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An electronic detonator system includes a control unit, a plurality of electronic detonators and a bus which connects the detonators to the control unit. Each electronic detonator includes a number of flags which may assume either of two possible values, each flag indicating a substate of the respec

An electronic detonator system includes a control unit, a plurality of electronic detonators and a bus which connects the detonators to the control unit. Each electronic detonator includes a number of flags which may assume either of two possible values, each flag indicating a substate of the respective detonators. The flags are readable from the control unit by means of digital data packets and the control unit is adapted, by means of these flags, to check the state of the electronic detonator and control the operation of the electronic detonator. When reading the flags, the electronic detonators give responses in the form of analog response pulses on the bus. The detonator system also includes a portable message receiver which on the basis of the flags obtains messages regarding the connecting status of a detonator.

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1. An electronic detonator system comprising:a control unit which has intelligence of the system, a plurality of electronic detonators, and a bus which connects said detonators to the control unit, wherein each electronic detonator includes a number of flags which can assume either of two possible v

1. An electronic detonator system comprising:a control unit which has intelligence of the system, a plurality of electronic detonators, and a bus which connects said detonators to the control unit, wherein each electronic detonator includes a number of flags which can assume either of two possible values, a first subset of said flags adapted to be set externally from the control unit and a second subset of said flags adapted to be set internally in the detonator, each flag indicating a substate of the respective electronic detonator and at least one flag thereof further obtaining its value on the basis of an internal condition in the electronic detonator, said flags are readable from the control unit, and the control unit is adapted, by means of reading of said flags, to check the state of the respective electronic detonator and to use information which is given by said flags for controlling the operation of the electronic detonator, and wherein communication in a direction away from the control unit to the electronic detonators is provided by means of digital data packets sent by the control unit on said bus which are addressed to one or more of said detonators, whereas communication in a direction away from the electronic detonators to the control unit is provided by means of analog load pulses, on the bus, the analog load pulses being detectable by the control unit, the analog load pulses being responses to reading of said flags. 2. An electronic detonator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic detonators are adapted to give off analog load pulses on the bus in response to a received digital data packet, only if the digital data packet comprises a question regarding the state of one or more of said flags whereby information about the corresponding setting of one or more of said flags is only transferred to the control unit if requested via such a preceding question from the control unit.3. An electronic detonator system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control unit is adapted to send digital data packets including instructions to the detonators via the bus, said instructions not leading to any analog load pulses being given on the bus.4. An electronic detonator system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a digital data packet is addressed to only one detonator which is connected to the bus.5. An electronic detonator system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a digital data packet is addressed to at least two detonators which are connected to the bus.6. An electronic detonator system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a digital data packet is addressed to all the detonators which are connected to the bus.7. An electronic detonator system as claimed in claim 2, Wherein said question relates to whether a predetermined flag of said number of flags has a first of said two possible values, after which a positive or a negative response is given by the respective electronic detonator in response thereto, andwherein a further question relates to whether said predetermined flag has a second of said two possible values, after which a positive or a negative response is given by the respective electronic detonator in response thereto. 8. An electronic detonator system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the detonators are adapted to give positive responses only.9. An electronic detonator system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electronic detonators lack any microprocessor or software.10. An electronic detonator system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the detonators can be addressed globally, semi-globally and semi-individually.11. An electronic detonator system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the detonators are adapted to give a response load pulse in a response slot between two digital data packets.12. An electronic detonator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each electronic detonator is provided with a unique address which is used when addressing digital data packets to the intended detonators.13. An electronic detonator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said analog load pulse on the bus is modulated by means of an internal clock frequency, or a fraction thereof, in the detonator with a view to facilitate detection of said analog load pulse in the control unit.14. An electronic detonator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic detonators lack any microprocessor or software.15. An electronic detonator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detonators are adapted to give a response load pulse in a response slot between two digital data packets emitted from the control unit.16. An electronic detonator for an electronic detonator system, the detonator comprising a number of flags that can assume either of two possible values, a first subset of said flags adapted to be set by control signals received from the outside when the detonator is connected to an electronic detonator system bus and a second subset of said flags adapted to be set internally, each flag indicating a substate of the electronic detonator and at least one flag further obtaining its value on the basis of an internal condition in the detonator, said flags being readable from the outside when the detonator is connected to an electronic detonator system bus, the detonator being adapted to output an analog flag value response load pulse upon receipt of a flag read signal of a digital data packet from an electronic detonator system bus when the detonator is connected thereto, the detonator lacking any microprocessor or software.17. An electronic detonator as claimed in claim 16, said flags indicating substates includingthe substate that said detonator answers questions regarding its identity, the substate that charging of an ignition capacitor has been initiated in said detonator, the substrate that in said detonator the ignition capacitor has achieved a voltage which is sufficient to provide firing of the detonator, the substate that there is an error in said detonator, and the substate that an error in a check sum has been detected. 18. An electronic detonator as claimed in claim 16, further comprising means for modulating said analog load pulse by means of an internal clock frequency, or a fraction thereof, to facilitate external detection of said analog load pulse when output on an electronic detonator system bus.