Ordnance firing system

• US 6,584,907 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (Dyno Nobel Holding ASA)
• Original Assignee: Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (Dyno Nobel Holding ASA)
• Inventors: Boucher, Craig J., Novotney, David B., Marshall, Paul N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blackner, H. A.
• Application Number:
  US09/810,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20030075069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 244/3.22, 102/206, 102/215, 102/217
• 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. An ordnance firing system for an aerospace device comprising a plurality of reactive effectors, the system comprising:

firing control system circuitry for controlling the firing of a plurality of initiators;

a plurality of initiators comprising planar, low-energy initiation elements connected to the firing control system circuitry;

a low-energy power source for arming the initiators;

a low-energy power source for powering the control circuitry; and

at least one sensor, wherein at least one initiator is programmed to self-arm or initiate based on a signal received from the sensor.

2. An ordnance firing system for an aerospace device comprising a plurality of reactive effectors, the system comprising:

firing control system circuitry for controlling the firing of a plurality of initiators, the firing control system circuitry comprising a low-energy power source comprising an energy storage device for arming the initiators and for powering the firing control system circuitry and an input port for receiving low-energy power for charging the energy storage device and for receiving firing control signals; and

a plurality of initiators comprising planar, low-energy initiation elements connected to the firing control circuitry.

3. The system of claim 2 comprising a common communication bus connecting the initiators to the control circuitry.

7. The ordnance firing system of claim 2 or claim 5 comprising at least one sensor, wherein at least one initiator is programmed to self-arm or initiate based on a signal received from the sensor.

4. An ordnance firing system for a land vehicle comprising a plurality of reactive effectors, the system comprising:

firing control system circuitry for controlling the firing of a plurality of initiators;

a plurality of initiators comprising planar, low-energy initiation elements connected to the firing control system circuitry;

a low-energy power source for arming the initiators;

a low-energy power source for powering the control circuitry; and

at least one sensor, wherein at least one initiator is programmed to self-arm or initiate based on a signal received from the sensor.

5. An ordnance firing system for a land vehicle comprising a plurality of reactive effectors, the system comprising:

firing control system circuitry for controlling the firing of a plurality of initiators, the firing control system circuitry comprising a low-energy power source comprising an energy storage device for arming the initiators and for powering the firing control system circuitry and an input port for receiving low-energy power for charging the energy storage device and for receiving firing control signals; and

to the a plurality of initiators comprising planar, low-energy initiation elements connected to the firing control circuitry.

6. The system of claim 5 comprising a common communication bus connecting the initiators to the control circuitry.