Abstract: A method for installing a set of electronic detonators in blast holes of a mining face includes the following steps: connecting detonators, charged into the blast holes, to a movable test device; receiving, by the movable test device, a message sent by each detonator; determining, from that message, a set of values, representing the total number of detonators connected to the movable test device; sending, to one or more detonators of the set, a data set to store including the set of values representing the total number of detonators connected to the movable test device; and storing the data set in the memory of one or more detonators of the set of electronic detonators. Use for later verification of the connection of the detonators before firing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for firing an electronic detonator including a power storage unit including receiving, via the electronic detonator, a firing order. The following steps are implemented as long as the delay time associated with the electronic detonator has not elapsed since the reception of the firing order: measuring power stored in the power storage unit, and firing the electronic detonator when the measured stored power is less than or equal to a predetermined power.

Abstract: A fire control unit includes a control module and first terminals that are designed to receive a firing line to which a set of electronic detonators is linked additionally includes second terminals that are designed to receive a synchronization line to which a second fire control unit is linked, and a switch that may be configured according to multiple configurations such that the controller may be connected to or disconnected from the first terminals or the second terminals, respectively, and that the first terminals and the second terminals may be connected to or disconnected from one another.

Abstract: A system for controlling at least one electronic detonator generates, as output, an output power supply signal intended to power the at least one electronic detonator and generating commands to fire the at least one electronic detonator, the control system including a control module configured to generate firing commands and to generate a first power supply signal. The control system further includes a power supply module generating a second power supply signal intended to power the at least one electronic detonator, the output power supply signal corresponding to the second power supply signal once a command to fire the at least one electronic detonator has been generated, and corresponding to the first power supply signal as long as no firing command has been generated.

Abstract: An electronic detonator (1) designed to be connected by two conducting wires (a, b) to an associated control system (20), the conducting wires (a, b) including a charged plastic material and exhibiting a first resistance. The electronic detonator (1) includes supervision elements (11) and resistive elements (12) disposed between the two conducting wires (a, b), the resistive element (12) exhibiting a second resistance, the second value of resistance being determined by the supervision elements (11) in such a way that the sum of the values of the first resistance and of the second resistance is a predetermined value.

Abstract: A system for triggering includes a plurality of electronic detonator assemblies (11), where each electronic detonator assembly (11) is connected to a leading wire (12) linked to a local fire control unit (12). At least one of the local fire control units (13S) includes an electronic synchronization module (14) connected to a leading wire linked to a master local fire control unit (13M), which is one of the local fire control units (13). The system is suitable for use in triggering a plurality of electronic detonator assemblies (11) according to a single blasting pattern.

Abstract: A system for triggering includes a plurality of electronic detonator assemblies (11), where each electronic detonator assembly (11) is connected to a leading wire (12) linked to a local fire control unit (12). At least one of the local fire control units (13S) includes an electronic synchronization module (14) connected to a leading wire linked to a master local fire control unit (13M), which is one of the local fire control units (13). The system is suitable for use in triggering a plurality of electronic detonator assemblies (11) according to a single blasting pattern.

Abstract: A system for programming and lighting electronic detonators (1) each having an identifier (IDdet) associated therewith, includes: a programming unit (20) arranged to determine the identifiers of the detonators (1) and to associate the detonators individually, in memory, with a lighting time delay (Tdet) in order to form a blasting pattern (PT); a blasting unit (10) arranged to recover the blasting pattern (PT) from the memory (280) of the programming unit (20), and to control a blasting sequence of the detonators according to the recovered blasting pattern; and the programming unit (20) includes: a passive RFID tag (28) provided with a chip (280) acting as a memory for storing the blasting pattern (PT), and a radiofrequency reader (27) arranged such as to read/write passive tags. A corresponding method is also described.

Abstract: An electropyrotechnic initiator includes a pyrotechnic charge (6), the charge (6) containing at least one compound. It also includes a box (1) of plastic material including two sub-assemblies. The first sub-assembly (2) includes a plastic wall (4) integral with a bottom (5) also made of plastic and forming a content. The second plastic sub-assembly (3) having a main axis (10) is traversed by at least two pins (11, 12) along the direction of the axis (10). These pins (11, 12) are connected together by an electric bridge (13) on a face (14) of the sub-assembly (3). This face (14) is hollowed symmetrically over a height H and a width L. The second sub-assembly (3) forms a socket. The first (2) and second (3) sub-assemblies are assembled hermetically by ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: A control method for detonators (1) fitted with an electronic ignition module (15). Each module (15) is associated with specific parameters including at least one identification parameter and one explosion delay time, and includes a firing capacitor and a rudimentary internal clock. The modules (15) are capable of establishing a dialogue with a firing control unit (17) fitted with a reference time basis. The identification parameters are stored in the modules using a programming unit (18); the specific parameters are stored in the firing control unit (17); for each successive module, its internal clock is calibrated using the firing control unit and the associated delay time is sent to the module; the modules are ordered to load the firing capacitors; and a firing order is sent to the modules using the firing control unit, triggering off eventual resetting of the internal clocks as well as a firing sequence.

Abstract: A safety device for a vehicle includes detection systems, safety mechanisms and safety systems, at least certain of the safety systems including pyrotechnic initiators. When certain of the detection systems detect a danger for a passenger, they trigger safety systems which activate the mechanisms. The safety device also may include a processing unit connected to the detection and safety systems by a communication interface; the processing unit analyses information signals coming from the detection systems and generates command signals directed to the safety systems.

Abstract: An electro-pyrotechnic initiator includes two electrical pins (7) for supplying current, a pyrotechnic composition (4) stored in a receptacle (2, 3) and a bridge (23) establishing an electrical connection between the two pins (7). The bridge (23) is set down on a wafer (11), the bridge (23) and the wafer (11) forming part of an electronic micro-component (20) to which the pins (7) are connected. The composition (4) is compacted in the receptacle (2, 3), the composition (4) and the micro-component (20) being brought together under pressure in the receptacle (2, 3). A housing for a helium saturated material is provided at a bottom of the receptacle.

Abstract: Method according to which, the programming unit (18) transmits, after completion of the programming of the ignition modules, the delay times also programmed to the firing control unit (17). The firing control unit (17) can interrogate simultaneously the ignition modules (15) which send back the information requested to it. The encoded firing control assembly and the encoded ignition modules enable to implement the process.