Single-capacitor electronic detonator and system for firing such single-capacitor electronic detonators

1 . A single-capacitor electronic detonator, comprising:

an explosive initiator ( 11 ), electronic controller ( 16 ), a single energy storage capacitor ( 15 ) connected to said electronic controller ( 16 ) and to said explosive initiator ( 11 ), and connection means ( 13 ) for connection to an energy source ( 12 ) for supplying said single energy storage capacitor ( 15 ) with energy, said single energy storage capacitor ( 15 ) being designed to supply said electronic controller ( 16 ) with energy and said explosive initiator ( 11 ) with energy when said single-capacitor electronic detonator ( 10 ) is fired, wherein the single-capacitor electronic detonator also comprises a clipper ( 18 ) for clipping the voltage across terminals of said single energy storage capacitor ( 15 ), said clipping means clipper ( 18 ) having a threshold clipping value (Us) lower than a non-firing voltage value (Ua) of said explosive initiator ( 11 ), said clipper ( 18 ) being controlled by said electronic controller ( 16 ) between an activated position, in which said clipper ( 18 ) limits said voltage to a value lower than said threshold clipping value (Us), and a deactivated position, in which said clipper ( 18 ) is inactive.

2 . The single-capacitor electronic detonator in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a voltage regulator ( 19 ) is connected between the connection means ( 13 ) and said clipper ( 18 ).

3 . The single-capacitor electronic detonator according to claim 2 , wherein said electronic controller ( 16 ) is designed to control both said clipper ( 18 ) in said activated position and a voltage regulator ( 19 ) in a low-voltage position.

4 . The single-capacitor electronic detonator according to claim 1 , wherein when the electronic controller ( 16 ) is powered up, said electronic controller ( 16 ) is designed to control said clipper ( 18 ) in said activated position and/or a voltage regulator ( 19 ) in a low-voltage position.

5 . The single-capacitor electronic detonator according to claim 1 , wherein when said electronic controller ( 16 ) detects an interruption in power being supplied to said single energy storage capacitor ( 15 ) for a predefined period, said electronic controller ( 16 ) is designed to control said clipper ( 18 ) in said activated position and/or a voltage regulator ( 19 ) in a low-voltage position.

6 . The single-capacitor electronic detonator according to claim 1 , wherein when said electronic controller ( 16 ) receives a dedicated command before said single-capacitor electronic detonator ( 10 ) is fired, said electronic controller ( 16 ) is designed to control said clipper ( 18 ) in said deactivated position and/or a voltage regulator ( 19 ) in a high-voltage position.

7 . A firing system for a single-capacitor electronic detonator ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the firing system comprises:

a firing console ( 30 ) designed to transmit, to said electronic controller ( 16 ) of the single-capacitor electronic detonator ( 10 ), a command to switch said clipper ( 18 ) from said activated position to said deactivated position and/or a command to switch a voltage regulator ( 19 ) from a low-voltage position to a high-voltage position.

8 . The firing system according to claim 7 , wherein said firing console ( 30 ) is designed to transmit separately said command to switch said clipper ( 18 ) from said activated position to said deactivated position and said command to switch said voltage regulator ( 19 ) from said low-voltage position to said high-voltage position.

9 . The firing system according to claim 8 , wherein said electronic controller ( 16 ) is designed, upon receiving the command to switch said clipper ( 18 ) from said activated position to said deactivated position, or the command to switch said voltage regulator ( 19 ) from said low-voltage position to said high-voltage position, to cancel said command to switch said voltage regulator ( 19 ) or said command to switch said clipper ( 18 ) if, within a predetermined time period, a second command to switch said voltage regulator ( 19 ) from said low-voltage position to said high-voltage position, or said clipper ( 18 ) from said activated position to said deactivated position, is not received.

10 . A single-capacitor electronic detonator, comprising:

an explosive initiator ( 11 ), electronic controller ( 16 ), a single energy storage capacitor ( 15 ) connected to said electronic controller ( 16 ) and to said explosive initiator ( 11 ), and connection means ( 13 ) for connection to an energy source ( 12 ) for supplying said single energy storage capacitor ( 15 ) with energy, said single energy storage capacitor ( 15 ) being designed to supply said electronic controller ( 16 ) with energy and said explosive initiator ( 11 ) with energy when said single-capacitor electronic detonator ( 10 ) is fired, wherein the single-capacitor electronic detonator also comprises a voltage regulator ( 19 ) connected to said connection means ( 13 ), said voltage regulator ( 19 ) being controlled by said electronic controller ( 16 ) between at least one high-voltage position, in which an output voltage of the voltage regulator ( 19 ) is greater than a non-firing voltage value (Ua) of said explosive initiator ( 11 ), and a low-voltage position, in which the output voltage of the voltage regulator ( 19 ) is lower than said non-firing voltage value (Ua) of said explosive initiator ( 11 ).