Sensor for monitoring electronic detonation circuits

• US 20040034463A1
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orica Explosives Technology Pty Limited (Orica Limited)
• Original Assignee: Orica Explosives Technology Pty Limited (Orica Limited)
• Inventors: Hummel, Dirk, Steiner, Ulrich
• Granted Patent: US 6,941,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/111
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/045 Arrangements for electric ignition dynamo-electric generators H02K
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0084 measuring voltage only all subgroups of G01R19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2829 Testing of circuits in sensor or actuator systems testing of apparatus for measuring electric or magnetic variables G01R35/00; testing of indicating or recording apparatus G01D; in airbag systems B60R21/0173; checking gas analysers G01N33/007; monitoring or fail-safe circuits for electromagnets H01F7/1844
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72

Abstract

A voltage sensor (10) for monitoring electronic ignition circuits (1) which contains a plurality of igniters (4) connected to an ignition line (3) and an ignition device (2) connected to the ignition line (3) to program the electronic igniters (4). The voltage sensor (10) can be connected separately to the ignition line and contains a voltage measuring device (15) for measuring the voltage (U2) on the ignition line (3) at the voltage sensor (10). The voltage sensor (10) also contains a communications device (15, 17, 18, 19) for receiving a start signal from the ignition device (2) triggering the start of the voltage measurement and for transmitting to the ignition device (2) a measured value determined during the voltage measurement.

Claims

1. Voltage sensor for monitoring electronic ignition circuits (1), the ignition circuit (1) containing an ignition device (2), an ignition line (3) and an igniter (4), and it being possible for the voltage sensor (10) to be connected separately to the ignition line (3), with the sensor having a voltage measuring device (13, 15) for measuring the voltage (U2) on the ignition line (3) at the voltage sensor (10) and a communications device (15, 17, 18, 19) for receiving a start signal from the ignition device (2) triggering the start of the voltage measurement and for transmitting a measured value of the ignition device (2) determined during the voltage measurement.

2. Voltage sensor according to claim 1, characterised in that the communications device (15, 17, 18, 19) processes and generates types of signals used by the ignition device (2) to program the igniter (4).

3. Voltage sensor according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the energy required to operate the voltage sensor (10) is obtained from the signals received by the ignition device (2).

4. Voltage sensor according to claim 3, characterised in that a capacitor (16) is provided as energy store.

5. Voltage sensor according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised by an activation device (15, DE) which activates the voltage sensor (10) as a reaction to the start signal.

6. Voltage sensor according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the voltage sensor (10) can be connected to the end of the ignition line (3).

7. Voltage sensor according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the communications device (15, 17, 18, 19) contains means for changing the power consumption (17, 18, 19) of the voltage sensor (10), the measured values for transmission to the ignition device (2) being coded by means of the changed power consumption.

8. Voltage sensor according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the voltage measuring device (15) comprises a microprocessor with integrated AD converter for voltage measurement.

9. Voltage sensor according to claim 8, characterised in that the microprocessor (15) has a sleep mode which can be activated by software and can be terminated by the start signal.

10. Electronic ignition circuit (1) with several electronic igniters (4) connected to an ignition line (3), an ignition device (2) connected to the ignition line (3) to program the igniter (4) and a voltage sensor (10) according to any of claims 1 to 9 which can be connected to the ignition line (3).