BLASTING SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A method of operating a blasting system which includes an array of electronic detonators, the method including the step of assigning an identity code to each detonator which is determined at least partly by the detonator'"'"'s location in the array.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a blasting system which includes a plurality of electronic detonators which are configured in a blast array which has at least one row and a plurality of detonators in the row, each detonator including a memory in which is stored at least a respective identity code which is dependent, at least, on the row on which the detonator is, and on the detonator'"'"'s position in the row, a harness which interconnects the detonators, and at least one control unit, connected to the harness, which generates a signal to fire the detonators.
38 Citations
46 Claims
- 1. A method of operating a blasting system which includes an array of electronic detonators, the method including the step of assigning an identity code to each detonator which is determined at least partly by the detonator'"'"'s location in the array.
- 23. A method of operating a blasting system which includes the steps of arranging a plurality of electronic detonators which are spatially distributed from one another in an array, storing in each detonator a respective identity code which is dependent on the detonator'"'"'s location in the array, transferring the identity codes for the detonators to a control location, storing in each detonator respective firing time information which is transferred from the control location, and transmitting a firing signal to the detonators.
- 31. A blasting system which includes a plurality of electronic detonators which are configured in a blast array which has at least one row and a plurality of detonators in the row, each detonator including a memory in which is stored at least respective firing time information and a respective identity code which is dependent, at least, on the row in which the detonator is, and on the detonator'"'"'s position in the row, a harness which interconnects the detonators, and a control unit, connected to the harness, which generates a signal to fire the detonators.
- 41. A blasting system which includes a plurality of electronic detonators which are spatially distributed from one another in an array, each detonator including a memory in which is stored at least respective firing time information, a harness which connects the detonators in parallel to one another, a portable device in which are stored respective identity codes for the detonators, each identity code being dependent, at least, on the detonator'"'"'s location in the array and a control unit in which are stored the identity code and firing time information for each detonator and which transmits a firing signal to the detonators.
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44. A portable device for use in a blasting system which includes a housing, a data input mechanism for inputting data relating to a detonator'"'"'s location in an array of detonators, a processor which, in response to the input data, is operable under the control of an algorithm to generate an identity code for the detonator which is dependent at least on the detonator'"'"'s location in the array, a first memory in which the identity code is stored, and a two-connection interface for transferring the identity code to the respective detonator.
- 45. A control unit for use in a blasting system which includes a housing, a control memory in which are stored firing time information for each of a plurality of detonators in an array of detonators and a respective identity code for each of the plurality of detonators, each identity code being dependent at least on the location of the respective detonator in the array, and a two-connection interface for transferring the firing time information to the respective detonators.
Specification