Laser activated initiation devices with self-powered event detection and arming logic and false trigger protection for munitions

A laser activated initiation device including: a piezoelectric element; a capacitor; a self-powered acceleration pulse event detection with false trigger protection circuit; a switch reset circuit; and a switching circuit; wherein when the piezoelectric element is subjected to an acceleration pulse the piezoelectric element generates an open-circuit charge profile to charge the capacitor.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to laser activated initiation devices with piezoelectric elements based self-powered arming firing event detection from setback acceleration magnitude and duration, as indicated from a minimum acceleration magnitude and its minimum duration, with false trigger protection logic that is used for arming the initiation device, and more particularly for electrically initiating pyrotechnic materials for activating reserve batteries using laser as electrical energy and initiation triggering source at a desired time following the arming of the initiation device.

2. Prior Art

Arming circuits using G-switch or inertial switch have been used in munitions and many other devices that are desired to be similarly enabled (armed) following an acceleration pulse event due to firing setback in munitions or impact in munitions and many other similar events. A G-switch or inertial switch is a switch that can change its state, for example, from open to close, in response to acceleration and/or deceleration. Hereinafter, the term acceleration is intended to also include deceleration and the disclosed devices are readily seen by those skilled in the art that can be configured to react to either acceleration or deceleration events by their reorientation. For example, when the acceleration along a particular direction exceeds a certain threshold value, the inertial switch changes its state, and the change can then be used to trigger an electrical circuit controlled by the inertial switch. Inertial switches are employed in a wide variety of applications such as automobile airbag deployment systems, vibration alarm systems, detonators for artillery projectiles, and motion-activated light-flashing footwear. Description of several representative prior-art inertial switches can be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,212,193, 6,354,712, 6,314,887, 5,955,712, 5,786,553, 4,178,492, and 4,012,613, the teachings of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

To ensure safety and reliability, laser activated initiation devices are desired to be provided with arming (enabling) capability that is activated upon detection of certain event. The function of the arming mechanism is to ensure that the initiation device cannot activated with the intended laser beam unless the laser activated initiation device is armed. In munitions applications, the laser activated initiation devices are desired to be armed (enabled) only once the firing event, i.e., a prescribed minimum setback acceleration magnitude and duration at the minimum setback acceleration magnitude (the so-called all-fire condition in munitions), is detected. All other acceleration events, such as those with larger than the prescribed minimum setback acceleration magnitude but significantly shorter duration or significantly smaller than the prescribed minimum setback acceleration magnitude and long in duration (the so-called no-fire conditions in munitions), should not arm (enable) the laser activated initiation device. The no-fire conditions may occur during manufacture, assembly, handling, transport, accidental drops, or other similar accidental events.

The laser activated initiation devices with arming capability are particularly desirable for initiating reserve batteries such as reserve thermal batteries with a certain amount of time delay after the arming event.

In many applications, these two requirements often compete with respect to acceleration magnitude, but differ greatly in impulse. For example, an accidental drop may well cause very high acceleration levels—even in some cases higher than the firing of a shell from a gun. However, the duration of this accidental acceleration will be short, thereby subjecting the device to a significantly lower resulting impulse levels. It is also conceivable that the device will experience incidental low but long-duration accelerations, whether accidental or as part of normal handling, which must be guarded against activation. Again, the impulse given to the device will have a great disparity with that given by the intended activation acceleration profile because the magnitude of the incidental long-duration acceleration will be quite low.

The disclosed laser activated initiation devices uses an integrated circuit (IC) with a self-powered piezoelectric-based all-fire detection, i.e., detection of the prescribed minimum setback acceleration magnitude and duration at the minimum setback acceleration magnitude, with the aforementioned no-fire trigger protection. In the disclosed laser activated initiation devices, the all-fire detection is used to arm (enable) the device for initiation. The above integrated circuit (IC) and the self-powered piezoelectric-based all-fire detection with no-fire trigger protection are described in detail in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 62/367,075, Filed on Jul. 26, 2016 and 62/510,179, filed on May 23, 2017, the Disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The self-powered piezoelectric-based all-fire detection no-fire detection protection used for arming (enabling) of the disclosed laser activated initiation devices may provide one or more of the following advantages over prior art mechanical or MEMS-based or other types of arming (enabling) devices:Provide self-powered and passive arming mechanisms that are not mechanical, therefore can be very small, and once armed will stay indefinitely armed without requiring external electrical power;Eliminate the need for accelerometers and processors with their own power sources to measure the all-fire acceleration or deceleration pulses and measure their duration to determine if a prescribed acceleration pulse event (corresponding to an all-fire setback acceleration for the case of gun fired munitions and mortars and rockets) is to be considered as detected;By only using a very few external electronic components, for example one resistor and one capacitor, the arming circuit can be programmed to arm the laser activated initiation device at any desired minimum acceleration or deceleration level and its duration, i.e., arming for any desired all-fire and no-fire condition;Provide self-powered electronic circuits that can be mounted directly onto the electronics circuits boards or the like, thereby significantly simplifying the electrical and electronic circuitry; simplifying the assembly process and total cost; significantly reducing the occupied volume; and eliminating the need for physical wiring to and from other event detection components;Provide laser activated initiation devices with self-powered programmable arming devices that can be hermetically sealed to simplify storage and increase their shelf life. Once armed, the laser activated initiation device can be used to initiate pyrotechnic materials by a laser beam with or without a prescribed time delay.

SUMMARY

A need therefore exists for laser activated initiation devices with self-powered programmable electronic arming (enabling) circuits that enables laser activated initiation upon detection of a prescribed acceleration pulse event with false trigger protection logic. The self-powered arming circuit must be capable of detecting acceleration pulses with a prescribed minimum amplitude that lasts longer than a prescribed time duration, such as those experienced during munitions firing or target impact or other similar events. The laser activated initiation devices preferably use the integrated circuit (IC) disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 62/367,075, Filed on Jul. 26, 2016 and 62/510,179, filed on May 23, 2017, and require very few discrete electronic components to “program” the arming circuit to detect a prescribed acceleration pulse and to be configured to perform the pyrotechnic initiation by the activating laser beam with or without a time delay.

Accordingly, laser activated initiation devices with self-powered programmable electronic arming (enabling) circuits that enables laser activated initiation upon detection of a prescribed acceleration pulse event with false trigger protection logic is disclosed. The arming circuit is self-powered and arms (enables) the laser activated initiation device for initiation of pyrotechnic material with a laser beam once the prescribed acceleration pulse, i.e., an acceleration pulse that is higher than a minimum magnitude and which has a duration longer than a minimum duration at or above the minimum acceleration magnitude, is detected. Such laser activated initiation devices are highly desirable for activating reserve batteries such as reserve thermal batteries following the detection of the arming event, with any desired time delay.

Also disclosed are methods of constructing laser activated initiation devices with the aforementioned piezoelectric-based self-powered arming circuit for enabling laser beam initiation of pyrotechnic materials with or without a desired delay time following arming; and electrical initiation devices using laser beam as their electrical energy source with arming capability upon detection of a prescribed acceleration pulse event (all-fire condition for the case of munitions), with false trigger protection capability.

It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that in most applications, particularly in munitions applications, it is critical that the devices such as the present laser activated initiation devices be highly reliable and be provided with false trigger protection capability. To ensure reliability and false trigger protection capability, these and the like devices must be capable of differentiating the prescribed acceleration pulse events as described by minimum acceleration pulse magnitude and duration (the so-called all-fire events for the case of gun-fired munitions and mortars) from acceleration events which may occur during manufacture, assembly, handling, transport, accidental drops, etc. In the disclosed laser activated initiation devices, the aforementioned self-powered event detection with false triggering protection capability is used for arming the laser activated initiation devices. As a result, the laser activated initiation devices are provided with a high level of safety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A typical piezoelectric electrical energy generator10, usually with a stack type piezoelectric element11, that is used in self-powered devices to generate electrical energy when the device is subjected to shock loading, for example due to the setback acceleration pulse in munitions firing, is shown in the schematic ofFIG. 1. In the configuration shown inFIG. 1, the piezoelectric electrical energy (charge) generator10is shown as rigidly attached to a base structure13, which is considered to be subjected at certain point in time to the acceleration pulse in the direction of the arrow14. A relatively rigid mass15may also be required to react to the acceleration14and apply a resulting compressive force to the piezoelectric element11. Then as a result of the compressive force and the internal normal compressive pressure generated in the piezoelectric element11due to its own mass as a result of the acceleration pulse, the piezoelectric element11is strained (deformed) axially, and thereby would generate electrical charges at its electrodes as is well known in the art. The leads12, properly connected to the electrodes of the piezoelectric element, would make the generated charges available for collection and conditioning by an appropriate electronic circuit.

In a typical piezoelectric-based self-powered device application such as in the present laser activated initiation devices, a piezoelectric electrical energy generator similar to the one shown inFIG. 1is used to provide electrical energy (charges) that is used to power the device to perform its described function, in the present case detection of the prescribed acceleration pulse event (all-fire condition for the case of munitions) with false trigger protection and arming (enabling) the laser activated initiation device initiation of the provided pyrotechnic material. In the present case, the piezoelectric electrical energy generator is intended to generate electrical energy because of acceleration pulses events (i.e., shock loading events). The piezoelectric electrical energy generator10is thereby functioning as a so-called energy harvester to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy to power the self-powered component of the present laser activated initiation devices.

It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that the shock loading pulse due to the applied acceleration pulse that is applied to the piezoelectric element11of the piezoelectric electrical energy generator10may also be similarly applied by direct application of a compressive force shown by the arrow16inFIG. 1. The applied compressive force may be the result of impact with an object, a pressure wave, or the like.

A stand-alone piezoelectric (usually in stack form) element can be modeled as a capacitor Cpconnected in parallel to a charge source Q as shown inFIG. 2. The charge source Q generates charge proportional to the axial (normal) strain of the piezoelectric element as it is subjected to axial (normal) loading, and thereby sends the charge as current i to the capacitor Cpof the piezoelectric element. The charges accumulated on the capacitor Cpproduces a voltage V, which is the so-called open-circuit voltage of the piezoelectric element. When the piezoelectric element is connected to another circuitry, the generated charge and current are the same, but due to the resulting charge exchange with the other circuitry, the in circuit voltage of the piezoelectric element may be different from the open circuit voltage V.

Two typical plot A and B of the profile of the open-circuit charge level on the piezoelectric element (FIG. 2) as it is subjected to a short duration acceleration pulse such as munitions firing or impact loading as a function of time are shown inFIG. 3. The maximum amount of charges Q (in Coulomb) is dependent on the size of the piezoelectric element and the applied impact force levels. In most cases of interest, the acceleration pulse may be from tens of microseconds to several milliseconds in duration.

As was indicated previously, the present laser activated initiation devices preferably use the integrated circuit (IC) disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 62/367,075, Filed on Jul. 26, 2016 and 62/510,179, filed on May 23, 2017, and require very few discrete electronic components to “program” the arming circuit to detect a prescribed acceleration pulse and to be configured to perform the pyrotechnic initiation by the activating laser beam with or without a time delay. Below, the design and operation of the integrated circuit (IC) with the external components that are used to detect the prescribed acceleration pulse (all-fire condition in munitions), i.e., an acceleration pulse that is higher than a minimum prescribed magnitude and which has a duration longer than a minimum prescribed duration at or above the minimum acceleration magnitude.

The schematic of the integrated circuit (IC)20to be used is shown inFIG. 4, as indicated by the solid rectangular box. The integrated circuit20may be fabricated using MOS technology or the like. Here, the basic design and the function performed by the integrated circuit (IC)20are described as used in the construction of the self-powered acceleration pulse event detection device with false trigger protection logic and resetting capability, indicated by the numeral30. In the disclosed laser activated initiation devices, the acceleration pulse event detection capability of the device30is used to construct their arming (enabling) capability, as will be described later in detail.

The acceleration event detection device30, also known as a self-powered “inertial switch”, is constructed to detect acceleration pulses that are longer in duration and higher in amplitude than certain prescribed levels, such as those experienced during munitions firing or target impact, or impacts during a vehicles accident, or the like. In the schematic ofFIG. 4, the setting (programming) of the prescribed acceleration pulse magnitude and duration thresholds are shown to be accomplished by the choice of the resistance of the resistor R3and the capacitance of the capacitor C1, both external to the integrated circuit (IC) embodiment20as is described later in this disclosure.

The integrated circuit IC20based “self-powered acceleration pulse event detection device with false trigger protection logic and resetting capability”30ofFIG. 4, is redrawn inFIG. 5to describe the functionality of its various components.

The primary functions performed by the components of the inertial switch30ofFIG. 4may presented by the three function blocks shown with dotted lines inFIG. 5. As can be seen inFIG. 5, the three function blocks are the “Self-powered acceleration pulse event detection with false trigger protection” block; the “Switch reset”; and the “Switching circuit”.

When the piezoelectric element PZ1of the inertial switch30, which may be as shown inFIG. 1, is subjected to an acceleration pulse, such as an acceleration in the direction of the arrow14inFIG. 1, the piezoelectric element will generate an open-circuit charge profile such as the ones shown inFIG. 3. The generated charges will then begin to charge the capacitor C1.

The inertial switch30is designed to be capable of differentiating a prescribed acceleration pulse events as described by a minimum acceleration pulse magnitude and a minimum of its duration (the so-called all-fire events for the case of gun-fired munitions and mortars) from other acceleration events that may occur during manufacture, assembly, handling, transport, accidental drops, etc. The event is hereinafter referred to as the “prescribed acceleration pulse event”. To detect the occurrence of a prescribed acceleration pulse event, the profile of the charge voltage generated by the piezoelectric element PZ1of the inertial switch30must satisfy the event minimum magnitude and its minimum duration (at the minimum magnitude) conditions. In the inertial switch30ofFIG. 5, the magnitude and duration thresholds are configured by the resistance of the resistor R3and the capacitance of the capacitor C1, both of which are external components to the integrated circuit embodiment20.

The aforementioned magnitude threshold of the open-circuit piezoelectric charge voltage, which is proportional to the magnitude of the acceleration pulse experienced by the piezoelectric element and its duration is determined from the voltage of the capacitor C1. It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that under relatively low acceleration levels, such as those experienced during transportation induced vibration, the voltage across the piezoelectric element PZ1is lower than the Z1Zener diode voltage and since the diode D1also blocks the current flow into the capacitor C1, the capacitor C1stays discharged. In the integrated circuit20, the Zener diode Z1is generally used to set a minimum voltage threshold level for blocking charging of the capacitor C1by charges generated by the piezoelectric element in response to the aforementioned low acceleration levels such as those due to transportation induced accelerations. At such low acceleration levels, no current will pass through the resistor R1to charge the capacitor C1, and the MOSFET M1is in cut-off mode and no current passes to the output ports. In general, the capacitance of the capacitor C1is selected to be very low and the resistance of the resistor R1is selected to be high so that a very small portion of the electrical energy generated by the piezoelectric element PZ1is consumed by the Z1, R1and C1circuit.

In the inertial switch30ofFIG. 5, the resistors R1and R2of the integrated circuit20are fixed and by selecting appropriate values for the resistance of the resistor R3and the capacitance of the capacitor C1, the user sets the aforementioned acceleration pulse magnitude and duration thresholds for the inertial switch30. In the integrated circuit20. The MOSFET M1functions as a signal switch, which is activated when its gate voltage level has been reached.

When the inertial switch30ofFIG. 5experiences an acceleration pulse, if the voltage of the charges generated by the piezoelectric element PZ1passes the Z1Zener diode voltage, the reverse biased Z1diode passes current to the capacitor C1, and the capacitor begins to be charged. If the acceleration pulse amplitude passes the prescribed threshold level and lasts longer than the prescribed duration threshold, the gate voltage of the MOSFET M1will be reached and it is activated. However, if the amplitude of the acceleration pulse is higher than the prescribed threshold level but its duration is below that of the prescribed duration threshold, then the gate voltage of the MOSFET M1will not be reached, and it is not activated.

Once a prescribed acceleration pulse event has been detected by the detection of aforementioned minimum magnitude and its minimum duration (at the minimum magnitude), the MOSFET M1is activated as is described above. Upon activation of the MOSFET M1, the capacitor C2is charged up to a voltage level which is higher than the gate threshold voltage of the MOSFETs M2and M3, and would allow current to flow in both directions. As a result, the normally open circuit between the integrated circuit (IC)20pins7and8is closed. The inertial switch30ofFIG. 5is thereby functions as a normally open inertial switch, which closes the circuit (between the pins7and8) upon detection of the prescribed acceleration pulse event.

As can be seen inFIG. 5, the components of the “switch reset” function block, i.e., the normally open switch SW1, the capacitor C2and the resistor R4are external to the integrated circuit (IC)20. In the inertial switch30, the user has the option of providing the resistor R4and/or the normally open switch SW1. Without the resistor R4, the charges stored in the capacitor C2will slowly drain due to unavoidable leakages in the various components of the inertial switch circuitry and once the voltage of the capacitor C2drops below the gate threshold voltage of the MOSFETs M2and M3, the closed circuit between the pins7and8is opened. This option of the inertial switch30is in effect a normally open inertial switch with latching capability. However, unlike mechanical switches or externally powered switches, the latching state is not permanent. However, for many applications such as in munitions and in other similar cases in which as a result of detection of the prescribed acceleration pulse a system is supposed to react and perform certain action, the present normally open inertial switch is in effect a latching switch.

The user may also choose to provide the resistor R4,FIG. 5. The function of the resistor R4is to slowly drain the charges in the capacitor C2. By choosing lower resistance for the resistor R2, the rate at which the capacitor C2charges are drained is increased, therefore the inertial switch remains closed, i.e., the circuit between the pins7and8remains closed for a shorter period of time.

In some applications, such as during engineering development of devices and systems that are expected to be subjected to acceleration pulses, the user may want to be able to reset the inertial switch state, i.e., to drain the charges in the capacitor C2to open the circuit between the pins7and8. In such application, a manual or certain control system activated normally open switch SW1,FIG. 5, may be provided to serve as a reset switch. The use would then close the switch SW1when desired, to drain charges in the capacitor C2to open the circuit between the pins7and8.

FIG. 6shows the inertial switch30ofFIG. 5, as it would be fabricated using the integrated circuit20by the addition of the aforementioned external components. The integrated circuit20(indicated by the numeral40inFIG. 6) is shown with the 8 pins, as numbered in the schematics ofFIGS. 4 and 5, for connecting the external components of the inertial switch (indicated by the numeral31inFIG. 6).

It is appreciated that 8 pins are the minimum number of pins that are required on the integrated circuit (IC)40ofFIG. 6(20ofFIGS. 4 and 5) for the present inertial switch construction. The integrated circuit may, however, be fabricated with additional pins for connecting other components to modify the values of, for examples, resistances of the IC resistors, or change the gate voltage of the MOSFETS, or directly add other external components to provide certain other functionality for the intended application.

FIG. 7illustrates the first embodiment50of the present laser activated initiation device. The device is shown to use the integrated circuit (IC)40ofFIG. 6(20inFIGS. 4 and 5) to construct its arming (enabling) capability. In this embodiment, this is accomplished by configuring the piezoelectric-based self-powered acceleration pulse magnitude and duration detection capability (the so-called all-fire detection capability in munitions) with its false trigger protection logic (the so-called no-fire protection/safety capability in munitions) to act as a switch by burning a fuse wire and opening a circuit, thereby permanently changing the laser activated initiation device circuit state as described later in this disclosure. In the laser activated initiation device embodiment50, this switching action constitutes the arming (enabling) mechanism, upon which the user can activate the initiation device using a laser beam.

In describing the operation of the “inertial switch” ofFIGS. 4, 5 and 6, it was shown that when the aforementioned prescribed acceleration pulse event has been detected by the detection of the prescribed minimum magnitude and minimum duration at the minimum magnitude, then the MOSFET M1is activated as it was described above. Upon activation of the MOSFET M1, the remaining charges that are generated by the piezoelectric element PZA is routed to charge the capacitor C2, which is connected to the pins indicated as 5 and 6 in the integrated circuit (IC)40(20inFIGS. 4 and 5).

In the first embodiment50of the present laser activated initiation device shown inFIG. 7, the circuit to the right of the integrated circuit (IC)40is attached to the pins5and6as shown inFIG. 7. Thus, once the aforementioned prescribed acceleration pulse event (all-fire event in munitions) has been detected by the detection of the prescribed minimum magnitude and minimum duration at the minimum magnitude and the MOSFET M1is activated, then the remaining charges that are generated by the piezoelectric element PZA is routed through the fuse F1shown inFIG. 7. In this circuit, the resistance of the resistor R4is selected to be high and the resistance of the fuse F1is selected to be very low (preferably in the order of 1-3 Ohms), therefore almost all the generated current by the activation of the MOSFET M1is passed through the fuse F land causes it burn, thereby opening the indicated circuit parallel to the resistor R4.

It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that in the provided laser activated initiation device circuit connected to the pins5and6, the transistor Q1acts as a normally open switch. If MOSFET M1inside the integrated circuit (IC)40is not activated, i.e., if the laser activated initiation device50has not detected the aforementioned prescribed acceleration pulse, since the fuse F1is intact, the drain and source pin of the transistor Q1are shorted by the fuse F1, causing the transistor Q1to remain in cut off mode, i.e., act as an open switch. During this state of the transistor Q1, any current that may be generated by the photovoltaic cell cannot activate the transistor Q1. With the intact fuse F1, any current generated by the photovoltaic cell passes almost entirely through the resistor through resistor R5since the resistance of the resistor is very high and that of the fuse F1is very low, in effect the fuse F1is shorting the resistor R4. Therefore, the negligible amount of current passing through the fuse F1cannot burn its filament and therefore the transistor Q1still act as an open switch. As a result, any current generated by the photovoltaic cell would not pass through the initiation “filament”,FIG. 7. That is, as long as the laser activated initiation device50,FIG. 7, is not armed (enabled) by the aforementioned detection of the prescribed acceleration pulse (the all-fire condition in munitions) and consequent burning of the fuse F1filament, the device50is in its disarmed (not enabled) state.

As an example, consider the case in which the photovoltaic cell is producing a voltage of 5 V. If the resistance of the resistors R4and R5are 5 MΩ and the resistance of the fuse F1is 3Ω, then the current passing through the fuse F1will be around 1 μA, which the fuse F1is designed to readily withstand.

It is also appreciated by those skilled in the art that once the aforementioned prescribed acceleration pulse event (all-fire event in munitions) has been detected by the detection of the prescribed minimum magnitude and minimum duration at the minimum magnitude and the MOSFET M1is activated, the remaining charges that are generated by the piezoelectric element PZA is routed through the fuse F1shown inFIG. 7, and as was previously described will burn the filament of the fuse F1. At this point, the embodiment50of the present laser activated initiation device shown inFIG. 7is armed (enabled). At this point, the drain and source pins of transistor Q1are no longer shorted by the fuse F1.

Now when current is generated by the photovoltaic cell by the user laser beam (light source), voltage drop across the resistors R4and R5causes the transistor Q1to be activated. Once the transistor Q1is activated, the previously open “switch” Q1is closed, and since the resistances of the resistors R4and R5are high, almost all the generated current is passed through low resistance “initiation filament”,FIG. 7. The initiation filament is thereby heated, and if the components of the laser activated initiation device50,FIG. 7, have been selected properly to match the ignition temperature of the pyrotechnic material being used, the heated initiation filament would ignite the adjacent pyrotechnic material.

In the laser activated initiation device50,FIG. 7, the photovoltaic cell may be any photosensitive cell such as a photodiode or a photovoltaic or an array of such cells, such as the photovoltaic cell with part number CPC1822 by IXYS Corporation. The light source for the photovoltaic cell may be a high power LED or a laser diode such as part number SLD3234VF by Sony Corporation. In general, when higher currents are needed, more than one photovoltaic cell and light source may be used, and the photovoltaic cells are connected together in parallel configuration.

In the laser activated initiation device embodiment50ofFIG. 7, the current generated by the photovoltaic cell is directly used to heat the initiation filament to ignite the provided pyrotechnic material. Thus, the photoelectric cell must provide enough current to heat the initiation filament rapidly enough to raise its temperature to the required level that would ignite the pyrotechnic material being used, noting that the heat generated by the initiation filament would also be conducted away, particularly at low temperatures. This is particularly problematic in munitions applications since munitions may also be used at very low temperatures, sometimes even less than −60 degrees C. This would make the required current level highly dependent on the temperature and to ensure initiation at very low temperatures, the laser activated initiation device embodiment50must be provided with one or more photovoltaic cells that are illuminated with relatively strong laser/light sources to generate the required current levels. In addition, the initiation process will take a relatively long time, which is also dependent on the ambient temperature of the initiation filament and the heat conductivity and heat capacity of the pyrotechnic material and other surrounding material.

The second embodiment55of the laser activated initiation device shown inFIG. 8is intended to provide very fast initiation filament heating to minimize the effect of its aforementioned surrounding temperature, and not to require strong current generation from the photovoltaic cell of the device. In addition, an LED light is also provided to alert the user of the initiation filament heating. In the embodiment55of the laser activated initiation device shown inFIG. 8, a sufficient amount of electrical energy is first generated by the photovoltaic cell and stored in a storage capacitor, and is then used to suddenly pass a very high current through the very low resistance (usually 1-3 Ohm) initiation filament. The initiation filament is thereby heated during a very short period of time, and considering the natural relatively long time constant of heat conduction into the surrounding regions, the temperature of the initiation filament is rapidly raised to ignite the surrounding pyrotechnic material.

It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that the level of current that the storage capacitor can discharge through the initiation filament is proportional to its voltage, and that photovoltaic cells can only generate voltages of a few volts. Thus, a circuitry such as a voltage booster must be used to step up the photovoltaic generated voltage to charge the electrical energy storage capacitor for discharge at high voltage, i.e., at high current, through the initiation filament for the aforementioned desired rapid heating.

In the embodiment55ofFIG. 8, the capacitor C3is the intended high voltage electrical energy storage capacitor that is to be charged by the electrical energy generating photovoltaic cell through the aforementioned voltage booster after the laser activated initiation device embodiment55is armed (enabled), i.e., after the transistor Q1is activated as was described for the laser activated initiation device embodiment50ofFIG. 7following detection of the prescribed acceleration pulse of minimum magnitude that lasts a minimum period of time.

As the energy stored in a capacitor is proportional to the square of its voltage, a typical capacitor C3will be rated at higher voltage than supplied by the photovoltaic cell, which is usually of the order of a few volts. Thus, direct charging of C3is not practical. To achieve the higher required voltage across the capacitor C3, the aforementioned voltage booster circuit comprising of a transistor Q2and coupled inductors NP and NS provides a practical solution as shown inFIG. 8. These coupled inductors are usually provided by a transformer T1shown in the circuit ofFIG. 8. The circuit configuration of the two inductors NP and NS and the transistor Q2form an oscillator which progressively charges the capacitor C3.

The operation of the voltage booster circuit of the laser activated initiation device embodiment55is based on positive feedback provided by the proportional relationship between the transistor Q2base current i1and the collector current i2,FIG. 8. At the beginning of the charging cycle, that is when the photovoltaic cell is illuminated, the base current i1and therefore the collector current i2are zero and begin to increase in response to the photo-generated voltage. The collector current i2increases at a rate which may be a factor of 200 times greater than the base current i1, due to the current gain of the transistor. In this manner, increasing collector current causes increase in the collector-emitter voltage, which results in an increase in the base current, which in turn increases the collector current, resulting in positive feedback. The process continues until the collector current reaches its maximum value, at which point the transistor Q2is in its saturated state, and the voltage the across the inductors goes to zero, and as a result the base current i1goes to zero, and the transistor Q2switches off, resulting in zero collector current i2. The charged inductor NS now reverses polarity and the energy from NS is dumped into the capacitor C3as the diode D3which was previously reverse biased now becomes forward biased. Once the transistor Q2base current i1goes to zero, the cycle repeats as photovoltaic cell is still illuminated. The voltage across the capacitor C3builds up in this step-wise manner until the voltage across the capacitor C3reaches a level above the breakdown voltage of the Zener diode Z2, at which point the transistor Q3switches into the ON state allowing current to flow through the initiation filament. The initiation filament is thereby heated very rapidly, allowing it to initiate (ignite) the provided pyrotechnic material. The current flow through the initiation filament will go to zero either if the initiation filament is burned or the capacitor voltage across C3falls below the Zener diode breakdown voltage.

The third embodiment56of the laser activated initiation device shown inFIG. 9. This embodiment is identical to the embodiment55ofFIG. 8, except that it is also provided with a normally open switch SW2between the transistor Q3and the initiation filament and an LED light as can be seen inFIG. 9. In this embodiment, as the electrical energy storage capacitor C3is charged to the expected voltage, the indicated LED light goes on, indicating that the capacitor C3is charged with enough electrical energy. The user can then close the switch SW2, thereby discharging the capacitor C3through the initiation filament. The initiation filament is thereby heated very rapidly, allowing it to initiate (ignite) the provided pyrotechnic material.

The fourth embodiment57of the laser activated initiation device shown inFIG. 10. This embodiment is identical to the embodiment55ofFIG. 8, except that a timing circuit is also provided that would delay the discharge of the electrical energy from the capacitor C3through the initiation filament once the voltage of the capacitor has reached its prescribed level. In the modified circuit ofFIG. 10, once the voltage across the capacitor C3is larger than the Zener voltage of Z2, the transistor Q3is activated and current begins to flow into the capacitor C4through the resistor R8. The transistor Q4is a MOSFET which acts as a switch. The transistor Q4is initially open and it is closed when the capacitor C4is charged to a voltage equal or larger than Q4gate threshold voltage. The capacitance of C4is significantly smaller than that of the capacitance of the capacitor C3so that minimal electrical energy is discharged into the capacitor C4from the capacitor C3. The transistor Q4, resistor R8and the capacitor C4together form a timer. The amount of time that it takes for the voltage across the capacitor C4to reach the transistor Q4gate threshold voltage level is determined by the time constant of the resistor R8and capacitor C4. By properly selecting the resistance of the resistor R8and the capacitance of the capacitor C4, the amount of time that it takes for the transistor Q4to be activated following activation of the transistor Q3can be set to the desired value.

Once the capacitor C4is charged to transistor Q4gate threshold voltage, the transistor Q4is activated and current flows from the capacitor C3through into the initiation filament. The initiation filament is thereby heated very rapidly, allowing it to initiate (ignite) the provided pyrotechnic material.

The fifth embodiment58of the laser activated initiation device shown inFIG. 11. This embodiment is identical to the embodiment57ofFIG. 10, except that it is also provided with a normally open switch SW3between the transistor Q3and the initiation filament and an LED light as can be seen inFIG. 11. In this embodiment, as the electrical energy storage capacitor C3is charged to the expected voltage, the indicated LED light goes on, indicating that the capacitor C3is charged with enough electrical energy. The user can then close the switch SW2, thereby discharging the capacitor C3through the initiation filament. The initiation filament is thereby heated very rapidly, allowing it to initiate (ignite) the provided pyrotechnic material.

It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that different types of photovoltaic cells are currently available and that any one of such cells, which could be eliminated by an appropriate light source such as a high power LED or a diode laser, or the like may be used in the disclosed embodiments ofFIGS. 7-11. Similarly, photodiodes or other similar cells, well known in the art, may be used in place of the indicated photovoltaic cells.