Patent ID: 7543532

Claim:
A device for initiating an energetic material, the device comprising: a base; a first electrically conductive pad coupled to the base; a second electrically conductive pad coupled to the base, the second electrically conductive pad being spaced apart from the first electrically conductive pad by a first gap of a first predetermined distance; a conductive terminal; an initiating element coupled between the conductive terminal and the second electrically conductive pad; a first electrically conductive projection coupled to the first electrically conductive pad and extending into the first gap; and a second electrically conductive projection coupled to the second electrically conductive pad and extending into the first gap, the second electrically conductive projection being spaced apart from the first electrically conductive projection by a second predetermined distance; wherein the first and second electrically conductive projections form an electrical interface; and wherein no plasma or element adapted to produce a plasma is disposed in the first gap.