent
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023837686
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-12-27
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-22
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing Faraday tents are impractical, time-consuming, and logistically complicated for testing large devices like land vehicles with antennas, often causing damage and lacking sufficient electromagnetic shielding for low-level EMC disturbances.
A modular Faraday tent composed of inflatable frames and electrically conductive fabric modules with integrated mechanical and electrical assembly elements, allowing for high shielding efficiency and easy assembly/disassembly, featuring a ground sheet and modular design for adaptability.
The modular design ensures high shielding effectiveness (>50 dB from 1 MHz to 1 GHz) while being transportable and reducing wear and tear, enabling effective EMC testing of large devices.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
DESCRIPTION Title of the invention: Modular Faraday tent
[0001] The invention relates to a modular Faraday tent. In particular, the invention relates to a modular Faraday tent for testing large devices, such as land vehicles equipped with antennas.
[0002] Some devices, such as land vehicles equipped with antennas, require testing for their electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). This involves checking the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the components of these devices and the susceptibility of these components to the radiation they receive or are likely to receive.
[0003] To do this, these devices are placed in a Faraday cage or Faraday tent. These devices are usually moved to an already constructed Faraday tent or a Faraday tent is built around the device.
[0004] Such solutions are impractical, require a lot of time and logistics, and are even complicated to implement. There is also a risk of damaging the device when it has to be moved.
[0005] In addition, large devices, such as land vehicles equipped with antennas, require large Faraday tents, which are very rare on the market.
[0006] A known solution is to use an inflatable structure to form a transportable Faraday tent. In this context, document FR 3092126 is known, which describes a removable enclosure suitable for forming a Faraday tent. The enclosure comprises a frame, a tent, and means for suspending the tent from the frame, the frame being formed from at least one inflatable module.
[0007] This type of Faraday tent does not allow certain electromagnetic performances to be achieved. Indeed, due to their weak shielding (less than 20 dB), these tents do not have the capacity to measure very low and non-standard EMC disturbances.
[0008] The invention aims to propose a transportable and modular Faraday tent in order to adapt to certain large vehicles, and having high shielding efficiency.
[0009] The invention proposes for this purpose a modular Faraday tent comprising at least two modules configured to be assembled together, each module comprising an inflatable frame and an electrically conductive fabric canvas supported by the inflatable frame, each module further comprising a mechanical attachment configured to mechanically assemble the modules together, in which: - the canvas of a module among said modules comprises on an external face an assembly element; and - the fabric of another module among said modules comprises on an internal face a complementary assembly element, the assembly element and the complementary assembly element being electrically conductive and configured to be assembled to each other.
[0010] Thanks to its configuration, the Faraday tent of the invention is not only mechanically modular but also electrically modular. Indeed, the mechanical modular assembly is enabled by the mechanical fasteners. The electrical assembly is enabled by the electrically conductive assembly element and the complementary assembly element.
[0011] The canvas comprising on an external face or an internal face the assembly element or the complementary assembly element, this means that the assembly element and the complementary assembly element are formed in the canvas. In other words, the assembly element and the complementary assembly element are part of the canvas. In other words, the assembly element and the complementary assembly element are not elements added to the canvas.
[0012] The assembly element and the complementary assembly element being formed respectively on the external face and the internal face of the module canvases, this allows a good electrical assembly by covering the module canvases. High shielding efficiency is thus ensured.
[0013] By being supported by the inflatable frame, the canvas of each module contributes as little as possible to the mechanical forces of the Faraday tent, unlike the prior art in which the canvas is suspended from the frame. The Faraday tent according to the invention therefore wears less quickly.
[0014] Particular preferred convenient features of the Faraday tent according to the invention are presented below.
[0015] The Faraday tent comprises at least three modules, at least one of said modules, called the intermediate module, comprising two mechanical fasteners, each mechanical fastener being configured to mechanically assemble the intermediate module to another module among said modules, the fabric of the intermediate module comprising on an external face an assembly element and on an internal face a complementary assembly element.
[0016] The canvas of one of said modules comprises two canvas portions, each canvas portion comprising a mechanical fastener configured to mechanically assemble the canvas portions together, in which: - a portion of canvas among said portions of canvas comprises on an external face an assembly element; and - another portion of canvas among said portions of canvas comprises on an internal face a complementary assembly element, the assembly element and the complementary assembly element being electrically conductive and configured to be assembled to each other.
[0017] The Faraday tent comprises a groundsheet made of electrically conductive fabric, the groundsheet comprising a groundwall and a sidewall extending orthogonally to the groundwall, the fabric of at least one of the modules comprising on an external lateral face an assembly element, the sidewall of the groundsheet comprising on an internal face a complementary assembly element, the assembly element and the complementary assembly element being electrically conductive and configured to be assembled to each other.
[0018] The floor mat comprises several carpet portions, one carpet portion among said carpet portions comprising on an external face an assembly element, another carpet portion among said carpet portions comprising on an internal face a complementary assembly element, the assembly element and the complementary assembly element being electrically conductive and configured to be assembled to each other.
[0019] The connecting element and the complementary connecting element have the same length as the mechanical fasteners and are parallel to the mechanical fasteners when the modules are assembled together.
[0020] The assembly element and the complementary assembly element each have a width of between 3 centimeters and 5 centimeters, preferably equal to 5 centimeters.
[0021] One of the connecting element and the complementary connecting element comprises hooks, and the other of the connecting element and the complementary connecting element comprises loops.
[0022] The assembly element and the complementary assembly element each comprise two identical portions spaced from each other and parallel to each other.
[0023] The canvas of the modules has a thickness between 0.07 millimeters and 0.1 millimeters, preferably equal to 0.08 millimeters.
[0024] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the description below with reference to the appended drawings, given as non-limiting examples: - Figure 1 represents a Faraday tent according to one embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2 represents a framework of a module of the Faraday tent; - Figure 3 schematically represents the assembly of two modules of the Faraday tent; - Figure 4 schematically represents the assembly of three modules of the Faraday tent; - Figure 5 schematically represents the assembly of a front module of the Faraday tent to a groundsheet; - Figure 6 schematically represents the assembly of a rear module of the Faraday tent to the groundsheet; - Figure 7 schematically represents the assembly of an intermediate module of the Faraday tent to the groundsheet; - Figure 8 is a schematic top view of the floor mat according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and - Figure 9 schematically represents three modules of the Faraday tent being assembled.
[0025] Figure 1 shows a Faraday tent 1 according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0026] Tent 1 consists of several modules 2a, 2b, 2c, here five modules. The two end modules 2a, 2b are called front module 2a and rear module 2b. The front module 2a forms, for example, a door of the tent.
[0027] The modules 2c between the front module 2a and the rear module 2b are called intermediate modules 2c. The tent 1 here comprises three intermediate modules 2c. In another embodiment, the tent 1 may comprise only two modules, the front module 2a and the rear module 2b. Alternatively, the tent 1 may comprise, in addition to the front module 2a and the rear module 2b, a different number of intermediate modules 2c (one, two or more than three).
[0028] Tent 1 is in a configuration mounted in Figure 1, i.e. modules 2a, 2b, 2c are assembled together.
[0029] Each module 2a, 2b, 2c comprises an inflatable frame 3 and at least one canvas 4, 6. Only part of the canvas 4 is shown in Figure 1 in order to show the frame 3.
[0030] Each of the modules 2a, 2b, 2c may comprise two canvases 4, 6. Each module 2a, 2b, 2c comprises at least one external canvas 4 and optionally one internal canvas 6. External canvas 4 is understood to mean the canvas facing the outside of the tent, and internal canvas 6 is understood to mean the canvas facing the inside of the tent when the tent 1 is in the erected configuration. An internal canvas 6 is shown in figures 3 and 4. For the sake of simplicity, the description of the external canvas 4 and the internal canvas 6 is given separately. In the following, unless explicitly stated, the description is given for the canvas external 4 designated simply by “canvas 4”, Of course, in another exemplary embodiment, the description of the external canvas 4 can also apply to the internal canvas 6.
[0031] An example of a frame 3 is shown in Figure 2. The frame 3 of each module 2a, 2b, 2c comprises two gantries 300 and crosspieces 301.
[0032] Each gantry 300 comprises a beam 302 and two posts 303. One end 304 of each beam 302 rests on a respective post 303.
[0033] The 300 porticos are parallel to each other. The 300 porticos here have the shape of arches.
[0034] The crosspieces 301 connect the gantries 300. Some crosspieces 301 connect the beams 302 of the gantries 300. Other crosspieces 301 connect the posts 303 of the gantries 300.
[0035] The crosspieces 301 are parallel to each other and orthogonal to the posts 303.
[0036] Frame 3 is made of an electrically insulating material.
[0037] The canvas 4 is supported by the frame 3. This allows the canvas 4 to participate as little as possible in the mechanical forces of the Faraday tent 1. The canvas 4 is for example sewn to the frame 3. The canvas 4 is in particular sewn onto the exterior of the frame 3.
[0038] The fabric 4 is made of electrically conductive fabric. The fabric 4 is made of a material having a high electrical conductivity, in particular at least equal to 1.10 7 S / m. For example, canvas 4 has an electrical conductivity equal to 3.10 7 S / m.
[0039] The fabric 4 is for example metallic or made of a metallic alloy. In an exemplary embodiment, the fabric 4 is made of an alloy comprising silver, copper and / or nickel.
[0040] The thickness of the canvas 4 is defined by a compromise between low-frequency shielding activity and an acceptable weight, i.e. not too heavy, for the canvas. The canvas 4 must in fact be as light as possible in order to facilitate handling and transport of the tent, while allowing the desired shielding objectives to be achieved at the frequencies of interest.
[0041] The fabric 4 has a thickness of between 0.07 millimeters and 0.1 millimeters, preferably equal to 0.08 millimeters.
[0042] The configuration of the fabric 4, in particular through the choice of electrically conductive material with high conductivity and the optimization of the thickness of the fabric, makes it possible to obtain a shielding efficiency greater than 50 dB for frequencies from 1 MHz to 1 GHz.
[0043] According to a specific embodiment making it possible to obtain the targeted shielding effectiveness, in particular greater than 50 dB from 1 MHz to 1 GHz, the fabric 4 is made of an alloy comprising silver, copper and nickel, and the thickness of the fabric 4 is 0.08 millimeters.
[0044] Modules 2a, 2b, 2c are assembled together in a removable manner.
[0045] Each module 2a, 2b, 2c comprises at least one mechanical fastener 200. The mechanical fasteners 200 of the modules 2a, 2b, 2c are configured to mechanically assemble the modules 2a, 2b, 2c together. In other words, the mechanical fastener 200 of a module 2a, 2b, 2c is configured to be assembled to the mechanical fastener 200 of an adjacent module 2a, 2b, 2c.
[0046] Each module 2a, 2b, 2c may comprise a single mechanical fixing or several mechanical fixings 200, for example two in number.
[0047] The mechanical fastener 200 is for example half a rack closure, as seen in Figure 2. Half of the rack closure of the module extends over the extrados of each gantry 300. Half of the rack closure of the module extends along one side of each gantry 300. A strip of fabric of the canvas 4, called the fastening strip 400, carries half of the rack closure. For the sake of simplification, the canvas 4 is not shown in Figure 2. The strips of fabric 400 of the canvas 4 assembled together are shown in Figure 1. A dotted line represents in this figure a fictitious separation between the fastening strips 400.
[0048] The fastening strip 400 extends over the entire height of the poles 303 and the length of the beam 302. The fastening strip 400 of a module 2a, 2b, 2c is configured to assemble with a fastening strip 400 of another module 2a, 2b, 2c. When the tent 1 is in the erected configuration, each module 2a, 2b, 2c forms a longitudinal extension of an adjacent module 2a, 2b, 2c.
[0049] The rack closure half extending over the extrados of each gantry 300 allows the assembly of the canvas 4, or external canvas 4, of a module 2a, 2b, 2c with an adjacent module 2a, 2b, 2c. In the examples shown in Figures 3 and 4, each module 2a, 2b, 2c comprises, in addition to the mechanical attachment 200 on the extrados of each gantry 300, a mechanical attachment 200 on the intrados of each gantry 300. The mechanical attachments 200 extending over the intrados of each gantry 300 allow the assembly of the canvas 6, or internal canvas 6, of a module 2a, 2b, 2c with an adjacent module 2a, 2b, 2c.
[0050] Figure 3 shows two modules, called first module 2a and second module 2b, assembled together. The first module is here the front module 2a and the second module is here the rear module 2b. As explained in relation to Figure 4, this assembly between two adjacent modules is the same regardless of the position of the modules in the tent. In other words, Figure 3 shows the assembly of two front modules 2a and rear modules 2b forming a two-module tent, but the assembly of two adjacent modules is the same when the tent comprises more than two modules.
[0051] The modules 2a, 2b are mechanically assembled to each other by means of the mechanical fasteners 200, here two halves of a rack closure.
[0052] The canvas 4 of the first module 2a comprises on an external face 401 an assembly element 402. The canvas 4 of the second module 2b comprises on an internal face 403 a complementary assembly element 404.
[0053] The assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 are electrically conductive. The assembly element 402 is assembled to the complementary assembly element 404 so as to electrically connect the fabrics of the two modules 2a, 2b.
[0054] The assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 have the same length as the mechanical fasteners 200. The assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 are parallel to the mechanical fasteners 200 when the modules are assembled to each other. When the modules are assembled to each other, the assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 here each form an arched strip of the same length as that of the gantry 300. The element assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 preferably extend close to the mechanical fasteners 200. In other words, the assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 extend close to an end edge of the fabric 4. Such a configuration makes it possible to ensure electrical continuity and to avoid any loss which could be caused by the presence of the mechanical fasteners.
[0055] One of the connecting element 402 and the complementary connecting element 404 comprises hooks. The other of the connecting element 402 and the complementary connecting element 404 comprises loops. In other words, the connecting element 402 and the complementary connecting element 404 form a hook-and-loop fastener, also known as Velcro after the brand name Velcro. The connecting element 402 and the complementary connecting element 404 are assembled by being arranged one on top of the other.
[0056] The assembly of the electrically conductive assembly element 402 and complementary assembly element 404 together ensures electrical continuity, thus improving the electromagnetic performance of the Faraday tent 1.
[0057] The assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 here each comprise two portions, called assembly portions 4020 and complementary assembly portions 4040. Each assembly portion 4020 is configured to be assembled with a respective complementary assembly portion 4040.
[0058] The assembly portions 4020 are identical. The assembly portions 4020 are spaced apart from each other. The assembly portions 4020 are parallel to each other when the modules are assembled together.
[0059] The complementary assembly portions 4040 are identical. The complementary assembly portions 4040 are spaced apart from each other. The complementary assembly portions 4040 are parallel to each other when the modules are assembled together.
[0060] The distance separating the assembly portions 4020 and the distance separating the complementary assembly portions 4020 is the same.
[0061] The configuration in two assembly portions and two separate complementary assembly portions ensures good assembly between the assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404. This allows for a catch-up if an area of the assembly element 402 is poorly assembled to the complementary assembly element 404, i.e. if the assembly element 402 only partially covers the complementary assembly element 404. By using two assembly portions and two complementary assembly portions, if one of the portions of the assembly element 4020 is not perfectly assembled to the respective complementary assembly portion 4040 of the complementary assembly element 404, the other assembly portion 4020 of the assembly element 402 will necessarily be well assembled to the respective complementary assembly portion 4040 of the complementary assembly element 404.Such a configuration in two assembly portions and two complementary assembly portions thus improves the electrical continuity of the tent and therefore its electromagnetic performance.
[0062] The width of the assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 is defined to also improve electrical continuity.
[0063] The assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 each have a width of between 25 centimeters and 35 centimeters, preferably equal to 35 centimeters.
[0064] Each assembly portion 4020 and complementary assembly portion 4040 has a width of between 3 centimeters and 5 centimeters, preferably equal to 5 centimeters.
[0065] The distance separating two assembly portions 4020, identical to the distance separating two complementary assembly portions 4040, is preferably equal to the width of the assembly portions 4020 and complementary assembly portions 4040. The distance separating two assembly portions 4020 is between 5 centimeters and 10 centimeters, preferably equal to 5 centimeters.
[0066] The assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 are here formed in the external fabric 4.
[0067] The inner fabric 6 of each module may comprise a mechanical fastener 200, for example a half of a rack and pinion closure. The mechanical fasteners 200 of each of the inner fabrics 6 of the modules are formed in a similar manner to the mechanical fasteners 200 of each of the outer fabrics 4. The mechanical fasteners 200 of each of the inner fabrics 6 of the modules are assembled together in a similar manner to the assembly of the mechanical fasteners 200 of the outer fabric 4.
[0068] Figure 4 shows three modules, called first module 2a, second module 2b, and third module 2c, assembled together.
[0069] The first module 2a and the third module 2c are assembled together, mechanically and electrically, in a similar manner to the modules described with reference to Figure 3. The third module 2c and the second module 2b are assembled together, mechanically and electrically, in a similar manner to the modules described with reference to Figure 3.
[0070] The third module 2c, or intermediate module, is thus assembled on the one hand to the first module 2a, or front module 2a, and on the other hand to the second module 2b, or rear module 2b.
[0071] The intermediate module 2c comprises at least two mechanical fasteners 200. The mechanical fasteners 200 are configured to mechanically assemble the intermediate module 2c to the first module 2a and to the second module 2b.
[0072] The intermediate module 2c here comprises four mechanical fasteners 200, two mechanical fasteners carried by the external canvas 4 and two mechanical fasteners 200 carried by the internal canvas 6. The mechanical fasteners 200 are here also halves of a rack closure.
[0073] The two mechanical fasteners 200 of the outer fabric 4 each extend on either side of the intermediate module 2c. The two mechanical fasteners 200 of the outer fabric 4 each extend on the extrados of one of the gantries 300 of the intermediate module 2c. A first fastening strip 400 of the fabric 4 carries one of the mechanical fasteners 200 and a second fastening strip 400 of the fabric 4, for example opposite the first strip of fabric, carries the other of the mechanical fasteners 200.
[0074] The two mechanical fasteners 200 of the internal canvas 6 each extend on either side of the intermediate module 2c. The two mechanical fasteners 200 of the internal canvas 6 each extend on the intrados of one of the gantries 300 of the intermediate module 2c. The mechanical fasteners 200 of each of the internal canvases 6 of the modules are formed in a similar manner to the mechanical fasteners 200 of each of the external canvases 4. The mechanical fasteners 200 of each of the internal canvases 6 of the modules are assembled together in a similar manner to the assembly of the mechanical fasteners 200 of the external canvas 4.
[0075] The intermediate module 2c has special features compared to the first module 2a and the second module 2b.
[0076] The fabric 4 of the intermediate module 2c comprises on an external face 401 an assembly element 402 and on an internal face 403 a complementary assembly element 404. The assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 are formed at opposite ends 405 of the fabric 4 of the intermediate module 2c. This allows the intermediate module 2c to be electrically assembled to each of the two adjacent modules, here to the first module 2a and to the second module 2b.
[0077] The Faraday tent 1 may comprise several intermediate modules 2c. The particular configuration of the intermediate module 2c with an assembly element 402 on an external face 401 of the canvas 4 and a complementary assembly element 404 on an internal face 403, makes it possible to insert and assemble together as many intermediate modules 2c as desired between the front 2a and rear 2b modules.
[0078] The Faraday tent may comprise two modules assembled as described with reference to Figure 3.
[0079] The Faraday tent may comprise at least three modules, including at least one intermediate module 2c, assembled as described with reference to Figure 4.
[0080] One of the modules, called front module 2a, may comprise two portions of canvas, called first portion of canvas 406 and second portion of canvas 407, as visible in the exemplary embodiment in figure 5. The front module 2a may form a door of the Faraday tent 1.
[0081] Each canvas portion 406, 407 comprises at least one mechanical fastener 200 configured to mechanically assemble the canvas portions 406, 407 together. Each canvas portion 406, 407 here comprises two mechanical fasteners 200. The mechanical fasteners 200 are parallel to each other when the tent 1 is in the assembled configuration. Each mechanical fastener 200 is a half of a rack and pinion closure.
[0082] The first portion of canvas 406 comprises on an external face 401 two assembly elements 402. Each assembly element 402 extends close to one of the mechanical fasteners 200. The assembly elements 402 are here parallel to the mechanical fasteners 200 when the portions of canvas 406, 407 are assembled to each other.
[0083] The second portion of canvas 407 comprises on an internal face two complementary assembly elements 404. Each complementary assembly element 404 is configured to be assembled to one of the respective assembly elements 402.
[0084] This configuration of the module allows to create a door for the Faraday tent while maintaining very good electrical continuity.
[0085] The Faraday tent 1 may further comprise a groundsheet 5, visible in figures 5 to 8. Figure 5 schematically represents the assembly of a front module 2a of the Faraday tent to a groundsheet 5, figure 6 that of a rear module 2b to the groundsheet and figure 7 that of an intermediate module 2c to the groundsheet 5.
[0086] The floor mat 5 is made of electrically conductive fabric. The floor mat 5 is preferably made of the same material as the canvas 4. The floor mat 5 preferably has the same thickness as the canvas 4.
[0087] The floor mat 5 comprises a floor wall 500 and a side wall 501. A notional delimitation between the floor wall 500 and the side wall 501 is shown in broken lines in FIG. 8.
[0088] The floor wall 500 is adapted to be arranged on the ground and thus extends horizontally when the tent 1 is in the erected configuration.
[0089] The sidewall 501 extends orthogonally to the groundwall 500 when the tent 1 is in the erected configuration. The sidewall 501 covers a portion of the Faraday tent modules when the tent 1 is in the erected configuration.
[0090] The canvas 4 of at least one of the modules comprises on a lateral external face 401 an assembly element 402. Preferably, the canvas of each of the modules of the tent comprises on a lateral external face 401 an assembly element 402. The assembly element 402 extends over the entire periphery of the module.
[0091] The side wall 501 of the floor mat 5 comprises on an internal face 502 a complementary assembly element 404. The complementary assembly element 404 extends over the entire periphery of the side wall 501 of the floor mat 5.
[0092] The assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 402 are assembled to each other.
[0093] The assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 each comprise two assembly portions 4020, 4040.
[0094] The use of the groundsheet 5 and its assembly to the modules, particularly all around the modules, greatly improves the shielding of the Faraday tent 1 and therefore its electromagnetic performance.
[0095] The groundsheet 5 may be modular, as seen in the exemplary embodiment of Figure 8. In other words, the groundsheet 5 comprises several carpet portions. The groundsheet 5 is particularly modular when the tent 1 comprises one or more intermediate modules 2c. This makes it possible to ensure shielding regardless of the size of the tent 1.
[0096] The floor mat 5 here comprises three mat portions, namely a main mat portion 503 and two additional mat portions 504.
[0097] The groundsheet 5 comprises at least the main carpet portion 503. The groundsheet 5 comprises only the main carpet portion 503 when the tent 1 comprises only the front module 2a and the rear module 2b. In this case, the groundsheet 5 is not modular. The groundsheet 5 further comprises one or more additional carpet portions 504 when the tent 1 comprises at least in addition to one or more intermediate modules 2c. The floor mat 5 comprises as many additional mat portions 504 as there are intermediate modules 2c.
[0098] The main belt portion 503 has the same length as the cumulative length of the front 2a and rear 2b modules. Each additional belt portion 504 has the same length as one of the intermediate modules 2c.
[0099] According to another embodiment, the main portion 503 may itself be a module. In other words, the main portion 503 may comprise several portions. For example, the main portion 503 may comprise two portions, each having the same length as the front module 2a and the rear module 2b respectively.
[0100] A carpet portion among the carpet portions 503, 504 comprises on an outer face an assembly element 402. Another carpet portion among the carpet portions 503, 504 comprises on an inner face a complementary assembly element 404. The assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 are configured to be assembled to each other.
[0101] The assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 extend transversely, i.e. orthogonally to the longitudinal direction of the floor mat 5. Preferably, the assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 have a length equal to the width of the mat portions 503, 504.
[0102] In the example shown, the main carpet portion 503 comprises on an internal face 505 the complementary assembly element 404. The additional carpet portion 504 comprises on an external face 506 an assembly element 402, and on an internal face 505 a complementary assembly element 404. The assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 of the additional carpet portion 504 are each formed at two opposite ends of the additional carpet portion 504. The formation on either side of the additional carpet portion 504 of the assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 makes it possible to add as many additional carpet portions 504 as necessary. Each additional carpet portion 504 can thus be assembled on the one hand to the carpet portion main 503 and on the other hand, where appropriate, to another additional carpet portion 504. In Figure 8, only the assembly element 402 of one of the additional carpet portions 504 and only the complementary assembly element 404 of the other of the additional carpet portions 504 are shown.
[0103] The assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 are for example identical to those described in relation to the canvases 4 of the modules 2a, 2b, 2c of the tent. The description given above therefore applies to the assembly elements 402 and assembly elements 404 of the groundsheet 5. The assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 are in particular electrically conductive. The assembly elements 402 and complementary assembly elements 404 are for example formed of an electrically conductive hook-and-loop fastener, or Velcro. The assembly element 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 each comprise two identical portions 4020, 4040 spaced from one another and parallel to each other.
[0104] The Faraday tent 1 is assembled as follows.
[0105] The floor mat 5 or the mat portions 503, 504 are arranged on the ground. When the floor mat 5 is modular, the mat portions 503, 504 are assembled together by means of the assembly elements 402 and complementary assembly elements 404. The uninflated modules 2a, 2b, 2c are spread out on the ground, for example on the floor mat, one next to the other. The modules 2a, 2b, 2c are then mechanically assembled together by means of the mechanical fasteners 200. The assembly elements 402 and complementary assembly elements 404 of the modules are assembled together. Then the modules 2a, 2b, 2c are inflated one by one. Modules 2a, 2b, 2c are gradually deployed, as seen in Figure 9, which shows three modules 2a, 2b, 2c of a Faraday tent 1 being assembled. For the sake of simplicity, canvas 4 is not shown in Figure 9.
[0106] Once the modules 2a, 2b, 2c are inflated, the groundsheet 5 is assembled to the modules by means of the assembly elements 402 and complementary assembly elements 404.
[0107] In all of the non-limiting embodiments presented, the assembly elements 402 and complementary assembly elements 404 are formed from an electrically conductive hook-and-loop fastener, or Velcro.
[0108] The assembly elements 402 and the complementary assembly element 404 each comprise, in the examples shown and described, two identical portions, respectively two assembly portions 4020 and two complementary assembly portions 4040. The assembly elements 402 and complementary assembly elements 404 may comprise a different number of assembly portions and complementary assembly portions, for example just one or at least three.
[0109] The Faraday tent according to the invention has many advantages. It is modular, allowing the construction of a large tent, useful for example for land vehicles equipped with antennas. It is also transportable, reducing logistical problems and allowing its use anywhere. It can be easily assembled and disassembled.
[0110] The tent according to the invention has a very high shielding efficiency. This makes it possible to measure radio / EMC disturbances at very low levels of electromagnetic noise and outside the norms (radio reception sensitivity). The shielding efficiency is greater than 50 dB from 1 MHz to 1 GHz, instead of less than 20 dB for prior art solutions.
Claims
CLAIMS 1. Modular Faraday tent comprising at least two modules (2a, 2b, 2c) configured to be assembled together, each module (2a, 2b, 2c) comprising an inflatable frame (3) and a canvas (4) made of electrically conductive fabric supported by the inflatable frame (3), each module (2a, 2b, 2c) further comprising a mechanical attachment (200) configured to mechanically assemble the modules (2a, 2b, 2c) together, in which: - the canvas of a module (2a, 2b, 2c) among said modules (2a, 2b, 2c) comprises on an external face (401) an assembly element (402); and - the fabric of another module (2a, 2b, 2c) among said modules (2a, 2b, 2c) comprises on an internal face (403) a complementary assembly element (404), the assembly element (402) and the complementary assembly element (404) being electrically conductive and configured to be assembled to each other.
2. Faraday tent according to claim 1, comprising at least three modules (2a, 2b, 2c), at least one of said modules (2a, 2b, 2c), called intermediate module (2c), comprising two mechanical fasteners (200), each mechanical fastener (200) being configured to mechanically assemble the intermediate module (2c) to another module among said modules (2a, 2b, 2c), the fabric of the intermediate module (2c) comprising on an external face (401) an assembly element (402) and on an internal face (403) a complementary assembly element (404).
3. Faraday tent according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the fabric of one of said modules (2a, 2b, 2c) comprises two fabric portions (406, 407), each fabric portion (406, 407) comprising a mechanical fastener (200) configured to mechanically assemble the fabric portions (406, 407) together, wherein: - a portion of canvas among said portions of canvas (406, 407) comprises on an external face (401) an assembly element (402); and - another portion of canvas among said portions of canvas (406, 407) comprises on an internal face (403) a complementary assembly element (404), the assembly element (402) and the complementary assembly element (404) being electrically conductive and configured to be assembled to each other.
4. Faraday tent according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a ground sheet (5) made of electrically conductive fabric, the ground sheet (5) comprising a ground wall (500) and a side wall (501) extending orthogonally to the ground wall (501), the fabric of at least one of the modules (2a, 2b, 2c) comprising on a lateral external face (401) an assembly element (402), the side wall (501) of the sheet floor (5) comprising on an internal face (403) a complementary assembly element (404), the assembly element (402) and the complementary assembly element (404) being electrically conductive and configured to be assembled to each other.
5. Faraday tent according to claim 4, wherein the groundsheet (5) comprises several mat portions (503, 504), one mat portion (503, 504) among said mat portions comprising on an external face an assembly element (402), another mat portion (503, 504) among said mat portions comprising on an internal face a complementary assembly element (404), the assembly element (402) and the complementary assembly element (404) being electrically conductive and configured to be assembled to each other.
6. Faraday tent according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the assembly element (402) and the complementary assembly element (404) have the same length as the mechanical fixings (200) and are parallel to the mechanical fixings (200) when the modules (2a, 2b, 2c) are assembled to each other.
7. Faraday tent according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the assembly element (402) and the complementary assembly element (404) each have a width of between 3 centimeters and 5 centimeters, preferably equal to 5 centimeters.
8. Faraday tent according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein one of the assembly element (402, 404) and the complementary assembly element (402, 404) comprises hooks, and the other of the assembly element (402, 404) and the complementary assembly element (402, 404) comprises loops.
9. Faraday tent according to one of claims 1 to 8, in which the assembly element (402) and the complementary assembly element (404) each comprise two identical portions (4020, 4040) spaced from each other and parallel to each other.
10. Faraday tent according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which the fabric (4) of the modules (2a, 2b, 2c) has a thickness of between 0.07 millimeters and 0.1 millimeters, preferably equal to 0.08 millimeters.