Methods to improve burst uniformity and efficiency in exploding foil initiators

A method of making an exploding foil initiator, comprising the steps of:

• providing a bridge having a first side, a second side, a bridge width, a bridge shape, and bridge dimensions;
• providing a first extension of said bridge adjacent said first side that has a first extension width wherein said bridge width and said first extension width are the same;
• providing a second extension of said bridge adjacent said second side that has a second extension width wherein said bridge width and said second extension width are the same;
• providing a first upper electrical conductor portion connected to said first extension of said bridge that has a first electrical conductor width wherein said first electrical conductor width is greater than said bridge width;
• providing a second upper electrical conductor portion connected to said second extension of said bridge that has a second electrical conductor width wherein said second electrical conductor width is greater than said bridge width;
• providing an insulator under said bridge, under said first extension of said bridge on said first side, under said second extension of said bridge on said second side;
• under said first upper electrical conductor portion connected to said first extension of said bridge, and under said second upper electrical conductor portion;
• providing a lower conductor under said insulator;
• providing a jumper connecting said first upper electrical conductor portion, said second upper electrical conductor portion, said insulator, and said lower conductor;
• positioning a flyer on said bridge;
• providing a current path in said bridge;
• and
• connecting a fireset to said first extension of said bridge and said second extension of said bridge that produces an applied current pulse;
• wherein said fireset produces said applied current pulse that produces a current density having a peak of applied current in said current path in said bridge;
• and
• wherein said bridge shape, said bridge dimensions, and said current path are such that said peak of applied current occurs in said bridge.

An exploding foil initiator apparatus, comprising:

• a bridge, said bridge having a first side, a second side, a bridge width, a bridge thickness, a bridge shape, and bridge dimensions;
• a first extension of said bridge adjacent said first side that has a first extension width, wherein said bridge width and said first extension width are the same and has a first extension thickness wherein said first extension thickness is greater than said bridge thickness;
• a second extension of said bridge adjacent said first side that has a second extension width, wherein said bridge width and said second extension width are the same and has a second extension thickness wherein said second extension thickness is greater than said bridge thickness;
• a first upper electrical conductor portion connected to said first extension of said bridge that has a first electrical conductor width wherein said first electrical conductor width is greater than said bridge width;
• a second upper electrical conductor portion connected to said second extension of said bridge that has a second electrical conductor width wherein said second electrical conductor width is greater than said bridge width;
• an insulator under said bridge, under said first extension of said bridge on said first side, under said second extension of said bridge on said second side;
• under said first upper electrical conductor portion connected to said first extension of said bridge, and under said second upper electrical conductor portion;
• a lower conductor under said insulator;
• a jumper that connects said first upper electrical conductor portion, said second upper electrical conductor portion, said insulator, and said lower conductor;
• an upper electrical lead connected to said first upper electrical conductor portion;
• a lower electrical lead connected to said lower ground electrical conductor;
• a current path in said bridge;
• a flyer on said bridge;
• and
• a fireset connected to said upper electrical lead and to said lower electrical lead that produces a current density having a peak of applied current in said current path in said bridge,
• wherein said bridge shape, said bridge dimensions, and said current path are such that said peak of applied current occurs in said bridge.

A method of making an initiator, comprising the steps of:

• providing an upper electrical conductor that includes a first upper electrical conductor portion, a bridge having a first side, a second side, a bridge width, a bridge shape, and bridge dimensions, a first extension of said bridge that has a first extension width wherein said bridge width and said first extension width are the same, a second extension of said bridge that has a second extension width wherein said bridge width and said second extension width are the same, and a second upper electrical conductor portion;
• providing a lower ground electrical conductor;
• providing an insulator between said upper electrical conductor and said lower ground electrical conductor;
• providing a jumper that connects said second upper electrical conductor portion to said lower ground electrical conductor;
• providing an upper electrical lead connected to said first upper electrical conductor portion;
• providing a lower electrical lead connected to said lower ground electrical conductor;
• providing a flyer on said bridge;
• and
• providing a fireset connected to said upper electrical lead and to said lower electrical lead wherein said bridge shape and said bridge dimensions produce a uniform current density in said bridge.