Method for logging a plurality of slave devices

• US 7,681,500 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Austin Star Detonator Company
• Original Assignee: Special Devices Incorporated (Daicel Corporation)
• Inventors: Teowee, Gimtong
• Primary Examiner(s): Bergin; James S
• Application Number:
  US12/509,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20090283005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 242 Days
• Field of Search: 102/215, 102/206, 102/200, 102/202.5, 102/217, 102/218, 102/311, 102/312, 361/247, 361/248, 361/249, 361/251
• US Class Current: 102/311
• 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 method for logging a plurality of slave devices is suggested, comprising the following steps: a) connecting a plurality of slave devices each having an identity and a pyrotechnic charge to an electrical conduit; b) after step a), connecting a logging device comprising a power supply, an electrical interface, and a memory and c)causing the logging device to communicate with each of the plurality of slave devices while the plurality of slave devices is simultaneously connected to the electrical conduit.

Claims

1. A method for logging a plurality of slave devices, comprising the following steps:

a) connecting a plurality of slave devices, each having an identity and a pyrotechnic charge, to an electrical conduit;

b) after step a), connecting to said electrical conduit a logging device comprising a power supply, an electrical interface, and memory, said logging device being configured for two-way communication with said plurality of slave devices and being configured to operate only at a voltage that is incapable of causing detonation of said pyrotechnic charge; and

c) causing said logging device to communicate with each of said plurality of slave devices while said plurality of slave devices is simultaneously connected to said electrical conduit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said logging device is also configured to communicate with a slave device individually connected directly to said electrical interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said slave devices are electronic detonators.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication of step c) comprises current modulation-based talkback from said slave devices.

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

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said slave devices are electronic detonators.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said slave devices are electronic detonators.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of causing the logging device to detect the presence of any undesired slave devices connected to said electrical conduit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said slave devices are electronic detonators.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein step c) includes causing said logging device to verify that the logged slave devices are connected to said electrical conduit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said slave devices are electronic detonators.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said slave devices are simultaneously connectable to said electrical interface via a bus wire.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said slave devices are electronic detonators.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrical conduit is a branch or a row.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said slave devices are electronic detonators.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said slave devices are electronic detonators.