Wireless Detonator Antenna Segmentation for Signal Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless detonators face inefficiencies in receiving energy and control signals due to positional relations between the blasting controller side antenna and the detonator antenna, and lack flexibility in selecting response frequencies, leading to reduced signal transmission and increased antenna size.

Innovation Solution

A wireless detonator design with separate detonation side receiving and transmitting antennas, where the receiving antenna is configured with multiple coils to efficiently receive signals from various magnetic field components and the transmitting antenna is positioned externally to avoid contact, allowing for high-frequency response signal transmission and reduced size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single antenna is used for both receiving energy/control signals and transmitting response signals, then the device structure is simplified, but the antenna size increases and response frequency selection becomes limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna structureVSAvoidantenna size
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the antenna system into two separate antennas: a receiving antenna for receiving energy and control signals, and a transmitting antenna for transmitting response signals. This segmentation allows each antenna to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall size requirements compared to a single multi-functional antenna while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the transmitting antenna is positioned internally within the detonator, then the structure is compact, but signal transmission efficiency decreases due to contact and interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetonator sizeVSAvoidsignal transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transmitting antenna is extracted from the internal structure of the detonator and positioned externally. This extraction eliminates contact and interference issues that would occur with internal positioning, ensuring reliable signal transmission. The external positioning maintains compact overall dimensions while achieving superior transmission performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If the receiving antenna uses a single coil configuration, then the structure is simple, but signal reception efficiency decreases when the blasting controller antenna is positioned at certain locations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna structureVSAvoidsignal reception
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving antenna employs multiple coils with different orientations (X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis) to create local quality variations in signal reception capability. Each coil is optimized to receive signals from specific spatial directions, ensuring reliable reception regardless of the blasting controller antenna's position. This multi-coil configuration maintains structural simplicity while achieving omnidirectional reception reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables efficient energy and signal reception regardless of antenna position, offers flexibility in response frequency selection, and reduces the overall size of the detonator for easier deployment in tunnel excavation.

Implementation Method 1

Each wireless detonator includes an antenna to receive energy for driving a detonation side electronic circuit utilizing the magnetic field or electric field in a wireless manner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The detonation side transmitting antenna transmits a response signal in response to the control signal in a wireless manner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation:

Data Source

PatentEP3447438B1Wireless detonator, wireless detonation system, and wireless detonation method
Publication Date: 2023.06.28 NOF CORP
  • EP3447438B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3447438B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3447438B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A wireless detonator (10) includes a detonation side receiving antenna (11), a detonation side transmitting antenna (18), an initiator (14) and a detonation side electronic circuit. The detonation side receiving antenna (11) receives energy for driving the detonation side electronic circuit, a control signal and an initiation signal. The detonation side electronic circuit receives the energy, the control signal and the initiation signal via the detonation side receiving antenna (11), transmits a response signal via the detonation side transmitting antenna (18) and ignites the initiator (14) in accordance with the initiation signal. A response frequency of the response signal is set to be greater than or equal to 100 MHz and less than or equal to 1 GHz.