Ignition circuit and electronic detonator including same

Abstract

An ignition circuit according to the present technology comprises: a switching circuit that performs a switching operation according to the voltage of a first node; and multiple ignition control circuits, each of which controls the voltage of the first node, wherein each of the multiple ignition control circuits controls the voltage of the first node so that the switching circuit is turned on in a state in which both an arming signal and an ignition signal are activated.

Description

FIRING CIRCUIT AND ELECTRONIC DETONATOR INCLUDING THE SAME

[0001] The present invention relates to a detonation circuit and an electronic detonator circuit including the same.

[0002] A detonator that uses an electronic circuit to attach to explosives used in mines or construction sites is called an electronic detonator.

[0003] Conventional electronic detonators induce explosion by charging a capacitor and allowing the charge stored in the capacitor to flow to the fuse under certain conditions.

[0004] Since an explosion caused by a malfunction of the electronic detonator can cause great damage, stable operation of the electronic detonator is essential.

[0005] The present technology provides a detonation circuit with improved stability and an electronic detonator including the same.

[0006] A detonation circuit according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a switching circuit that performs a switching operation according to the voltage of a first node; and a plurality of detonation control circuits that each control the voltage of the first node, wherein the plurality of detonation control circuits each control the voltage of the first node so that the switching circuit is turned on when both an arming signal and a detonation signal are activated.

[0007] An electronic detonator according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a power circuit that provides a charging current through a charging node; a discharge circuit that controls a discharge current to flow through the charging node; and a detonation circuit that controls a state of the detonation node according to an arming signal and a detonation signal, wherein the detonation circuit includes a switching circuit that performs a switching operation according to a voltage of a first node; and a plurality of detonation control circuits that each control a voltage of the first node, and the plurality of detonation control circuits each control a voltage of the first node so that the switching circuit is turned on when both the arming signal and the detonation signal are activated.

[0008] This technology can prevent the malfunction of the switch due to noise, etc. even when there is no detonation command, thereby preventing the problem of the fuse being unintentionally ignited.

[0009] This technology can eliminate problems caused by misfires by inducing reliable ignition of the fuse when a detonation command is issued.

[0010] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic detonator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2 is a circuit diagram showing a detonation circuit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed with reference to the attached drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic detonator (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] The electronic detonator (1000) includes an input node (IN), a charging node (C), a ground node (GND), and a detonation node (F).

[0015] Receives external commands through the input node (IN).

[0016] A capacitor (1) is connected between the charging node (C) and the ground node (GND), and a fuse (2) is connected between the charging node (C) and the detonation node (F).

[0017] When the detonation operation is performed, the capacitor (1) and the fuse (2) form a closed circuit, and the fuse (2) is ignited due to the charge stored in the capacitor (1).

[0018] The electronic detonator (1000) includes a detonation circuit (100), a power circuit (210), a transmission / reception circuit (220), a control circuit (230), a discharge circuit (240), and a fuse test circuit (250).

[0019] The electronic detonator (1000) may further include an ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) circuit (261, 262, 263, 264) at a portion connected to the input / output node, thereby preventing malfunction of the circuit due to static electricity.

[0020] The detonation circuit (100) controls the state of the detonation node (F) under the control of the control circuit (230).

[0021] The specific configuration and operation of the detonation circuit (100) are disclosed below with reference to FIG. 2.

[0022] The power circuit (210) provides power to the charging node (C) according to a control signal provided through the input node (IN), thereby charging the capacitor (1).

[0023] The power circuit (210) can generate an internal power voltage required for the operation of the electronic detonator (1000) and provide it to each of the aforementioned components.

[0024] The technology for generating and distributing the internal power voltage is well known to those skilled in the art, so a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0025] The transceiver circuit (220) receives a control signal provided from the outside through an input node (IN) and provides it to the control circuit (230). In other words, the transceiver circuit (220) is an interface circuit that performs communication with the outside, and the interface circuit technology itself for communication is well known to those skilled in the art, so a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0026] The control circuit (230) comprehensively controls the test and detonation operations in the electronic detonator (1000).

[0027] The control circuit (230) can monitor the power circuit (210) and the discharge circuit (240) to determine the charging and discharging status of the capacitor (1).

[0028] Additionally, the control circuit (230) can control the charging and discharging operations of the capacitor (1) by controlling the power circuit (210) and the discharge circuit (240).

[0029] Since the configuration for providing a charging voltage in the power circuit (210) or the configuration for discharging the capacitor (1) in the discharge circuit (240) can be variously designed and modified by a person skilled in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0030] The control circuit (230) provides an arming signal (ARM) and a detonation signal (FIRE) to the detonation circuit (100), and the detonation circuit (100) controls the state of the detonation node (F) accordingly.

[0031] The control circuit (230) can control the fuse test circuit (250) to perform a test operation on the fuse (2).

[0032] The fuse test circuit (250) can check the status of the fuse (2) by providing a test current for test operation.

[0033] At this time, the test current must be at a level that does not cause ignition of the fuse (2), and this can be determined in advance by a person skilled in the art.

[0034] If the fuse (2) is in a normal state, a voltage of a certain range is generated across both ends of the fuse (2) depending on the resistance of the fuse (2) and the size of the test current. However, if the fuse (2) is short-circuited or completely blown, the voltage across both ends of the fuse (2) goes beyond the aforementioned certain range.

[0035] The technology of providing a test current to the fuse (2) in the fuse test circuit (240) or the technology of measuring the voltage across the fuse (2) in the control circuit (230) and testing the state of the fuse (2) accordingly are such that various design changes can be made by a person skilled in the art, and thus a specific disclosure thereof is omitted.

[0036] Figure 2 is a circuit diagram showing a detonation circuit (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] The detonation circuit (100) includes a switch circuit (110) that connects or disconnects between the detonation node (F) and the ground node (GND) depending on the voltage of the first node (N1).

[0038] In this embodiment, the switch circuit (110) is an NLDMOS (N-Type Lateral Diffusion Metal-Oxide-Silicon) transistor.

[0039] The source and drain of the NLDMOS transistor are connected between the ground node (GND) and the trigger node (F), and the gate is connected to the first node (N1).

[0040] The detonation circuit (100) includes a voltage pulling circuit (120) that pulls up or down the voltage of the first node (N1).

[0041] In this embodiment, the voltage pulling circuit (120) includes a resistor connected between the first node (N1) and the ground node (GND) to pull down the voltage of the first node (N1).

[0042] Accordingly, if the detonation operation is not performed, the floating state of the first node (N1) is prevented, thereby preventing malfunction of the switch circuit (110).

[0043] The detonation circuit (100) includes a plurality of detonation control circuits (130, 140) that control the voltage of the first node (N1).

[0044] At this time, multiple detonation control circuits (130, 140) all have the same configuration and are connected in parallel to each other to independently control the voltage of the first node (N1).

[0045] Even if at least one of the multiple detonation control circuits (130, 140) operates normally during the detonation operation process, the voltage of the first node (N1) is controlled normally so that the detonation operation can be performed without fail.

[0046] Although the detonation circuit (100) according to the present embodiment includes two detonation control circuits (130, 140), the number of detonation control circuits may be three or more.

[0047] As described above, since the multiple detonation control circuits (130, 140) all have the same configuration, the detailed configuration and operation will be described below using the detonation control circuit (130).

[0048] The detonation control circuit (130) includes a switch (131) that connects the first node (N1) and the third node (N3) according to the voltage of the second node (N2).

[0049] In this embodiment, the switch (131) is an NMOS transistor whose drain is connected to the first node (N1), whose source is connected to the third node (N3), and whose gate is connected to the second node (N2).

[0050] The detonation control circuit (130) includes a first control circuit (132) that controls the voltage of the second node (N2) according to an arming signal (ARM) and a detonation signal (FIRE).

[0051] In this embodiment, the first control circuit (132) floats the output node as a three-phase buffer before the arming signal (ARM) is activated, and controls the output node to a high level or low level according to the detonation signal (FIRE) when the arming signal (ARM) is activated.

[0052] The detonation control circuit (130) includes a first voltage pulling circuit (133) to prevent the second node (N2) from becoming floating.

[0053] The first voltage pulling circuit (133) includes a resistor connected between the second node (N2) and the ground node (GND).

[0054] Accordingly, when the arming signal (ARM) is disabled, the voltage of the second node (N2) is pulled down to ground voltage, preventing the switch (131) from turning on.

[0055] The detonation control circuit (130) includes a second control circuit (133) that controls the voltage of the third node (N3) according to an arming signal (ARM) and a detonation signal (FIRE).

[0056] The second control circuit (134) is a three-phase buffer that floats the output node before the arming signal (ARM) is activated, and controls the output node to a high level or low level according to the detonation signal (FIRE) when the arming signal (ARM) is activated.

[0057] The detonation control circuit (130) includes a second voltage pulling circuit (135) to prevent the third node (N3) from floating.

[0058] The second voltage pulling circuit (135) includes a resistor connected between the third node (N3) and the ground node (GND).

[0059] Accordingly, the voltage of the third node (N3) is pulled down to ground voltage when the arming signal (ARM) is disabled.

[0060] The operating status of the detonation circuit (100) is summarized as follows.

[0061] 1. Unarmed (ARM = LOW)

[0062] Since the voltage of the second node (N2) and the third node (N3) is pulled down to a low level when the arming signal (ARM) is disabled, the switch (131) is turned off.

[0063] Accordingly, the voltage of the first node (N1) is pulled down to a low level by the voltage pulling circuit (120), and the switching circuit (110) disconnects between the detonation node (F) and the ground node (GND).

[0064] In this case, a closed circuit is not formed between the capacitor (1) and the fuse (2), so an explosion does not occur.

[0065] 2. Detonation ready state (ARM = HIGH, FIRE = LOW)

[0066] Since the arming signal (AMR) is activated, the output of the first control circuit (132) and the output of the second control circuit (134) become low levels according to the detonation signal (FIRE).

[0067] That is, the voltages of the second node (N2) and the third node (N3) become low levels, so the switch (131) is turned off.

[0068] Accordingly, the voltage of the first node (N1) is pulled down to a low level by the voltage pulling circuit (120), and the switching circuit (110) disconnects between the detonation node (F) and the ground node (GND).

[0069] In this case, a closed circuit is not formed between the capacitor (1) and the fuse (2), so an explosion does not occur.

[0070] 3. Detonation status (ARM = HIGH, FIRE = HIGH)

[0071] Since the arming signal (AMR) is activated, the output of the first control circuit (132) and the output of the second control circuit (134) become high levels according to the detonation signal (FIRE).

[0072] Accordingly, the voltages of the second node (N2) and the third node (N3) become high level, the switch (131) is turned on, the voltage of the first node (N1) becomes high level, and the switching circuit (110) connects between the detonation node (F) and the ground node (GND).

[0073] In this case, a closed circuit is formed between the capacitor (1) and the fuse (2), causing the fuse (2) to ignite, resulting in an explosion.

[0074] The above discloses embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by the above disclosure. The scope of the present invention can be determined according to the scope literally described in the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A switching circuit that performs a switching operation according to the voltage of the first node; A plurality of detonation control circuits each controlling the voltage of the first node Including, but not limited to, The above multiple detonation control circuits are detonation circuits that control the voltage of the first node so that the switching circuit is turned on while both the arming signal and the detonation signal are activated.

2. A detonation circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage pulling circuit that pulls down or up the voltage of the first node.

3. In claim 1, each of the plurality of detonation control circuits A switch connecting the first node and the third node according to the voltage of the second node; A first control circuit that controls the voltage of the second node according to the arming signal and the detonation signal; and A second control circuit that controls the voltage of the third node according to the above-mentioned arming signal and the above-mentioned detonation signal. A detonation circuit including:

4. In claim 3, the first control circuit and the second control circuit are detonation circuits that each make its output node floating when the arming signal is inactive and provide a voltage corresponding to the detonation signal to its output node when the arming signal is activated.

5. In claim 4, each of the plurality of detonation control circuits A first voltage pulling circuit for pulling down the voltage of the second node; and A second voltage pulling circuit that pulls down the voltage of the third node A detonation circuit including more.

6. A power circuit that provides charging current through a charging node; A discharge circuit that controls the discharge current to flow through the charging node; and A detonation circuit that controls the state of the detonation node according to the arming signal and the detonation signal; Including, but not limited to, The above detonation circuit A switching circuit that performs a switching operation according to the voltage of the first node; A plurality of detonation control circuits each controlling the voltage of the first node Including, The above multiple detonation control circuits are electronic detonators that control the voltage of the first node so that the switching circuit is turned on while both the arming signal and the detonation signal are activated.

7. An electronic detonator according to claim 6, further comprising a voltage pulling circuit that pulls down or up the voltage of the first node.

8. In claim 6, each of the plurality of detonation control circuits A switch connecting the first node and the third node according to the voltage of the second node; A first control circuit that controls the voltage of the second node according to the arming signal and the detonation signal; and A second control circuit that controls the voltage of the third node according to the above-mentioned arming signal and the above-mentioned detonation signal. Electronic detonator containing.

9. In claim 8, the first control circuit and the second control circuit are each an electronic detonator that floats its output node when the arming signal is inactive and provides a voltage corresponding to the detonation signal to its output node when the arming signal is activated.

10. In claim 9, each of the plurality of detonation control circuits A first voltage pulling circuit for pulling down the voltage of the second node; and A second voltage pulling circuit that pulls down the voltage of the third node An electronic detonator further comprising:

11. An electronic detonator according to claim 6, further comprising a fuse test circuit for providing a test current to the detonation node.

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