Electronic ignition circuit and method for use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9915513-B1
Application number	US-201715499439-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 27, 2017
Priority date	Feb 5, 2017
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

The present disclosure describes an electronic ignition circuit (“EIC”) for controlling at least one detonator. The EIC may include a protection circuit, an input circuit coupled to the protection circuit, a logical circuit electrically coupled to the input circuit, and an ignition circuit electrically coupled to the logical circuit. The protection circuit may include at least one of a fuse, a circuit breaker and an automatic switch. The logical circuit may include an answer back circuit, and a switching circuit adapted to switch to the next detonator or igniter. The ignition circuit may include a capacitor charging circuit, a capacitor discharge circuit to discharge a firing capacitor through a fuse head, and a shot detection circuit adapted to measure a voltage across the firing capacitor before discharging through the fuse head and to measure a voltage after discharging through the fuse head.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator, comprising:
a protection circuit comprising at least one of a fuse, a circuit breaker and an automatic switch;
an input circuit electrically coupled to the protection circuit, the input circuit comprising a bridge rectifier;
a logical circuit electrically coupled to the input circuit, the logical circuit comprising:
an answer back circuit; and
a switching circuit adapted to switch from a first detonator or igniter to a second detonator or igniter;

an ignition circuit electrically coupled to the logical circuit, the ignition circuit comprising:
a capacitor charging circuit;
a capacitor discharging circuit to discharge a firing capacitor through a fuse head;
a shot detection circuit adapted to measure a voltage across the firing capacitor before discharging through the fuse head and to measure the voltage after discharging through the fuse head; and

an arming switch, wherein the arming switch is active closed to charge the firing capacitor after receiving an arming code and until it receives and reacts to a firing code.

2. The electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator of claim 1 , wherein the shot detection circuit is active after discharging the firing capacitor.

3. The electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator of claim 1 , further comprising a firing transistor to discharge the firing switch through the fuse head, wherein the firing transistor remains active closed after the discharging the firing capacitor through the fuse head.

4. The electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator of claim 1 , wherein the arming switch is active again after a time delay, wherein the time delay occurs after the discharge of the firing capacitor through the fuse head, to recharge the firing capacitor after ignition of the fuse head.

5. The electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator of claim 4 , wherein the shot detection circuit measures the voltage across the firing capacitor:
before the discharging of the firing capacitor;
after the discharging of the firing capacitor; and
after the recharging of the firing capacitor.

6. The electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator of claim 1 , wherein at least three measured voltages are used to set a result variable representing one of a successful shot, and a failed shot.

7. The electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator of claim 6 , wherein a result of the shot detection is indicated by the answer back circuit.

8. The electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator of claim 1 , wherein the protection circuit comprises a spark gap.

9. The electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator of claim 1 , wherein the protection circuit comprises:
at least one of one or more of a varistor and one or more of a suppressor diode, at an input; and
a varistor and a suppressor diode, at an output.

10. The electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator of claim 1 , wherein the logical circuit comprises a supply voltage circuit.

11. The electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator of claim 1 , wherein the logical circuit comprises a code detection circuit.

12. The electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator of claim 1 , wherein the logical circuit comprises a microcontroller programmed to detect codes from a code detection circuit.

13. The electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator of claim 1 , wherein the ignition circuit comprises a voltage limiter for the firing capacitor.

14. An electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator, comprising:
a protection circuit comprising:
a spark gap;
at least one of a fuse, a circuit breaker and an automatic switch;
at least one of one or more of a varistor and one or more of a suppressor diode, at an input; and
at least one of one or more of a varistor and one or more of a suppressor diode, at an output;

an input circuit electrically coupled to the protection circuit, comprising a bridge rectifier;
a logical circuit electrically coupled to the input circuit, comprising:
an answer back circuit; and
a switching circuit for switching from a first detonator to a next detonator; and

an ignition circuit comprising:
a capacitor charging circuit; and
a capacitor discharging circuit to discharge a firing capacitor through a fuse head, wherein duration of a high signal period is multiplied by a holding factor, the holding factor being greater than 1.5.

15. The electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator of claim 14 , wherein the logical circuit comprises a code detection circuit, and a microcontroller programmed to detect codes from the code detection circuit.

16. The electronic ignition circuit for controlling at least one detonator of claim 15 , wherein the ignition circuit includes a shot detection circuit that allows for measurement of voltage of the firing capacitor before the detonator or fuse head and to allow for safe discharge of the firing capacitor over an amount of time.

Assignees

• Dynaenergetics Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Zemla Andreas Robert
• Thieltges Sascha
• Graziola Frank

Classifications

• F42C15/42

  from a remote location, e.g. for controlled mines or mine fields · CPC title

• F42B3/122

  Programmable electronic delay initiators · CPC title

• F42D1/055

  specially adapted for firing multiple charges with a time delay · CPC title

• F42D1/05 Primary

  Electric circuits for blasting · CPC title

• F42C15/40

  wherein the safety or arming action is effected electrically · CPC title