Patent attributes
The present disclosure describes an electronic ignition circuit (“EIC”) for controlling at least one detonator. The EIC may include a protection circuit, an input circuit coupled to the protection circuit, a logical circuit electrically coupled to the input circuit, and an ignition circuit electrically coupled to the logical circuit. The protection circuit may include at least one of a fuse, a circuit breaker and an automatic switch. The logical circuit may include an answer back circuit, and a switching circuit adapted to switch to the next detonator or igniter. The ignition circuit may include a capacitor charging circuit, a capacitor discharge circuit to discharge a firing capacitor through a fuse head, and a shot detection circuit adapted to measure a voltage across the firing capacitor before discharging through the fuse head and to measure a voltage after discharging through the fuse head.
