# US 10,309,758 B1 · Multi-level networked ordnance system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,758 B1 - Document ID: US10309758B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/805,066 - Filed: 2017-11-06 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-03 - Assignees: Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company (California) LLC - Applicants: Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company (California) LLC - Inventors: Peter J. Current; Michael R. Hathaway - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309758B1 ## CPC - F42C 15/40: wherein the safety or arming action is effected electrically - B64G 1/10: Artificial satellites; Systems of such satellites; Interplanetary vehicles (space shuttles B64G1/14) - B64G 1/403: {Solid propellant rocket engines} - B64G 1/428: {Power distribution and management} - B64G 1/64: Systems for coupling or separating cosmonautic vehicles or parts thereof, e.g. docking arrangements - B64G 1/6455: {Pyrotechnics; Using heat} - F02K 9/00: Rocket-engine plants, i.e. plants carrying both fuel and oxidant therefor; Control thereof - F02K 9/95: characterised by starting or ignition means or arrangements (safety devices F02K9/38) - F23Q 21/00: Devices for effecting ignition from a remote location - F42B 15/36: Means for interconnecting rocket-motor and body section; Multi-stage connectors; Disconnecting means - F42C 15/42: from a remote location, e.g. for controlled mines or mine fields - F42D 1/045: Arrangements for electric ignition (dynamo-electric generators H02K) - F42D 1/05: Electric circuits for blasting - E21B 43/1185: Ignition systems - F05D 2270/00: Control - F42C: AMMUNITION FUZES (blasting cartridge initiators F42B3/10; chemical aspects C06C); ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR (filling fuzes F42B33/02; fitting or extracting primers in or from fuzes F42B33/04; containers for fuzes F42B39/30) - B64G: COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - F02K: JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (features of jet-propulsion plants common to gas-turbine plants, air intakes or fuel supply control of air-breathing jet-propulsion plants F02C7/00, F02C9/00) - F23Q: IGNITION (devices or installations peculiar to internal-combustion engines F02P; of cigarettes or tobacco A24F; compositions therefor, chemical igniters C06C); EXTINGUISHING-DEVICES - F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D) - F42D: BLASTING (fuses, e.g. fuse cords, C06C5/00; {for obtaining fluid from wells E21B43/00; for mining or quarrying E21C37/00; for making tunnels or galleries E21D9/006}; cartridges F42B3/00) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A networked electronic ordnance system is provided. The system includes a first plurality of pyrotechnic devices connected to a first network bus. The system further includes a first bus controller connected to the first network bus. The system further includes a second plurality of pyrotechnic devices connected to a second network bus. The system further includes a second bus controller connected to the second network bus. The system further includes a bus interface circuit connected to the first bus controller by a first electrical connection and connected to the second bus controller by a second electrical connection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A networked electronic ordnance system comprising: a bus interface circuit connected to a first bus controller by a first electrical connection and connected to a second bus controller by a second electrical connection, the bus interface circuit being configured to transmit commands to the first bus controller over the first electrical connection and transmit commands to the second bus controller over the second electrical connection, wherein the first bus controller is connected to a first network bus and configured to transmit commands to a first plurality of pyrotechnic devices over the first network bus in order to control activation of the first plurality of pyrotechnic devices, and wherein the second bus controller is connected to a second network bus and configured to transmit commands to a second plurality of pyrotechnic devices over the second network bus in order to control activation of the second plurality of pyrotechnic devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a storage circuit connected to the bus interface circuit, wherein the storage circuit is configured to store information identifying a pyrotechnic device of the first plurality of pyrotechnic devices or of the second plurality of pyrotechnic devices that is a next pyrotechnic device to be activated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein when the next pyrotechnic device to be activated is a pyrotechnic device of the first plurality of pyrotechnic devices, the bus interface circuit is configured to send a command to the first bus controller over the first electrical connection, and wherein when the next pyrotechnic device to be activated is a pyrotechnic device of the second plurality of pyrotechnic devices, the bus interface circuit is configured to send a command to the second bus controller over the second electrical connection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the bus interface circuit is further configured to receive an input command from a command source, and wherein the bus interface circuit is further configured to determine whether the input command pertains to a pyrotechnic device of the first plurality of pyrotechnic devices or a pyrotechnic device of the second plurality of pyrotechnic devices. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the bus interface circuit is further configured to transmit a command based on the input command to the first bus controller when the input command pertains to a pyrotechnic device of the first plurality of pyrotechnic devices, and wherein the bus interface circuit is further configured to transmit a command based on the input command to the second bus controller when the input command pertains to a pyrotechnic device of the second plurality of pyrotechnic devices. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the bus interface circuit is further configured to receive an input command from a command source, and wherein the bus interface circuit is further configured to determine an address value for a pyrotechnic device of the first plurality of pyrotechnic devices or of the second plurality of pyrotechnic devices to which the input command pertains. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the bus interface circuit is further configured to transmit a command based on the input command and including the address value to the first bus controller when the input command pertains to a pyrotechnic device of the first plurality of pyrotechnic devices, and wherein the bus interface circuit is further configured to transmit a command based on the input command and including the address value to the second bus controller when the input command pertains to a pyrotechnic device of the second plurality of pyrotechnic devices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first bus controller transmits a command to a pyrotechnic device of the first plurality of pyrotechnic devices over the first network bus based on receiving a command from the bus interface circuit over the first electrical connection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first network bus and the second network bus share a logical address space. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a first pyrotechnic device of the first plurality of pyrotechnic devices and a second pyrotechnic device of the second plurality of pyrotechnic device have a same logical address value, and wherein the first pyrotechnic device is different from the second pyrotechnic device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least one pyrotechnic device of the first plurality of pyrotechnic devices is configured to release a separation nut connected to a satellite. ### Claim 12 A networked electronic ordnance system comprising: a bus interface circuit; a plurality of bus controllers; and a plurality of network buses, wherein the bus interface circuit is connected to each bus controller by an electrical connection for transmitting commands to the bus controllers, each bus controller is connected to a network bus, and each network bus is connected to at least one pyrotechnic device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further comprising a storage circuit connected to the bus interface circuit, wherein the storage circuit is configured to store information identifying a pyrotechnic device connected to at least one of the plurality of network buses that is a next pyrotechnic device to be activated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the bus interface circuit is further configured to receive an input command from a command source, and wherein the bus interface circuit is further configured to identity a pyrotechnic device that the input command pertains to. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the bus interface circuit is further configured to transmit a command based on the input command to a bus controller connected to the identified pyrotechnic device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein at least one pyrotechnic device connected to the plurality of network busses is configured to release a separation nut connected to a satellite. ### Claim 17 A satellite deployment vehicle, comprising: one or more pyrotechnic devices configured to break a coupling of the satellite deployment vehicle with a satellite; and a networked electronic ordnance system comprising: a bus interface circuit connected to a first bus controller by a first electrical connection and connected to a second bus controller by a second electrical connection, the bus interface circuit being configured to transmit commands to the first bus controller over the first electrical connection and transmit commands to the second bus controller over the second electrical connection, wherein the first bus controller is connected to a first network bus and configured to transmit commands to a first plurality of pyrotechnic devices over the first network bus in order to control activation of the first plurality of pyrotechnic devices, wherein the first plurality of pyrotechnic devices includes at least one of the pyrotechnic devices configured to break the coupling of the satellite deployment vehicle with the satellite, and wherein the second bus controller is connected to a second network bus and configured to transmit commands to a second plurality of pyrotechnic devices over the second network bus in order to control activation of the second plurality of pyrotechnic devices. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The satellite deployment vehicle of claim 17, further comprising a storage circuit connected to the bus interface circuit, wherein the storage circuit is configured to store information identifying a pyrotechnic device of the first plurality of pyrotechnic devices or of the second plurality of pyrotechnic devices that is a next pyrotechnic device to be activated. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The satellite deployment vehicle of claim 17, wherein the bus interface circuit is further configured to receive an input command from a command source, and wherein the bus interface circuit is further configured to determine whether the input command pertains to a pyrotechnic device of the first plurality of pyrotechnic devices or a pyrotechnic device of the second plurality of pyrotechnic devices. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The satellite deployment vehicle of claim 17, wherein the bus interface circuit is further configured to receive an input command from a command source, and wherein the bus interface circuit is further configured to determine an address value for a pyrotechnic device of the first plurality of pyrotechnic devices or of the second plurality of pyrotechnic devices to which the input command pertains.