Patent ID: 7216589

Claim:
A fuse apparatus for igniting an explosive charge of an ordnance, the fuse apparatus comprising: a laser adapted to generate a laser optical signal for igniting the explosive charge; an electrically controlled mechanical switch comprising a base, an actuator connected to the base, and an actively controlled movable element adapted to move relative to the base as a function of an electrical control signal applied to the actuator, wherein the mechanical switch is adapted to be configured in: a first switch configuration in which at least one of position and orientation of the movable element is controlled by the actuator to directly prevent the laser optical signal from impinging on the explosive charge; and a second switch configuration in which at least one of the position and the orientation of the movable element is controlled by the actuator to directly enable the laser optical signal to impinge on the explosive charge; and a control unit adapted to generate and transmit the electrical control signal to the actuator to change the configuration of the mechanical switch from the first switch configuration to the second switch configuration.