Ordinance firing system for land vehicle

• US 20060060102A1
• Filed: 04/05/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Craig J. Boucher, David B. Novotney, Paul N. Marshall
• Original Assignee: Craig J. Boucher, David B. Novotney, Paul N. Marshall
• Inventors: Boucher, Craig J., Novotney, David B., Marshall, Paul N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,278,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26029 Ignitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/007 Reactive armour; Dynamic armour
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/40 wherein the safety or arming action is effected electrically
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/05 Electric circuits for blasting

Abstract

An ordnance system of the present invention may include or feature any one or more of: a control unit, one or more effectors (detonators, initiators, shaped charges and the like), and a two-, three- or four-wire communication bus between the control unit and the effectors; an addressable system in which all the effectors can be connected to the same communication bus and the control unit can issue coded signals on the bus addressed to a specific effector; inductive coupling between the effectors and the communication bus; and a multi-voltage level communication system in which communication signals are carried at a first voltage and arming signals are provided at a second, higher voltage. Other features may include two-way communication between effectors and the control unit and the de-centralization of firing control so that the control unit does not have exclusive control over whether the effectors function. As a result, the individual effectors possess decision-making ability and, for purposes of this invention, may be referred to as “intelligent” effectors. To participate in the decision-making process, effectors of this invention may be equipped with sensors or other diagnostic circuitry whose condition is checked for satisfactory output before functioning is permitted to occur.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. In a land vehicle comprising a plurality of reactive effectors, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of initiators associated with the effectors;

a firing control system in communication with the initiators; and

at least one sensor, on the device, for sensing a condition precedent to arming or firing at least one initiator;

wherein at least one initiator is in communication with the sensor and that is responsive to the sensor and to the firing circuitry for initiating its associated effector upon receipt of proper signals from both the firing circuitry and the sensor.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 comprising a common bus through which the initiators are linked to the firing circuitry.

20. The vehicle of claim 18 wherein the sensor is connected to the bus.

21. The vehicle of claim 18 wherein the sensor is connected to the initiator responsive to it.

22. The vehicle of claim 18 wherein at least one initiator is programmed to self-arm or initiate based on a signal received from the sensor.