Patent ID: 8230946

Claim:
A sidewall percussion coring tool including: a tool housing; an explosive material disposed within the tool housing; a voltage activated igniter comprising: an igniter housing that defines an internal volume; a semiconductor bridge disposed within the internal volume; a spark gap disposed within the internal volume and electrically coupled in series to the semiconductor bridge; a capacitor disposed within the internal volume and electrically coupled in parallel with the spark gap and semiconductor bridge; a resistor disposed within the internal volume and electrically coupled in parallel with the capacitor; a pyrotechnic that abuts the semiconductor bridge, the pyrotechnic disposed within the internal volume; an explosive charge that abuts the pyrotechnic, the explosive charge disposed within the internal volume; and a vent tube distinct from the igniter housing, the vent tube fluidly coupling the internal volume to the explosive charge into the explosive material; and a core barrel, the core barrel being propellable out of the housing by the detonation of the explosive material.