Electronic safe/arm device

An electronic safe/arm device comprising:

• an internal, low-voltage, periodic power means for providing periodic pulses of low-voltage electricity;
• a transformer comprising a primary winding operably connected to the periodic power means and comprising at least one secondary winding for producing output voltage from the periodic pulses in the primary winding, including high-voltage AC power;
• a high-voltage arming means operably connected to the at least one secondary winding of the transformer, for storing high-voltage electrical energy from the transformer for use in firing a high-voltage detonator;
• a high-voltage detonator operably connected to the arming means;
• and
• a firing means powered from the output of the transformer, for firing the detonator after the arming means is charged by the transformer, by discharging to the detonator the energy stored in the arming means;
• wherein the periodic power means comprises an enabling means for operably connecting the periodic power means to the primary winding of the transformer in response to output from the transformer and for subsequently operably disconnecting the periodic power means from the primary winding to prevent the periodic power means from discharging through the transformer upon at least one of (a) the receipt of a disarm signal and (b) the absence of output from the transformer.

An electronic safe/arm device comprising:

• an internal, low voltage, battery means;
• a transformer operably connected to the battery means, the transformer comprising a primary winding and at least one secondary winding for producing output voltage including high-voltage AC power from low-voltage pulses in the primary winding;
• a dynamic switch means for periodically discharging the battery means through the primary winding in response to an arm signal, and for stopping the periodic discharge in the absence of an arm signal;
• an internal signal-generating means powered from the output of the transformer and operably connected to the dynamic switch means, for producing at least an arm signal;
• a high-voltage arming means operably connected to the at least one secondary winding of the transformer, for storing high-voltage energy from the transformer;
• a high-voltage detonator operably connected to the arming means;
• a firing means powered from the internal arm signal means for discharging the arming means through the detonator after a predetermined delay following an at least one of arm signal and a trigger signal;
• and
• power-enable means for operably connecting the battery means to the transformer in response to an enable signal, and for stopping the periodic discharge of the battery means to the primary winding of the transformer upon at least one of (a) the absence of enable signal, and (b) the receipt of a disarm signal.