Method and apparatus for logging electronic detonators

A logger for programming electronic detonators, comprising:

• an electrical interface allowing electrical connection of an electronic detonator to the logger to send and receive electrical signals to and from an electronic detonator, but incapable of providing sufficient energy to fire the electronic detonator;
• a user interface;
• an electronic memory operative to store a plurality of detonator ID numbers and corresponding delay values;
• and
• at least one processor operatively coupled with the electrical interface, the user interface, and the electronic memory, the at least one processor being programmed to operate the logger in an automatic programming mode in which the logger:
• (i) transmits one or more read request messages via the electrical interface without transmitting any programming messaging to the connected electronic detonator and without requiring user interaction with the user interface,
• (ii) awaits responsive messaging from a single connected electronic detonator without transmitting any programming messaging to the connected electronic detonator and without requiring user interaction with the user interface, and
• (iii) upon receiving responsive messaging from only a single connected electronic detonator, automatically transmits a delay value programming message to the connected electronic detonator according to a delay value stored in the electronic memory without requiring user interaction with the user interface, and thereafter
• (iv) repeats (i), (ii) and (iii) for a subsequently singly connected electronic detonator without requiring user interaction with the user interface.

A method for logging electronic detonator data, the method comprising:

• (i) a user connecting only a single electronic detonator to a logger that is incapable of providing sufficient energy to fire the single connected electronic detonator;
• (ii) the logger automatically transmitting one or more read request messages from the logger to the single connected electronic detonator without transmitting any programming messaging to the single connected electronic detonator and without requiring user interaction with a user interface of the logger;
• (iii) the logger awaiting responsive messaging from the single connected electronic detonator without transmitting any programming messaging to the single connected electronic detonator and without requiring user interaction with the user interface;
• and
• (iv) the logger, upon receiving responsive messaging from only the single connected electronic detonator:
• automatically obtaining electronic detonator data including at least one of a serial ID number, a programmed detonator ID, and/or a delay value from the responsive messaging without transmitting any programming messaging to the single connected electronic detonator and without requiring user interaction with the user interface, and
• automatically storing the electronic detonator data in an electronic memory of the logger without transmitting any programming messaging to the single connected electronic detonator and without requiring user interaction with the user interface;
• (v) the user, disconnecting the single electronic detonator from the logger;
• and
• (vi) repeating (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) for a subsequently singly connected electronic detonator without transmitting any programming messaging to the connected electronic detonator and without requiring user interaction with the user interface.

A system for logging electronic detonator data, comprising:

• a plurality of electronic detonators;
• and
• a logger, the logger comprising:
• an electrical interface allowing electrical connection of one of the electronic detonators to the logger to send and receive electrical signals to and from the electronic detonator, but incapable of providing sufficient energy to fire the electronic detonator;
• a user interface;
• an electronic memory operative to store a plurality of unique detonator serial ID numbers and corresponding delay values;
• and
• at least one processor operatively coupled with the electrical interface, the user interface, and the electronic memory, the at least one processor being programmed to operate the logger in an automatic logging mode in which the logger:
• (i) transmits one or more read request messages via the electrical interface without transmitting any programming messaging to the connected electronic detonator and without requiring user interaction with the user interface,
• (ii) awaits responsive messaging from a single connected electronic detonator without transmitting any programming messaging to the single connected electronic detonator and without requiring user interaction with the user interface, and
• (iii) upon receiving responsive messaging from only the single connected electronic detonator:
• obtains electronic detonator data including at least one of a serial ID number, a programmed detonator ID, and/or a delay value from the responsive messaging without transmitting any programming messaging to the single connected electronic detonator and without requiring user interaction with the user interface, and
• stores the electronic detonator data in the electronic memory without transmitting any programming messaging to the single connected electronic detonator and without requiring user interaction with the user interface, and thereafter
• (iv) repeats (i), (ii) and (iii) for a subsequently singly connected electronic detonator without transmitting any programming messaging to the connected electronic detonator and without requiring user interaction with the user interface.