Patent ID: 7848078

Claim:
A blasting apparatus comprising: (1) at least one blasting machine for transmitting at least one command signal to at least two associated detonator assemblies, at least including an all-acknowledge command signal for receipt by said at least two detonator assemblies; (2) at least two detonator assemblies, each detonator assembly comprising: (i) a detonator including a base charge; (ii) a memory for storing an anti-collision response time; (iii) a clock for counting down the anti-collision response time upon receipt from said at least one blasting machine of said all-acknowledge command signal; and (iv) a transmitter for transmitting an acknowledge signal in response to said all-acknowledge command signal, upon expiry of said anti-collision response time; and (3) at least one receiver, optionally integrated into said at least one blasting machine, for receiving said acknowledge signals from said detonator assemblies, and differentiating each acknowledge signal from at least one other acknowledge signal in accordance with its time of receipt, thereby to verify communication with each detonator assembly of said blasting apparatus.