Abstract: An initiator assembly includes an initiator housing having an initiator cavity and a housing orifice edge. A bridge substrate is positioned within the initiator cavity, the bridge substrate includes a substrate base including a uniform first planar surface and first and second bridge contacts flush with the uniform first planar surface. The first and second bridge contacts form a continuous planar mounting surface. An explosive charge and a flyer plate are within the initiator cavity, the flyer plate interposed between the explosive charge and the bridge substrate. A plunger head is telescopically received in the initiator cavity and includes an anchoring cylinder face having a face perimeter and extends between first and second face ends. The housing orifice edge is anchored to the anchoring cylinder face at a position between the first and second face ends and extends around the face perimeter.

Abstract: Embodiments of an initiator support assembly that includes an initiator housing including an initiator cavity system are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a bridge substrate is positioned within the initiator cavity. The bridge substrate includes a substrate base including a uniform first planar surface and an opposed second surface. The bridge substrate further includes a first bridge contact extending over the substrate base. The first bridge contact is substantially flush with the first planar surface. A second bridge contact extends over the substrate base. The second bridge contact is substantially flush with the first planar surface. The first and second bridge contacts and the uniform first planar surface form a continuous planar mounting surface. An explosive charge, positioned within the initiator cavity, includes a charge mounting surface that is continuously coupled in surface-to-surface contact across the continuous planar mounting surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of an initiator support assembly that includes an initiator housing including an initiator cavity system are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a bridge substrate is positioned within the initiator cavity. The bridge substrate includes a substrate base including a uniform first planar surface and an opposed second surface. The bridge substrate further includes a first bridge contact extending over the substrate base. The first bridge contact is substantially flush with the first planar surface. A second bridge contact extends over the substrate base. The second bridge contact is substantially flush with the first planar surface. The first and second bridge contacts and the uniform first planar surface form a continuous planar mounting surface. An explosive charge, positioned within the initiator cavity, includes a charge mounting surface that is continuously coupled in surface-to-surface contact across the continuous planar mounting surface.

Abstract: An initiator assembly includes an initiator housing having an initiator cavity and a housing orifice edge. A bridge substrate is positioned within the initiator cavity, the bridge substrate includes a substrate base including a uniform first planar surface and first and second bridge contacts flush with the uniform first planar surface. The first and second bridge contacts form a continuous planar mounting surface. An explosive charge and a flyer plate are within the initiator cavity, the flyer plate interposed between the explosive charge and the bridge substrate. A plunger head is telescopically received in the initiator cavity and includes an anchoring cylinder face having a face perimeter and extends between first and second face ends. The housing orifice edge is anchored to the anchoring cylinder face at a position between the first and second face ends and extends around the face perimeter.

Abstract: Embodiments of an initiator support assembly that includes an initiator housing including an initiator cavity system are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a bridge substrate is positioned within the initiator cavity. The bridge substrate includes a substrate base including a uniform first planar surface and an opposed second surface. The bridge substrate further includes a first bridge contact extending over the substrate base. The first bridge contact is substantially flush with the first planar surface. A second bridge contact extends over the substrate base. The second bridge contact is substantially flush with the first planar surface. The first and second bridge contacts and the uniform first planar surface form a continuous planar mounting surface. An explosive charge, positioned within the initiator cavity, includes a charge mounting surface that is continuously coupled in surface-to-surface contact across the continuous planar mounting surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of an initiator support assembly that includes an initiator housing including an initiator cavity system are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a bridge substrate is positioned within the initiator cavity. The bridge substrate includes a substrate base including a uniform first planar surface and an opposed second surface. The bridge substrate further includes a first bridge contact extending over the substrate base. The first bridge contact is substantially flush with the first planar surface. A second bridge contact extends over the substrate base. The second bridge contact is substantially flush with the first planar surface. The first and second bridge contacts and the uniform first planar surface form a continuous planar mounting surface. An explosive charge, positioned within the initiator cavity, includes a charge mounting surface that is continuously coupled in surface-to-surface contact across the continuous planar mounting surface.

Abstract: Some embodiments pertain to an initiator support assembly that includes a casing and one or more initiator leads extending from the casing. The transmission of current through the initiator leads detonates an explosive charge within the casing. The casing includes a flange and a dampening member attached to the flange. The dampening member is between the flange and a structure where the initiator support assembly is mounted. The dampening member dampens shock that would otherwise be transferred from the structure to the initiator support assembly. In another example embodiment, at least a portion of the casing is formed of an interior wall, a dampening layer covering at least a portion of the interior wall and an exterior wall. The dampening layer dampens shock to the initiator support assembly that would otherwise be transferred from a structure to the initiator support assembly when the exterior wall is mounted to the structure.

Abstract: Some embodiments pertain to an initiator support assembly that includes a casing and one or more initiator leads extending from the casing. The transmission of current through the initiator leads detonates an explosive charge within the casing. The casing includes a flange and a dampening member attached to the flange. The dampening member is between the flange and a structure where the initiator support assembly is mounted. The dampening member dampens shock that would otherwise be transferred from the structure to the initiator support assembly. In another example embodiment, at least a portion of the casing is formed of an interior wall, a dampening layer covering at least a portion of the interior wall and an exterior wall. The dampening layer dampens shock to the initiator support assembly that would otherwise be transferred from a structure to the initiator support assembly when the exterior wall is mounted to the structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of an initiator support assembly that includes an initiator housing including an initiator cavity system are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a bridge substrate is positioned within the initiator cavity. The bridge substrate includes a substrate base including a uniform first planar surface and an opposed second surface. The bridge substrate further includes a first bridge contact extending over the substrate base. The first bridge contact is substantially flush with the first planar surface. A second bridge contact extends over the substrate base. The second bridge contact is substantially flush with the first planar surface. The first and second bridge contacts and the uniform first planar surface form a continuous planar mounting surface. An explosive charge, positioned within the initiator cavity, includes a charge mounting surface that is continuously coupled in surface-to-surface contact across the continuous planar mounting surface.

Abstract: An arming system for a weapon, such as a missile, includes a pair of logic elements that output different types of signals upon the occurrence of different pre-arming events. The different types of signals may be, for instance, signals at different frequencies. The different signals are combined in a mixer. The mixed combined signal may be processed by passing it though elements such as a band pass filter and/or a pulse-width modulator/controller. An arming switch is configured to initiate arming when a predetermined condition in the combined signal is detected, such as the presence of a frequency in the combined signal at the difference between the frequencies of the individual signals from the logic elements. By basing arming on characteristics of a mixed combined signal from two logical elements, there are no credible single-point failure modes in the arming system.

Abstract: An improved solid state spark gap for use, for example, in firing munitions. The spark gap is formed by depositing a trigger electrode on a dielectric substrate, precisely covering the trigger electrode and an adjoining area with a dielectric layer, and forming an anode and a cathode on the dielectric layer with a spark gap there between. The anode and cathode do not overlap the trigger electrode. The spark gap may be enclosed within a hermetically sealed inert gas filled cover.