Patents by Inventor Larry S. Howe
Larry S. Howe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240060760Abstract: Ethernet systems, methods and blasting machines are presented for remote turn on of the blasting machine and reliable fire and arm commands issuance. Systems, methods, blasting machines and wireless bridge units are presented for wireless blasting for safe firing of detonators under control of a remote wireless master controller in which the blasting machine is connected by cabling to the wireless bridge unit and power to a firing circuit of the blasting machine is remotely controlled via the bridge unit. The bridge unit or Ethernet primary controller selectively provides first and second firing messages to the blasting machine contingent upon acknowledgment of safe receipt of the first firing message by the blasting machine, and the blasting machine fires the connected detonators only if the first and second firing messages are correctly received from the bridge unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Applicant: Austin Star Detonator CompanyInventors: Chris Munroe, Larry S. Howe, Bryan E. Papillon, Gimtong Teowee, Walter J. Harders
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Patent number: 11852456Abstract: Ethernet systems, methods and blasting machines are presented for remote turn on of the blasting machine and reliable fire and arm commands issuance. Systems, methods, blasting machines and wireless bridge units are presented for wireless blasting for safe firing of detonators under control of a remote wireless master controller in which the blasting machine is connected by cabling to the wireless bridge unit and power to a firing circuit of the blasting machine is remotely controlled via the bridge unit. The bridge unit or Ethernet primary controller selectively provides first and second firing messages to the blasting machine contingent upon acknowledgment of safe receipt of the first firing message by the blasting machine, and the blasting machine fires the connected detonators only if the first and second firing messages are correctly received from the bridge unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2019Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: AUSTIN STAR DETONATOR COMPANYInventors: Chris Munroe, Larry S. Howe, Bryan E. Papillon, Gimtong Teowee, Walter J. Harders
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Publication number: 20230296364Abstract: A detonator blasting system includes a blasting machine or logger, at least one electronic detonator arranged in an array with electrical connection between them. An improved communications method results in faster communications throughout the blast process.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2021Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: AUSTIN STAR DETONATOR COMPANYInventors: Gimtong Teowee, Larry S. Howe
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Publication number: 20230072419Abstract: A detonator includes a substrate, a controller mounted to the substrate, and a sensor coupled to the controller to measure a temperature, pressure, acceleration or other environmental parameter of the detonator. The controller is configured to transmit the measured environmental parameter from the detonator to a remote master controller, execute an action in response to a value of the measured environmental parameter, and/or prevent or modify at least one detonator function in response to the value of the measured environmental parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2021Publication date: March 9, 2023Applicant: Austin Star Detonator CompanyInventors: Gimtong Teowee, John David Rathbun, Larry S. Howe, Walter Jacob Harders
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Patent number: 11353307Abstract: Logging apparatus, methods and electronic detonators are presented for logging data, wherein the logger transmits read request messages to preprogrammed electronic detonators without transmitting any delay programming messaging, receives and stores electronic detonator data from a given one of the preprogrammed electronic detonators, and sends a verify command to cause the detonator to update its status flag to prevent the given electronic detonator from responding to subsequent read request messages.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2021Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: AUSTIN STAR DETONATOR COMPANYInventors: Larry S. Howe, Bryan E. Papillon, Pavel Krivanek, Gimtong Teowee
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Publication number: 20210293518Abstract: Logging apparatus, methods and electronic detonators are presented for logging data, wherein the logger transmits read request messages to preprogrammed electronic detonators without transmitting any delay programming messaging, receives and stores electronic detonator data from a given one of the preprogrammed electronic detonators, and sends a verify command to cause the detonator to update its status flag to prevent the given electronic detonator from responding to subsequent read request messages.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Applicant: Austin Star Detonator CompanyInventors: Larry S. Howe, Bryan E. Papillon, Pavel Krivanek, Gimtong Teowee
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Patent number: 11029135Abstract: Logging apparatus, methods and electronic detonators are presented for logging data, wherein the logger transmits read request messages to preprogrammed electronic detonators without transmitting any delay programming messaging, receives and stores electronic detonator data from a given one of the preprogrammed electronic detonators, and sends a verify command to cause the detonator to update its status flag to prevent the given electronic detonator from responding to subsequent read request messages.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2018Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Austin Star Detonator CompanyInventors: Larry S. Howe, Bryan E. Papillon, Pavel Krivanek, Gimtong Teowee
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Patent number: 11009331Abstract: Systems, methods, blasting machines and wireless bridge units are presented for wireless blasting for safe firing of detonators under control of a remote wireless master controller in which the blasting machine is connected by cabling to the wireless bridge unit and power to a firing circuit of the blasting machine is remotely controlled via the bridge unit. The bridge unit selectively provides first and second firing messages to the blasting machine contingent upon acknowledgment of safe receipt of the first firing message by the blasting machine, and the blasting machine fires the connected detonators only if the first and second firing messages are correctly received from the bridge unit. A wireless slave blasting machine is disclosed, including a wireless transceiver for communicating with a remote wireless master controller, which fires the connected detonators only if first and second firing messages are wirelessly received from the master controller.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Austin Star Detonator CompanyInventors: Bryan E. Papillon, Larry S. Howe, Thomas Allen Hoopes, Gimtong Teowee
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Publication number: 20210003377Abstract: Ethernet systems, methods and blasting machines are presented for remote turn on of the blasting machine and reliable fire and arm commands issuance. Systems, methods, blasting machines and wireless bridge units are presented for wireless blasting for safe firing of detonators under control of a remote wireless master controller in which the blasting machine is connected by cabling to the wireless bridge unit and power to a firing circuit of the blasting machine is remotely controlled via the bridge unit. The bridge unit or Ethernet primary controller selectively provides first and second firing messages to the blasting machine contingent upon acknowledgment of safe receipt of the first firing message by the blasting machine, and the blasting machine fires the connected detonators only if the first and second firing messages are correctly received from the bridge unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2019Publication date: January 7, 2021Applicant: Austin Star Detonator CompanyInventors: Chris Monroe, Larry S. Howe, Bryan E. Papillon, Gimtong Teowee, Walter J. Harders
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Publication number: 20200173763Abstract: Logging apparatus, methods and electronic detonators are presented for logging data, wherein the logger transmits read request messages to preprogrammed electronic detonators whithout transmitting any delay programming messaging, receives and stores electronic detonator data from a given one of the preprogrammed electronic detonators, and sends a verify command to cause the detonator to update its status flag to prevent the given electronic detonator from responding to subsequent read request messages.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2018Publication date: June 4, 2020Applicant: Austin Star Detonator CompanyInventors: Larry S. Howe, Bryan E. Papillon, Pavel Krivanek, Gimtong Teowee
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Publication number: 20200003535Abstract: Systems, methods, blasting machines and wireless bridge units are presented for wireless blasting for safe firing of detonators under control of a remote wireless master controller in which the blasting machine is connected by cabling to the wireless bridge unit and power to a firing circuit of the blasting machine is remotely controlled via the bridge unit. The bridge unit selectively provides first and second firing messages to the blasting machine contingent upon acknowledgment of safe receipt of the first firing message by the blasting machine, and the blasting machine fires the connected detonators only if the first and second firing messages are correctly received from the bridge unit. A wireless slave blasting machine is disclosed, including a wireless transceiver for communicating with a remote wireless master controller, which fires the connected detonators only if first and second firing messages are wirelessly received from the master controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Applicant: Austin Star Detonator CompanyInventors: Bryan E. Papillon, Larry S. Howe, Thomas Allen Hoopes, Gimtong Teowee
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Patent number: 10429162Abstract: Systems, methods, blasting machines and wireless bridge units are presented for wireless blasting for safe firing of detonators under control of a remote wireless master controller in which the blasting machine is connected by cabling to the wireless bridge unit and power to a firing circuit of the blasting machine is remotely controlled via the bridge unit. The bridge unit selectively provides first and second firing messages to the blasting machine contingent upon acknowledgment of safe receipt of the first firing message by the blasting machine, and the blasting machine fires the connected detonators only if the first and second firing messages are correctly received from the bridge unit. A wireless slave blasting machine is disclosed, including a wireless transceiver for communicating with a remote wireless master controller, which fires the connected detonators only if first and second firing messages are wirelessly received from the master controller.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2014Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Austin Star Detonator CompanyInventors: Bryan E. Papillon, Larry S. Howe, Thomas Allen Hoopes, Gimtong Teowee
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Publication number: 20190257963Abstract: Seismic blasting methods and apparatus are presented in which detonator confirmation time break (CTB) is accurately determined by maintaining an applied voltage across detonator leg wires following initiation of a firing command or signal and sensing one or more electrical parameters such as voltage and/or current, and selectively identifying a CTB representing a time at which the monitored electrical parameter indicates a successful detonation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Applicant: Austin Star Detonator CompanyInventors: Bryan E. Papillon, Larry S. Howe, Gimtong Teowee
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Patent number: 10310109Abstract: Seismic blasting methods and apparatus are presented in which detonator confirmation time break (CTB) is accurately determined by maintaining an applied voltage across detonator leg wires following initiation of a firing command or signal and sensing one or more electrical parameters such as voltage and/or current, and selectively identifying a CTB representing a time at which the monitored electrical parameter indicates a successful detonation.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Austin Star Detonator CompanyInventors: Bryan E. Papillon, Larry S. Howe, Gimtong Teowee
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Patent number: 9958247Abstract: Logging apparatus, methods and systems are presented for logging data from electronic detonators one at a time, in which a logger is placed into an automatic logging mode and begins transmitting read request messages in repetitive fashion until a response is received from a single connected electronic detonator, whereupon the logger obtains serial ID number and potentially other data such as a delay from the electronic detonator, after which the logger automatically proceeds without further user button presses to again initiate read request messages, by which a user can sequentially connect and disconnect a number of electronic detonators one at a time for quick expeditious logging. Also presented are automatic electronic detonator programming apparatus and processes in which a logger is placed into an automatic programming mode and the user connects electronic detonators one at a time for automatic or semi-automatic programming of delay times from internal memory.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2016Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Austin Star Detonator CompanyInventors: Gimtong Teowee, Bryan E. Papillon, Larry S. Howe
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Publication number: 20170123087Abstract: Seismic blasting methods and apparatus are presented in which detonator confirmation time break (CTB) is accurately determined by maintaining an applied voltage across detonator leg wires following initiation of a firing command or signal and sensing one or more electrical parameters such as voltage and/or current, and selectively identifying a CTB representing a time at which the monitored electrical parameter indicates a successful detonation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2015Publication date: May 4, 2017Applicant: Austin Star Detonator CompanyInventors: Bryan E. Papillon, Larry S. Howe, Gimtong Teowee
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Publication number: 20170089680Abstract: Systems, methods, blasting machines and wireless bridge units are presented for wireless blasting for safe firing of detonators under control of a remote wireless master controller in which the blasting machine is connected by cabling to the wireless bridge unit and power to a firing circuit of the blasting machine is remotely controlled via the bridge unit. The bridge unit selectively provides first and second firing messages to the blasting machine contingent upon acknowledgment of safe receipt of the first firing message by the blasting machine, and the blasting machine fires the connected detonators only if the first and second firing messages are correctly received from the bridge unit. A wireless slave blasting machine is disclosed, including a wireless transceiver for communicating with a remote wireless master controller, which fires the connected detonators only if first and second firing messages are wirelessly received from the master controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2014Publication date: March 30, 2017Applicant: Austin Star Detonator CompanyInventors: Bryan E. Papillon, Larry S. Howe, Thomas Allen Hoopes, Gimtong Teowee
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Publication number: 20160187116Abstract: Logging apparatus, methods and systems are presented for logging data from electronic detonators one at a time, in which a logger is placed into an automatic logging mode and begins transmitting read request messages in repetitive fashion until a response is received from a single connected electronic detonator, whereupon the logger obtains serial ID number and potentially other data such as a delay from the electronic detonator, after which the logger automatically proceeds without further user button presses to again initiate read request messages, by which a user can sequentially connect and disconnect a number of electronic detonators one at a time for quick expeditious logging. Also presented are automatic electronic detonator programming apparatus and processes in which a logger is placed into an automatic programming mode and the user connects electronic detonators one at a time for automatic or semi-automatic programming of delay times from internal memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2016Publication date: June 30, 2016Applicant: Austin Star Detonator CompanyInventors: Gimtong Teowee, Bryan E. Papillon, Larry S. Howe
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Patent number: 6307920Abstract: A signaling system (10) in the form of a dispatcher activated response identification system is provided for responding exclusively to a predefined signal transmitted from a first location through a telephone service line interconnected thereby with a telephone at a second location to assist responding personnel in identifying the second location when the predefined signal is transmitted from the first location. The signaling system includes first and second electronic circuits (40, 60) at the second location. The first electronic circuit is adapted to generate a first signal (58) at the second location in response to receiving the predefined signal transmitted through the telephone service line. The second electronic circuit is physically separated from the first electronic circuit and is preferably placed where it is easily visible from the street such as in a window.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1998Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Assignee: Foresight Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James D. Thomson, James D. Heckelman, Larry S. Howe