Electronic detonator system

摘要

A detonator includes a high voltage switch, an initiator and an initiating pellet. The detonator also includes a low voltage to high voltage firing set coupled to the switch and initiator such that the detonator includes a high voltage power source and initiator in an integrated package. The detonator may also include inductive powering and communications, a microprocessor, tracking and/or locating technologies, such as RFID, GPS, etc., and either a single or combination explosive output pellet. The combination explosive pellet has a first explosive having a first shock energy and a high brisance secondary explosive in the output pellet having a second shock energy greater than the shock energy of the first explosive. Systems are also provided for facilitating fast and easy deployment of one or more detonators in the field.

主权项

1. An electronic detonator comprising:
a detonator housing that integrally packages a chip having a high voltage switch and an initiator, an initiating pellet, a primary energy source, a secondary energy source, and a controller, wherein:
the high voltage switch includes:
a first switch contact spaced from and electrically isolated from a second switch contact;a trigger element that passes between and is spaced from the first switch contact and the second switch contact, wherein the trigger element is shaped as a repeating pattern of faceted sections that narrow in width and funnel out in width; anda dielectric material that overlies the high voltage switch, including the trigger element, wherein the trigger element shape and dielectric material contribute to establish a desired hold off voltage for the high voltage switch;the initiator is connected in series to the first switch contact of the high voltage switch thus forming a series circuit between the initiator and the high voltage switch;the initiating pellet is positioned relative to the initiator such that functioning of the initiator causes detonation of the initiating pellet; andthe controller is operatively configured to function the initiator to detonate the initiating pellet by controlling:
the primary energy source to apply a desired primary charge potential to the series circuit including the initiator and the high voltage switch; andthe secondary energy source to drive a current through the trigger element that is sufficient to close the high voltage switch by electrically connecting the first switch contact to the second switch contact.