초록
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A device having an initiator and an integrated planar switch. The initiator has a base, an initiating element that is coupled to the base, a first element pad, which is electrically coupled to a first side of the initiating element, and a second element pad, which is electrically coupled to a second side of the initiating element opposite the first element pad. The integrated planar switch has a source pad and a return pad. The source pad is coupled to the base and is spaced apart from the first element pad by a first gap distance to define a first gap t...
A device having an initiator and an integrated planar switch. The initiator has a base, an initiating element that is coupled to the base, a first element pad, which is electrically coupled to a first side of the initiating element, and a second element pad, which is electrically coupled to a second side of the initiating element opposite the first element pad. The integrated planar switch has a source pad and a return pad. The source pad is coupled to the base and is spaced apart from the first element pad by a first gap distance to define a first gap therebetween. The return pad is coupled to the base and is spaced apart from the second element pad by a second gap distance to define a second gap therebetween.
대표
청구항
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What is claimed is: 1. A device comprising: an initiator and an integrated planar switch, the initiator having a base, an initiating element, a first element pad and a second element pad, the initiating element being coupled to the base, the first element pad being electrically coupled to a first side of the initiating element, the second element pad being electrically coupled to a second side of the initiating element opposite the first element pad, the integrated planar switch having a first switch pad and a second switch pad, the first switch pad bei...
What is claimed is: 1. A device comprising: an initiator and an integrated planar switch, the initiator having a base, an initiating element, a first element pad and a second element pad, the initiating element being coupled to the base, the first element pad being electrically coupled to a first side of the initiating element, the second element pad being electrically coupled to a second side of the initiating element opposite the first element pad, the integrated planar switch having a first switch pad and a second switch pad, the first switch pad being coupled to the base and being spaced apart from the first element pad by a first gap distance to define a first gap therebetween, the second switch pad being coupled to the base and being spaced apart from the second element pad by a second gap distance to define a second gap therebetween; wherein the device is operable in a mode in which electrical enemy is transmitted across said first gap from said first switch pad to said first element pad, through said initiating element to said second element pad, and across said second gap from said second element pad to said second switch pad. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second element pads has an outboard edge that is adjacent a respective side edge of the base. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the initiator is an exploding foil initiator and the initiating element is a bridge. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first gap has a minimum width of about 0.012 inch and the second gap has a minimum width of about 0.006 inch. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a detonator. 6. A device comprising: an initiator and an integrated planar switch, the initiator having a base, an initiating element, a first element pad and a second element pad, the initiating element being coupled to the base, the first element pad being electrically coupled to a first side of the initiating element, the second element pad being electrically coupled to a second side of the initiating element opposite the first element pad, the integrated planar switch having a first switch pad and a second switch pad, the first switch pad being coupled to the base and being spaced apart from the first element pad by a first gap distance to define a first gap therebetween, the second switch pad being coupled to the base and being spaced apart from the second element pad by a second gap distance to define a second gap therebetween; wherein the first switch pad includes an edge that borders the first gap, a second edge that borders a third gap, the third gap being disposed between the first switch pad and the second element pad, the first gap being associated with a first gap distance, the third gap being associated with a third gap distance, the first gap distance being smaller than the third gap distance. 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first switch pad is generally triangular in shape. 8. A device comprising: an initiator and an integrated planar switch, the initiator having a base, an initiating element, a first element pad and a second element pad, the initiating element being coupled to the base, the first element pad being electrically coupled to a first side of the initiating element, the second element pad being electrically coupled to a second side of the initiating element opposite the first element pad, the integrated planar switch having a first switch pad and a second switch pad, the first switch pad being coupled to the base and being spaced apart from the first element pad by a first gap distance to define a first gap therebetween, the second switch pad being coupled to the base and being spaced apart from the second element pad by a second gap distance to define a second gap therebetween; wherein the second switch pad includes an edge that borders the second gap, a second edge that borders a third gap, the third gap being disposed between the second switch pad and the first element pad, the second gap being associated with a second gap distance, the third gap being associated with a third gap distance, the second gap distance being smaller than the third gap distance. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the second switch pad is generally triangular in shape. 10. An initiator device with an initiator and a planar switch, the initiator having a base, an initiating element coupled to the base, a first element pad electrically coupled to a first side of the initiating element, and a second element pad coupled to a second side of the initiating element opposite the first side, the planar switch having a first switch pad spaced apart from the first element pad to define a first gap therebetween, and a second switch pad spaced apart from the second element pad to define a second gap therebetween, the initiator device being operable in a standard mode, a breakdown mode and a trigger mode; wherein in the standard mode, one of the first and second element pads is adapted to directly receive electrical energy and pass the electrical enemy through the initiating element without first applying the electrical energy to either the first switch pad or the second switch pad; wherein in the breakdown mode, the first switch pad is adapted to directly receive electrical energy and the electrical energy jumps the first gap prior to passing through the initiating element or the electrical energy is input directly to the second switch pad and jumps the second gap prior to passing through the initiating element; and wherein in the trigger mode, one of the first switch pad and the second switch pad is adapted to directly receive electrical energy and a biasing voltage is applied to at least one of the first element pad, the second element pad and the other one of the first switch pad and the second switch pad to cause the electrical energy to jump one of the first and second gaps prior to passing through the initiating element. 11. The initiator device of claim 10, wherein three different breakdown voltages may be employed to operate the initiator device in the breakdown mode. 12. The initiator device of claim 10, wherein two different biasing voltages may be employed to operate the initiator device in the trigger mode. 13. The initiator device of claim 10, wherein in the trigger mode, electrical energy associated with the biasing voltage passes through the initiating element. 14. The initiator device of claim 10, wherein the initiating element is a bridge and the initiator is an exploding foil initiator. 15. A method comprising: providing an initiator assembly having an initiator and an integrated planar switch, the initiator having a base, an initiating element, a first element pad and a second element pad, the initiating element being coupled to the base, the first element pad being electrically coupled to a first side of the initiating element, the second element pad being electrically coupled to a second side of the initiating element opposite the first element pad, the integrated planar switch having a first switch pad and a second switch pad, the first switch pad being coupled to the base and being spaced apart from the first element pad by a first gap distance to define a first gap therebetween, the second switch pad being coupled to the base and being spaced apart from the second element pad by a second gap distance to define a second gap therebetween, the initiator assembly being selectively operable in a first mode, a second mode and a third mode for operating the initiating element, each of the first, second and third modes being different; selecting an initiation mode from one of the first, second and third modes; and operating the initiating element in the selected initiation mode. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first mode is a standard mode and the second mode is a first breakdown mode. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the third mode is a trigger mode. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the third mode is a second breakdown mode.