# US 11,307,011 B2 · Electronic initiation simulator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,307,011 B2 - Document ID: US11307011B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/007,794 - Filed: 2020-08-31 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-05 - Assignees: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH - Applicants: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH - Inventors: Christian Eitschberger; Sascha Thieltges; Frank Graziola - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307011B2 ## CPC - F42D 1/05: Electric circuits for blasting - F42B 3/10: Initiators therefor (percussion fuzes F42C7/00; percussion caps F42C19/10; electric primers F42C19/12) - F42B 3/122: {Programmable electronic delay initiators} - F42B 35/00: Testing or checking of ammunition {(apparatus for measuring the energy of projectiles G01L5/14)} - F42C 15/40: wherein the safety or arming action is effected electrically - F42C 15/42: from a remote location, e.g. for controlled mines or mine fields - F42D 1/055: specially adapted for firing multiple charges with a time delay - H02H 3/202: {for DC systems} - H02H 9/005: {avoiding undesired transient conditions} - F42B 3/02: adapted to be united into assemblies - 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) - F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D) - 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) - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) ## Abstract An electronic initiation system for use with a firing panel may include an input connector, a plurality of electronic ignition circuits (EICs) operably coupled together in series, and an indicator operably coupled to an output of each EIC of the plurality of EICs. A first EIC of the plurality of EICs may be operably coupled to the input connector. The indicator is configured to generate an indication in response to an output of an EIC of the plurality of EICs satisfying a predetermined condition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic initiation system for use with a firing panel, the electronic initiation system comprising: an input connector; a plurality of electronic ignition circuits (EICs) operably coupled together in series, a first EIC of the plurality of EICs being operably coupled to the input connector; an indicator operably coupled to an output of each EIC of the plurality of EICs, an output connector operably coupled to a sequentially last EIC of the plurality of EICs, wherein the indicator is configured to generate an indication in response to an output of an EIC of the plurality of EICs satisfying a predetermined condition; and the output connector is configured to operably couple to an input connector of a second electronic initiation system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic initiation system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of EICs are configured to be selectively activated by the firing panel, and each EIC of the plurality of EICs is configured to output an output voltage in response to an activation signal from the firing panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic initiation system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is whether the output of the EIC of the plurality of EICs is greater than a predetermined threshold voltage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic initiation system of claim 1, wherein the electronic initiation system simulates control circuitry of perforation guns in a wellbore tool string. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electronic initiation system of claim 4, wherein the indicator comprises: a minimum voltage circuit operably coupled to the output of each EIC of the plurality of EICs and configured to determine whether an output of an EIC is greater than a predetermined threshold voltage; and a light-emitting diode (LED) operably coupled to the minimum voltage circuit; wherein the minimum voltage circuit is configured to illuminate the LED in response to the minimum voltage circuit determining than an output of an EIC is greater than the predetermined threshold voltage. ### Claim 6 A method for controlling an electronic initiation system, the method comprising: providing a first electronic initiation system comprising: a first input connector; and a first plurality of electronic ignition circuits (EICs) serially arranged and operably coupled to the first input connector; operably coupling a firing panel to the first input connector of the first electronic initiation system; controlling the firing panel to transmit a signal to the first electronic initiation system; and receiving a signal from the first electronic initiation system in response to an output of an EIC of the first plurality of EICs satisfying a predetermined condition, wherein the controlling the firing panel to transmit a signal to the first electronic initiation system comprises: controlling the firing panel to transmit an activation signal to activate a selected EIC of the first plurality of EICs; and controlling the firing panel to transmit a firing signal to the activated EIC; and the receiving a signal from the first electronic initiation system in response to an output of an EIC of the first plurality of EICs satisfying a predetermined condition comprises: determining whether an output of the activated EIC satisfies a predetermined threshold; and providing an indication in response to the output of the activated EIC satisfying the predetermined threshold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the firing panel is operably coupled to the first input connector via a wireline. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the firing panel is operably coupled to the first input connector via a case collar locator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the activated EIC is a sequentially last EIC of the first plurality of EICs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the indication is a visual indication or an audio indication. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the providing an indication in response to the output of the activated EIC satisfying the predetermined threshold comprises illuminating a light-emitting diode (LED). ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein: the first electronic initiation system further comprises a first output connector operably coupled to a sequentially last EIC of the plurality of EICs; the method further comprises providing a second electronic initiation system comprising: a second input connector; a second circuit board comprising a second plurality of EICs serially arranged and operably coupled to the second input connector; and the first output connector is operably coupled to the second input connector. ### Claim 13 A system for simulating electronic initiation, the system comprising: a firing panel; a simulator operably coupled to the firing panel, the simulator comprising: a first input connector; a first plurality of electronic ignition circuits (EICs) operably coupled together in series; a first EIC of the first plurality of EICs operably coupled to the first input connector; and a first indicator operably coupled to an output of each EIC of the plurality of EICs, wherein the first indicator is configured to generate a first indication in response to an output of an EIC of the first plurality of EICs satisfying a predetermined condition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein: the firing panel is configured to: activate a selected EIC of the first plurality of EICs; and transmit a firing signal to the selected EIC; and each EIC of the first plurality of EICs is configured to output an output voltage in response to receiving the firing signal from the firing panel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the predetermined condition is whether an output voltage of the EIC of the plurality of EICs is greater than a predetermined threshold voltage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the indication is a visual indication or an audio indication. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the indicator comprises: a minimum voltage circuit operably coupled to the output of each EIC of the plurality of EICs and configured to determine whether an output of an EIC of the plurality of EICs is greater than a predetermined threshold voltage; and a light-emitting diode (LED) operably coupled to the minimum voltage circuit, wherein the minimum voltage circuit is configured to illuminate the LED in response to the minimum voltage circuit determining than an output of an EIC is greater than the predetermined threshold voltage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein: the simulator is a first simulator, and the first simulator comprises a first output connector operably coupled to a sequentially last EIC of the plurality of EICs; and the system further comprises a second simulator comprising: a second input connector; a second plurality of EICs operably coupled together in series; a first EIC of the second plurality of EICs is operably coupled to the second input connector; and a second indicator operably coupled to an output of each EIC of the second plurality of EICs; wherein the second indicator is configured to generate a second indication in response to an output of an EIC of the second plurality of EICs satisfying the predetermined condition; and the second input connector is operably coupled to the first output connector.