Multiple slave logging device

• US 20060130693A1
• Filed: 01/24/2006
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Austin Star Detonator Company
• Original Assignee: Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc (Wells Fargo & Company)
• Inventors: Teowee, Gimtong
• Granted Patent: US 7,617,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/215
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/122 Programmable electronic delay initiators
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 11/06 with time delay by electric circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/05 Electric circuits for blasting
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/055 specially adapted for firing multiple charges with a time delay
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/06 Relative timing of multiple charges F42D1/043 and F42D1/055 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/061 providing hard decisions only; arrangements for tracking or suppressing unwanted low frequency components, e.g. removal of dc offset removal of dc offset in coupling arrangements H04L25/029, H04L25/0296

Abstract

A multiple slave logging device, or “logger” for use in a system such as an electronic blasting system. The logger is able to communicate with multiple slave devices connected to it, and preferably also is able to communicate with a slave device connected individually. The logger preferably utilizes current modulation-based talkback from the slave devices, and optionally may also be adapted to detect the presence of inappropriate slave devices connected to the system.

Claims

1. A multiple slave logging device, comprising a power supply, an electrical interface, and memory, said logging device being configured to communicate with multiple slave devices simultaneously connected to said electrical interface.

2. The logging device of claim 1, wherein said logging device is for use in an electronic blasting system, and said slave devices are electronic detonators.

3. The logging device of claim 1, wherein said logging device is further configured to communicate with a slave device individually connected to said electrical interface.

4. The logging device of claim 1, wherein said logging device is configured to communicate with said slave devices through current modulation-based talkback from said slave devices.

5. The logging device of claim 4, wherein said logging device includes means for dynamically baselining said current modulation-based talkback from said slave devices.

6. The logging device of claim 1, wherein said logging device is further configured to detect the presence of undesired slave devices connected to said electrical interface.

7. The logging device of claim 1, wherein said slave devices are connected to said electrical interface via a bus wire.

8. A system for logging multiple slave devices, comprising:

a) an electrical conduit;

b) a plurality of slave devices connected to said electrical conduit; and

,

c) the logging device of claim 1 connected to said electrical conduit.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said system is an electronic blasting system and said slave devices are electronic detonators.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said logging device is further configured to communicate with a slave device individually connected to said electrical interface.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said logging device is configured to communicate with said slave devices through current modulation-based talkback from said slave devices.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said logging device includes means for dynamically baselining said current modulation-based talkback from said slave devices.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said logging device is further configured to detect the presence of undesired slave devices connected to the system.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said electrical conduit is a branch or a row.

15. A method for logging multiple slave devices, comprising the following steps:

a) connecting a plurality of slave devices to an electrical conduit;

b) connecting the logging device of claim 1 to said electrical conduit; and

,

c) causing the multiple slave logging device of claim 1 to communicate with each of said plurality of connected slave devices.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said slave devices are electronic detonators.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said logging device is further configured to communicate with a slave device individually connected to said electrical interface.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication of step c) comprises current modulation-based talkback from said slave devices.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of causing the logging device to detect the presence of any undesired slave devices connected to said electrical conduit.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication of step c) includes the transmission of one or more Auto Bus Detection commands by the logging device.