Wireless Detonation System Dongle and Trigger Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing detonation systems in the mining and blasting industries are labor-intensive, expensive, and prone to misfiring due to the need for wiring detonators together and connecting them to a remote initiator, which can lead to unintended detonations.
Innovation Solution
A wireless detonation system comprising a dongle and trigger devices that communicate wirelessly, using a dongle processor and radio transceivers to control and synchronize detonators, ensuring only authorized commands are accepted, and providing visual and haptic feedback for confirmation, thus eliminating the need for physical wiring and reducing the risk of misfiring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wired detonation systems are used to ensure safety through physical connection, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiring system with a wireless communication system. The dongle and trigger devices communicate via radio frequency, eliminating the need for physical electrical connections between detonators and the control system, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability through authorized wireless communication protocols
2Reliability
If wired detonation systems are used to ensure secure control, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mechanical wiring and connection process with wireless radio frequency communication. The dongle pairs with trigger devices through wireless authentication, allowing operators to set up and control detonations without physically connecting wires, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining security through authorized access protocols
3Ease of operation
If wireless communication is used to reduce complexity, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability may worsen due to potential unauthorized activation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through the authorization protocol where the dongle and trigger devices exchange authentication credentials before establishing communication. The system provides feedback by verifying authorized status before allowing any detonation commands, ensuring that only authenticated devices can activate detonators, thus maintaining reliability despite wireless operation
Solution Approach 2:
The dongle serves as an intermediary device between the control system and trigger devices. It mediates all communication by verifying authorization tokens and managing the wireless connection, acting as a security gatekeeper that prevents unauthorized activation while enabling convenient wireless operation
4Manufacturing precision
If traditional wired systems are used to ensure proper synchronization, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to setup requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the time-consuming mechanical wiring process with instant wireless connection establishment. The radio frequency communication enables rapid pairing and synchronization between the dongle and trigger devices, reducing setup time while maintaining precise detonation synchronization through digital timing protocols
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system allows for accurate and safe detonation setups with reduced labor and costs, enhancing safety by preventing unintended detonations through strict authorization and synchronization protocols, and enabling rapid and reliable blasting operations.
Implementation Method 1
a radio transceiver coupled to the dongle processor; a radio transceiver in communication with the trigger device processor
Implementation Method 2
an electric energy storage unit under control of the trigger device processor and adapted to store electrical energy for igniting a detonator
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless detonation system having a dongle for removable connection with a computer system and for wirelessly communicating with and controlling one or more trigger devices and a trigger device for wirelessly communicating with the dongle. The dongle includes a dongle processor programmed to communicate with the computer system via the communication interface to operate the radio transceiver to wirelessly communicate with one or more trigger devices, a radio transceiver coupled to the dongle processor, a communication interface coupled to the dongle processor and one or more contact communication terminals in communication with the dongle processor. The trigger device includes a trigger device processor programmed to communicate with the dongle, a radio transceiver in communication with the trigger device processor, one or more contact communication terminals in communication with the trigger device processor, and an electric energy storage unit under control of the trigger device processor and adapted to store electrical energy for igniting a detonator. The dongle processor is further programmed to receive one or more commands from the connected computer system and transmit the one or more commands to the trigger device and wherein the trigger device processor is further programmed to, in response to the commands from the dongle, ignite a detonator and the trigger device is adapted to only accept commands from the dongle.