Semiconductor bridge (SCB) detonator
AssigneeSandia Corporation
InventorsRobert W. Bickes, Jr., Mark C. Grubelich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is a low-energy detonator for high-density secondary-explosive materials initiated by a semiconductor bridge igniter that comprises a pair of electrically conductive lands connected by a semiconductor bridge. The semiconductor bridge is in operational or direct contact with the explosive material, whereby current flowing through the semiconductor bridge causes initiation of the explosive material. Header wires connected to the electrically-conductive lands and electrical feed-throughs of the header posts of explosive devices, are substantially coaxial to the direction of current flow through the SCB, i.e., substantially coaxial to the SCB length.
Claims19
A detonator for an explosive material, comprising:
- a semiconductor bridge igniter, said semiconductor bridge igniter including a pair of electrically conductive lands connected by a semiconductor bridge, the semiconductor bridge being in contact with the explosive material, whereby current flow throughout the semiconductor bridge causes initiation of the explosive material;
- and
- current conductor means for producing current flow through the semiconductor bridge, wherein the current conductor means comprises two wires each connected to one of the electrically conductive lands such that the flow path of current, from the point of connection of one wire to a first electrically conductive land through the semiconductor bridge to a second land to the point of connection of a second wire to the second electrically conductive land, is substantially coaxial, along its entire flow path, with the semiconductor bridge.
A detonator for a secondary explosive material, comprising:
- a. a semiconductor bridge igniter, wherein the semiconductor bridge igniter includes a pair of electrically conductive lands connected by a semiconductor bridge;
- and
- b. two conductors, wherein one end of each conductor is connected on a separate electrically conductive land and the connections to each land, the lands and the semiconductor bridge are substantially coaxially aligned.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.