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A fiber-optically-and-pneumatically-controlled firing set for explosive-bridgewire detonators. The firing set consists of a detonation-controlling module and a battery-operated firing module that are interconnected by fiber-optic signal conductors and a pneumatic conduit. The firing set provides hig

A fiber-optically-and-pneumatically-controlled firing set for explosive-bridgewire detonators. The firing set consists of a detonation-controlling module and a battery-operated firing module that are interconnected by fiber-optic signal conductors and a pneumatic conduit. The firing set provides high voltage isolation between the control module and the firing module while employing redundant safety features including fail-safe pneumatic crowbar shunting of the firing module output, frequency-selective fiber-optic signal communication, controlled battery life and explosive material detonation enablement and multiple, fail-safe serial switching to control the energy transfer sequence in the firing module. Both high voltage and low potential uses of the invention are included.

대표청구항 ▼

A fiber-optically-and-pneumatically-controlled firing set for explosive-bridgewire detonators. The firing set consists of a detonation-controlling module and a battery-operated firing module that are interconnected by fiber-optic signal conductors and a pneumatic conduit. The firing set provides hig

A fiber-optically-and-pneumatically-controlled firing set for explosive-bridgewire detonators. The firing set consists of a detonation-controlling module and a battery-operated firing module that are interconnected by fiber-optic signal conductors and a pneumatic conduit. The firing set provides high voltage isolation between the control module and the firing module while employing redundant safety features including fail-safe pneumatic crowbar shunting of the firing module output, frequency-selective fiber-optic signal communication, controlled battery life and explosive material detonation enablement and multiple, fail-safe serial switching to control the energy transfer sequence in the firing module. Both high voltage and low potential uses of the invention are included. na element has a rectangular shape.13. The planar antenna device according to claim 1, wherein said opening is shaped like a single rectangle.14. The planar antenna device according to claim 12, wherein said opening is shaped like a single rectangle.15. The planar antenna device according to claim 1, wherein said cavity is box-shaped.16. The planar antenna device according to claim 1, wherein edges of said opening form a polygon.17. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein said ground plane is a metal plate.18. The antenna device according to claim 4, wherein said spacer is in contact with less than half of said antenna element.19. The antenna device according to claim 18, wherein said spacer is made of synthetic resin.20. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein said cavity is made of metal plate.21. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the distance from said ground plane to said opening is less than the diameter of said antenna element.22. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein said cavity is made of metal wire.23. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein said opening is substantially parallel to said antenna element.24. A planar antenna device comprising: a ground plane; a planar antenna element having a principal plane mounted above said ground plane; and a conductor placed substantially parallel to a principal plane of said antenna element and having an opening at substantially a center thereof, said opening having a smaller maximum diameter than the maximum diameter of said antenna element and being at a pre-determined positive distance from said antenna element, wherein space between said opening and said antenna element is at least partially air-filled. 25. The planar antenna device according to claim 24, wherein said opening is formed such that a circumference of said planar antenna element is not exposed.26. The planar antenna device according to claim 24, wherein said antenna element has a rectangular shape.27. The planar antenna device according to claim 24, wherein said opening is shaped like a single rectangle.28. The planar antenna device according to claim 24, wherein said opening has a circular shape.29. The planar antenna device according to claim 26, wherein said opening is shaped like a single rectangle.30. The planar antenna device according to claim 24, wherein said conductor is box-shaped.31. The planar antenna device according to claim 24, wherein edges of said opening form a polygon.32. A planar antenna device comprising: a ground plane; a planar antenna element having a principal plane mounted above said ground plane; and a conductor placed substantially parallel to a principal plane of said antenna element and having an opening at substantially a center thereof, said opening having a smaller width than the width of said antenna element and being at a pre-determined positive distance from said antenna element, wherein space between said opening and said antenna element is at least partially air-filled. 33. An on-vehicle planar patch antenna device for receiving satellite broadcasting, comprising: a ground plane; a planar air patch antenna element having a principal plane mounted above said ground plane and separated from said ground plane by a spacer thicker than said antenna element; a hollow, air-filled cavity that has a substantially planar opening partially exposing said antenna element, that is placed on said ground plane, and that surrounds said antenna element contactlessly, wherein said opening is substantially parallel to a principal plane of said antenna element, has a smaller area than said antenna element, and has the property that for every pair of points on the edge of the opening, a straight line between those two points lies entirely within or on the edge of the opening. 34. A planar antenna device comprising: a ground plane; a planar antenna element that is on the ground plane and has a principal plane above the ground plane; and a hollow, air-filled cavity that is substantially planar, partially exposes the antenna element, and is smaller in area than the ground plane; and an edge that defines the opening on the hollow, air-filled cavity, wherein every pair of points on the edge is such that an imaginary straight line joining that pair of points lies entirely within or on the edge defining the opening. 35. A planar antenna device comprising: a ground plane; a planar antenna element that is on the ground plane and has a principal plane above the ground plane; and a hollow, air-filled cavity that is substantially planar, partially exposes the antenna element, and is smaller in area than the ground plane; and an edge that defines the opening on the hollow, air-filled cavity, wherein there are no two points on the edge that can be connected by a straight line that has a sub-part that lies outside the opening. l value of the input signal is above a current reference level value of the reference signal for a pre-determined first period of time.10. The method as in claim 9, wherein the reference signal is adjusted downward when a current input level value of the input signal is below a current reference level value of the reference signal for a pre-determined second period of time.11. The method as in claim 10, wherein the pre-determined first period of time is less than the pre-determined second period of time.12. The method as in claim 11, wherein comparing the reference signal to the input signal, further comprises storing a previous reference level value of the reference signal and making a comparison of the stored reference level value to the input signal.13. The method as in claim 12, wherein an attack counter is used to determine the first pre-determined period of time.14. The method as in claim 13, wherein a decay counter is used to determine the second period of time.15. The method as in claim 5, further comprising, filtering the signal with an anti-alias filter. collection unit and said second telemetry collection unit is for providing said first telemetry collection unit with identifications of remote telemetry transmitters associated with said second telemetry collection unit.4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said forwarding by said second telemetry collection unit is accomplished by communications via a third telemetry collection unit.5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said forwarding by said second telemetry collection unit is accomplished by communications with central monitoring facility via a network interface unit.6. A method comprising: at a first telemetry collection unit: receiving from a first remote telemetry transmitter that is associated with said first telemetry collection unit and receiving alarm from a second remote telemetry transmitter that is associated with a second telemetry collection unit and receiving from said second telemetry collection unit, andinquiring from said second telemetry collection unit about said alarm, andforwarding said alarm depending on the result of the inquiry; and at said second telemetry collection unit: receiving from said second remote telemetry transmitter and receiving alarm from said first remote telemetry transmitter and receiving from said first telemetry collection unit, andinquiring from said second telemetry collection unit about said alarm from said first remote telemetry transmitter, andforwarding said alarm from said first remote telemetry transmitter depending on the result of the inquiry.7. The method of claim 6 further comprising said first and said second telemetry collection units communicating with each other in order to reach agreement to support each other by each said unit monitoring telemetry transmitters associated with the other unit.8. The method of claim 6 further comprising: said first telemetry collection unit providing said second telemetry collection units with identifications of remote telemetry transmitters associated with said first telemetry collection unit, and said second telemetry collection unit providing said first telemetry collection unit with identifications of remote telemetry transmitters associated with said second telemetry collection unit. 9. An apparatus comprising: (i) a first telemetry collection unit comprising: a receiver for receiving from a first remote telemetry transmitter that is associated with said first telemetry collection unit and for receiving alarm from a second remote telemetry transmitter that is associated with a second telemetry collection unit and for receiving from said second telemetry collection unit,a transmitter for transmitting to said second telemetry collection unit to inquire about said alarm, andwherein said first telemetry collection unit is for forwarding said alarm depending on the result of communications with said second telemetry collection unit, and (ii) said second telemetry collection unit comprising: a receiver for receiving from said second remote telemetry transmitter and for receiving from said first telemetry collection unit, anda transmitter for transmitting to said first telemetry collection unit.10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said second telemetry collection unit is for providing said first telemetry collection units with identification of said second remote telemetry transmitter.11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said receiver of said second telemetry collection unit is further for receiving alarm from said first remote telemetry transmitter, and said first telemetry collection unit further comprises a transmitter for transmitting to said second telemetry collection unit to inquire about said alarm from said first remote telemetry transmitter, and wherein said second telemetry collection unit is for forwarding said alarm from said first remote telemetry transmitter depending on the result of communications with said first telemetry collection unit. 12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first telemetry colle