Electronic ignition circuit

US10605578B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Andreas Robert Zemla · Troisdorf, DE
• Sascha Thieltges · Siegburg, DE
• Frank Graziola · Rübhausen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 25, 2018
• Grant date: Mar 31, 2020
• Expiry date: Jun 8, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H02H3/202
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

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 logic circuit electrically coupled to the input circuit, and an ignition circuit electrically coupled to the logic circuit. The protection circuit may include at least one of a fuse, a circuit breaker and an automatic switch. The logic 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.