US 2009/0260532 A1 · Method for Assigning a Delay Time to Electronic Delay Detonators

Abstract

In the method for assigning a delay time to an electronic delay detonator. The detonator includes a data register (24) into which a desired delay time value, supplied by a controller, is written. Subsequently, over a predetermined time period (t) the contents of the data register (24) is repetitively added to a counter register (26) in which the contents is accumulated. After a division of the counter register contents through the calibration time, the contents of the counter register (26) is subsequently counted down using the same oscillator (18) which has controlled the accumulation process. The invention allows the delay time value supplied by the controller to be exactly adhered with, using an oscillator (18) of low accuracy and without feedback from the detonator (12) to the controller.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method for assigning a delay time to an electronic delay detonator (12) comprising a pulse clock-supplying oscillator (18) with the aid of a controller (10), the method comprising:

a) writing (WRITE) a desired delay time (n) into a data register (24),
b) repetitively adding the desired delay time (n) to the contents of a counter register (26) in accordance with the pulse clock of the oscillator over a predetermined time period (t), wherein a final value is generated in the counter register (26),
c) dividing the final value by a quotient (2x), which depends on the length of the time period (t), for obtaining an initial value (N) for counting down the counter register (26) to determine the delay time (d).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for Assigning a Delay Time to Electronic Delay Detonators

Life of this patent

Method for Assigning a Delay Time to Electronic Delay Detonators

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9