Fireset for a low energy exploding foil initiator: SCR driven MOSFET switch

A fireset for a low energy exploding foil initiator (LEEFI), the fireset comprising:

• a first capacitor for storing a level of electrical energy sufficient to fire the LEEFI, said first capacitor being in electrical communication with the LEEFI;
• second and third capacitors in electrical communication with said first capacitor for storing lesser levels of energy than is stored by said first capacitor;
• a diode in electrical communication with said capacitors for limiting charging of said second and third capacitors;
• first and second resistors providing isolation among said capacitors;
• a trigger for directing a pulse of electrical energy;
• a high speed switching transistor adapted to receive said pulse of energy from said trigger, to dump said third capacitor;
• a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) having a gate portion through which said third capacitor dumps, to short a first side of said second capacitor to ground, to decrease the level of energy stored by said second capacitor;
• and
• a metal oxide semi-conductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) in electrical communication with said second capacitor and adapted to be turned on by energy from said second capacitor;
• wherein said second capacitor discharges into a gate portion of said MOSFET to turn on said MOSFET and dump said first capacitor, thereby to fire the LEEFI.