Wireless Detonator Calibration via Oscillation Counting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless detonator systems for mining face challenges in calibration accuracy, especially for longer delay times, due to internal clock variations and drift, which affects the precision of timed actuation in blasting operations.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a high-accuracy clock to transmit blast-rehearsal start and stop signals to each detonator assembly, allowing them to determine and store a total oscillation count corresponding to the desired delay time, enabling precise timed actuation upon receiving a command signal, thereby improving calibration efficiency and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wired detonator systems are used, then connection reliability can be maintained, but labour costs increase and site movement is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless communication system. Detonators equipped with wireless receivers communicate with the blasting machine via radio frequency signals, eliminating the need for physical wires that restrict movement and increase labour requirements while maintaining reliable control and timing functionality.
2Ease of operation
If wireless detonator systems are used, then ease of operation improves, but calibration accuracy deteriorates for longer delay times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a calibration phase before the actual blasting operation. During calibration, the system transmits reference timing signals to multiple detonators and measures their oscillation counts over a known time period. This preliminary measurement allows the system to calculate and store corrected delay times in memory, ensuring accurate timing even for longer delays after the calibration is complete.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration process uses feedback from timing measurements. The system measures the actual oscillation counts of detonator clocks during a reference period, compares these against expected values, and uses this feedback information to compute correction factors. These corrected timing parameters are then stored and applied during the actual blasting operation to maintain precision.
3Measurement precision
If manual calibration of detonators is performed, then timing accuracy can be achieved, but labour intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal calibration system that can simultaneously calibrate multiple detonators through a single automated process. The blasting machine or calibration device transmits timing signals to all detonators in the array, and the system automatically measures, processes, and stores calibration data for each detonator without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining accuracy while dramatically improving efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A plurality of detonator assemblies in signal communication with a blasting machine, each detonator assembly consisting of a detonator, a storage compartment for storing programmed delay time and/or oscillation count and a countdown oscillator. A transmitter for transmitting a blast rehearsal stop start and stop signal, said signals being separated by said programmed delay time individually selected for each detonator signal. The oscillator counting the total oscillation count corresponding to said delay time. When a detonator assembly receives a FIRE command, the individual countdown oscillators countdowns the total oscillation count associated with its detonator assembly.