EP3899417A1

EP3899417A1 - Method for igniting an assembly of electronic detonators

Info

Publication number: EP3899417A1
Application number: EP19845770.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lionel BIARD
Original assignee: Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA; Davey Bickford SAS; Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
Current assignee: Davey Bickford SAS; Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
Priority date: 2018-12-17
Filing date: 2019-12-17
Publication date: 2021-10-27
Also published as: FR3090087A1; FR3090087B1; EA202191716A1; CO2021007756A2; BR112021011697A2; CL2021001562A1; CA3122858A1; CN113348337B; CN113348337A; MX2021007137A; ZA202104815B; PE20212397A1; US20220018644A1; WO2020128300A1; AU2019400901A1

Abstract

A method for igniting an assembly of electronic detonators (1) comprises: - receipt, by a receiving device (30) associated with one or more electronic detonators (1), of an ignition command from a transmitted sequence of ignition commands (100) comprising at least two ignition commands, a synchronisation delay (t2, t4) being associated with each ignition command; - counting down, from the time of receipt of the ignition command, the synchronisation delay (t2, t4) associated with the received ignition command; - counting down an ignition delay (t_delay) associated with each electronic detonator (1) from a synchronisation time (I_s) corresponding to the time at which the countdown of the synchronisation delay (t2, t4) is complete; and - igniting each electronic detonator (1) once the countdown of the ignition delay (t _delay) is complete.

Description

Method of igniting a set of electronic detonators

The present invention relates to a method for igniting a set of electronic detonators.

The invention also relates to an electronic detonator, a transmitting device, and a system for igniting a set of electronic detonators.

The invention finds its application in the field of pyrotechnic initiation, in any sector where a network of several electronic detonators must traditionally be implemented. Typical examples of use relate to mining, quarrying, seismic exploration, or the building and public works sector.

During the installation of the firing system on the ground or work site, the electronic detonators are placed respectively in locations arranged to receive them and loaded with explosives. These locations are for example holes drilled in the ground. The firing of the electronic detonators is then carried out according to a predetermined sequence.

To achieve this result, a firing delay is associated individually with each electronic detonator, and a common firing order is broadcast to the electronic detonator network using a control console. This firing order or firing command makes it possible to trigger, in a synchronized manner, the counting of the firing delay for all the electronic detonators. From the reception of the firing order, each electronic detonator manages the counting of the specific delay associated with it, as well as its own firing.

Traditionally, electronic detonators being of the wired type, they are connected to a control console by electric wires or cables. The wiring used to connect the electronic detonators to the control console allows communication between the control console and the electronic detonators, for example to exchange with them commands or messages relating to the diagnosis, and to send them the firing command.

Sometimes, a firing system comprises several shooting consoles, arranged close to the shooting front, and connected respectively to several sets of electronic detonators. Shooting consoles communicate, generally by wireless communication means, with a remote control console. This control console sends messages to the fire consoles connected to the electronic detonators, such as the firing control. Each firing console in turn sends messages to the set of electronic detonators connected to it.

Sometimes the deployment environment of electronic detonators, as well as faults in the connection elements used can be the cause of wiring faults (false contacts, leakage currents, etc.), leading to degradation of the electrical signals transmitted. . In addition, the use of a high number of detonators connected to the same network of cables can induce attenuations and distortions of the modulated electrical signals transmitted on the cables, which can sometimes make it difficult for electronic detonators, the demodulation of messages. received from the control console.

Wireless electronic detonators are also known which make it possible to dispense with the wiring between the detonator network and the control console, and thus the hazards associated with this wiring.

Communication between the control console and the electronic detonators can take place, for example, by radio waves.

For this type of electronic detonators, although they do not have the aforementioned difficulties linked to the wiring, the communication between the control console and the electronic detonators remains subject to vagaries of transmission which are sometimes difficult to predict, such as fainting (“ fading ”in Anglo-Saxon terminology) temporal and spatial, or interference. These effects lead to significant variations in the signal-to-noise ratio at the input of the demodulator, which can prevent punctual reception by electronic detonators of messages from the control console.

Thus, for both wired electronic detonators and for wireless electronic detonators, problems in the communication between the control console and the electronic detonators may arise.

The remote control console and the fire consoles connected to the electronic detonators also communicate in general by means of wireless communication.

Thus, the communications between the fire consoles connected to the electronic detonators and the remote control console also present the aforementioned problems.

These issues affect the reception of the detonator firing order. Sometimes the firing order is not received by some detonators, and therefore is not fired. This is considered a system failure.

The object of the present invention is to propose a method of igniting a set of electronic detonators making it possible to improve the reliability of ignition.

In this regard, the present invention relates according to a first aspect to a method of firing a set of electronic detonators, each electronic detonator having an associated firing delay.

According to the invention, the method comprises the following stages:

reception by a reception device associated with one or more electronic detonators of a firing command from a sequence of firing commands issued comprising at least two firing commands, a synchronization delay being associated with each firing control;

- counting from the moment of receipt of said firing command, of the synchronization delay associated with said firing command received; - counting of the ignition delay associated with each electronic detonator from a synchronization instant corresponding to the instant at which the synchronization delay count is finalized; and

- firing of each electronic detonator when the counting of the firing delay is finalized.

Thus, a sequence of firing commands is issued, for example by a control console, so that at least one of the firing commands is received by a receiving device.

Each firing command has an associated synchronization delay, the duration represented by the synchronization delay count being different for different firing commands. Indeed, the duration represented by the counting of the synchronization delay depends on the instant at which the firing command is issued, compared to the synchronization instant in question.

Note that for the counting of the synchronization delay, the reception device takes into account the moment at which the firing command is received. Indeed, the propagation time of the firing commands being negligible, the instant of emission of a firing command and the instant of reception of the command in the receiving device, are similar.

The synchronization time is defined as the time at which the synchronization time countdown is finalized and from which the firing delay countdown associated with the electronic detonator is implemented. In other words, the synchronization delay associated with a firing command makes it possible to obtain the synchronization instant by means of the synchronization delay countdown from the reception of the firing command.

In reality, an execution time (or "Processing" time) elapses between the end of the synchronization delay countdown and the instant at which the firing delay countdown associated with the electronic detonator is implemented. This execution time being negligible, in the following description it is considered that the countdown of the delay time associated with the detonator begins when the end of the countdown of the synchronization delay is reached. This synchronization instant must be common for the triggering of the firing delay countdown for all of the electronic detonators. Indeed, for the firing of all the detonators to be implemented in a synchronized manner, it is very important that the counting of the firing delays begins in a synchronized manner from this synchronization instant.

Consequently, the association of a synchronization delay with each firing command in the sequence makes it possible to obtain the synchronization instant regardless of the firing command received.

In addition, the multiplicity of firing commands issued allows the receiving device to increase the probability of receiving at least one firing command.

Consequently, the reliability of the reception of the firing information is improved, that is to say that the reliability of the firing of all the electronic detonators is improved, while keeping good synchronization of firing.

According to one characteristic, the reception step is carried out by a reception device which is associated with a single electronic detonator and forming an integral part of the electronic detonator, the step of counting the synchronization delay and the step of counting the delay of firing being carried out by the electronic detonator.

Thus, in this embodiment the detonator comprises the reception device, the firing command being received by the electronic detonator. Consequently, the synchronization time corresponds to the time at which the countdown of the synchronization time associated with the received firing command is finalized.

It will be noted that the modules forming the electronic detonator can be placed in the same box or in separate boxes. For example, in a possible embodiment, certain modules, such as radio communication modules are placed in a separate housing from the rest of the detonator modules so that the radio communication module can be placed above ground while the rest of the electronic detonator is in a hole drilled in the ground.

According to one characteristic, the reception step is carried out by a reception device which is associated with several electronic detonators, the firing method further comprising a reception step by each electronic detonator of the synchronization instant, the step of counting the synchronization delay being carried out by the reception device, and the step of counting the firing delay being carried out by each electronic detonator, after reception of the synchronization instant.

In this embodiment, once the counting of the synchronization delay associated with the received firing command has been finalized, the reception device addresses the synchronization instant obtained to the associated electronic detonators so that they start counting the delay of Firing.

Note that the counting of the firing delay in a detonator does not start until the synchronization instant has been received by the detonator. There is thus a slight difference between the synchronization instant determined by the reception device as being the instant at which the synchronization delay countdown is finalized, and the time at which the firing delay countdown begins. As this difference is negligible, it is considered that the counting of the ignition delay begins from the synchronization instant determined by the reception device.

According to one characteristic, the firing method includes steps for receiving firing commands from among said sequence of firing commands issued comprising at least two firing commands, the synchronization delay count being set updated on each additional reception of a firing command with the synchronization delay associated with the firing command received.

For example, the firing method may include a step of receiving a second firing command, the counting of the synchronization delay being updated with the synchronization delay associated with said second firing command received. . Consequently, each time a firing command is received, the synchronization delay count is updated with the value of the synchronization delay associated with the last firing command received.

Thus, the time drift in the counting of the synchronization delay is minimized. In fact, the longer the synchronization delay, the greater the temporal drift. Thus, updating the synchronization delay limits the time drift.

Therefore, the timing accuracy is further improved.

According to one characteristic, each firing command comprises a set of characteristics relating to the sequence of firing commands.

According to one characteristic, each firing command contains the synchronization delay associated with it.

The reception device is thus configured to extract the synchronization delay upon reception of the firing command.

According to another characteristic, the firing method includes a prior step of storing in the receiving device a set of characteristics relating to the sequence of firing commands.

This preliminary storage step allows the receiving device to know characteristics relating to the sequence of firing commands issued and the firing commands received.

According to one characteristic, each firing command includes information relating to the identity of the command.

Thus, each firing command can be identified in the sequence of firing commands.

For example, the information relating to the identity of the order includes an identification number making it possible to identify an order among the orders of the sequence.

The identification number can be a sequence number in the sequence, this sequence number being able to be increasing or decreasing in the sequence of commands according to different embodiments. In one embodiment, the set of characteristics includes the number of firing commands in the command sequence.

According to one characteristic, the set of characteristics comprises synchronization data relating to the sequence of firing commands, said synchronization data allowing the determination of the synchronization times associated respectively with the firing commands.

Thus, the reception device is aware of the synchronization delays which are respectively associated with the firing commands received.

According to one characteristic, the synchronization data comprises a list of synchronization delays associated respectively with firing commands.

In this embodiment, the reception device stores a table in which synchronization delays are respectively associated with firing commands. For example, as indicated above, each firing command can be identified by an identification number or a serial number in the sequence. This identification number or serial number in the sequence is included in the firing order. Thus, when the reception device receives a firing command, it obtains from the table the synchronization delay associated with the firing command received.

According to one characteristic, the synchronization data includes a value of the time interval between the issuance of two consecutive firing commands.

In this embodiment, the reception device knowing the time elapsed between the issuance of consecutive commands can determine the synchronization delay associated with a firing command received, by also knowing the information relating to the identity of the firing command received, and possibly the total number of firing commands present in the sequence to locate the firing command received in the sequence. It will be noted that the value of the time interval is constant between the issue of two firing commands.

It will also be noted that when the information relating to the identity of the command includes a decreasing command identification number in the sequence of firing commands, it is not necessary to know the number of firing commands. in the sequence of commands.

The storage of a single synchronization parameter or data is necessary in this case, this parameter being the time interval between two consecutive transmissions.

According to one characteristic, the synchronization data comprises a list of time intervals, each time interval being associated with two consecutive firing commands, the time interval representing the time elapsed between the emission of the two firing commands. consecutive fire.

In this embodiment, the value of the time intervals between the issuance of two consecutive firing commands can be variable. Thus, for example, the time interval between a first and second firing command may be different from the time interval between a second and a third firing command.

Thus, thanks to the synchronization data, the reception device knows the time interval associated with two consecutive firing commands and can determine the synchronization delay associated with a received firing command, by also knowing the information relating to the identity of the command, such as the identification number of the firing command received, and possibly the total number of firing commands present in the sequence for locating the firing command received in the sequence.

As indicated above, when the information relating to the identity of the command includes a decreasing command identification number in the sequence of firing commands, it is not necessary to know the number of firing commands fire in the sequence of commands. According to one characteristic, the set of characteristics includes the number of firing commands in the firing sequence.

This feature allows the receiving device to locate the firing command received in the sequence of firing commands.

According to one characteristic, the set of characteristics comprises modulation parameters used during the issuance of the firing commands of the sequence.

The receiving device knowing the parameters used for the modulation of the firing control, can suitably demodulate the firing control.

According to one characteristic, the modulation parameters are different for different firing commands.

The most suitable modulation parameters can be selected to modulate each firing command in the sequence.

According to one characteristic, the firing process comprises the steps of:

- determination of the quality of communication between reception devices and a device for issuing firing commands of the firing sequence, and

- the determination of at least one characteristic of the set of characteristics as a function of the quality of communication determined.

Thus, the modulation parameters used for the emission of each firing command are adapted as a function of the quality of communication between reception devices and the emitting device emitting the firing commands.

The emitting device or emitting device can be a control console or a relay device, the relay device can be a firing console or an electronic detonator.

According to one characteristic, the step of determining the quality of communication is implemented as a function of messages sent by reception devices to a device for transmitting the firing commands of the firing sequence. According to one characteristic, the step of determining the quality of communication is implemented as a function of messages sent by a device for transmitting firing commands of the firing sequence to receiving devices.

In this embodiment, the time dedicated to determining the quality of communication between the device for issuing firing commands of the firing sequence and the receiving devices is reduced. Indeed, it is not necessary to wait for the reception of a large number of messages coming from each reception device, and allowing to have a reliable statistics of the quality of communication, as in the previous embodiment.

According to one characteristic, the firing method comprises a step of emitting by a device for emitting the firing commands of the firing sequence of all the characteristics relating to the sequence of firing commands fire.

The device for issuing firing commands of the firing sequence sends all characteristics to the receiving devices, for example when deploying electronic detonators in the field.

According to one embodiment, the firing method comprises steps of emitting by a device for issuing firing commands from the firing sequence of the firing command sequence.

For example, the device for issuing firing commands for the firing sequence is a control console.

According to another embodiment, the firing method comprises steps of transmitting part of the firing commands of the sequence by a command console and steps of emitting a part of the commands of firing of the sequence by a transmitting device other than the control console.

The present invention aims, according to a second aspect, to an electronic detonator comprising: means for receiving a firing command from a sequence of firing commands issued comprising at least two firing commands, a synchronization delay being associated with each firing command;

- first counting means configured to count down from the moment of receipt of said at least one firing command, said synchronization delay associated with said firing command received;

- second counting means configured to count down a firing delay associated with the electronic detonator from a synchronization instant corresponding to the instant at which said count of the synchronization delay is finalized; and

- firing means when said counting of said firing delay is finalized.

In one embodiment, the first and second counting means constitute unique counting means which are configured to count down the synchronization time and the firing delay.

According to one characteristic, the electronic detonator comprises storage means for storing a set of characteristics relating to the sequence of firing commands.

The present invention aims, according to a third aspect, at a transmitting device comprising transmitting means configured to emit a sequence of firing commands from a set of electronic detonators, said sequence of firing commands comprising at least two commands firing, a synchronization delay being associated with each firing command, used to obtain a synchronization instant from which the firing delay countdown is started for firing electronic detonators .

The transmitting device may be a control console or a relay device transmitting at least part of the firing commands of a firing sequence. In the case of a relay device, it must be configured to synchronize with the firing control sequence so as to issue some of the firing orders at the appropriate time.

The present invention relates, according to a fourth aspect, to a firing system comprising a transmitter device according to the invention and a set of electronic detonators according to the invention, the transmitter device being a firing console.

The electronic detonator, the emitting device and the firing system have characteristics and advantages similar to those described above in relation to the firing process.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the description below.

In the appended drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples:

- Figure 1a schematically shows a firing system of several electronic detonators implementing a firing method according to an embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 1b is a detail of Figure 1a and illustrates elements of an electronic detonator according to an embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 1 c illustrates parts of a firing system according to a second embodiment;

- Figures 2a and 2b illustrate diagrams representing the emission over time of a sequence of firing commands;

- Figure 3 schematically illustrates a field with elements of a firing system according to an embodiment of the invention; and

- Figure 4 is a diagram showing the firing process according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1a schematically represents a firing system 200 of several electronic detonators 1 implementing a firing method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

The firing system 200 comprises a control unit or console 2 and a set of detonators 1. In the diagram shown, the control console 2 is connected to the electronic detonators 1 by means of electric wires or cables 4. Of course, the invention applies to ignition systems in which the control console and the electronic detonators are connected together by means of wireless communication.

The firing system 200 may include one or more shooting consoles (not shown) generally communicating by radio with the control console 2 in the firing system.

It will be noted that to simplify the drawings and the description, a single console 2 connected to a set of detonators 1 is shown there. Nevertheless, a firing system 200 may comprise several shooting consoles, being respectively connected to sets of detonators 1. The control console 2 transmits messages intended for the shooting consoles, these messages then being addressed by the shooting consoles to the set of electronic detonators 1.

A control console 2 in accordance with the invention comprises transmission means 20 configured to transmit a sequence of firing commands intended for electronic detonators 1. A sequence of firing commands comprises at least two firing commands fire.

A synchronization delay is associated with each firing command in the sequence. This synchronization delay is used to obtain a synchronization instant from which the firing delay countdown is started for firing the electronic detonators 1.

It will be noted that the synchronization times associated respectively with the firing commands of the sequence are different.

FIG. 1b represents elements of an electronic detonator 1 according to one embodiment.

Each electronic detonator 1 comprises at least the following means, configured to implement the firing process according to the invention.

An electronic detonator 1 thus comprises reception means 10 configured to receive firing commands originating, for example, from the control console 2. In particular, the reception means 10 are a reception device configured to receive the firing commands from the sequence of firing commands. The receiving means 10 are according to the embodiments, of the wired or wireless type.

As indicated above, each firing command is associated with a different synchronization delay, so as to obtain at the end of the counting of each synchronization delay a single synchronization instant from which all of the electronic detonators 1 start synchronously, the counting of the firing delay.

In order to implement the synchronization delay count, each electronic detonator 1 comprises first count means 11 (also called synchronization delay counter) configured to count down from the moment of reception of a reset command. fire, the synchronization delay associated with the firing command received.

The electronic detonator 1 also comprises second counting means 12 (also called firing delay counter) configured to count the firing delay associated with the electronic detonator 1.

The firing delay countdown starts from a synchronization instant corresponding to the instant at which said synchronization delay countdown is finalized.

The counting means may include integrated circuits, known to those skilled in the art, designed to implement time counts. According to embodiments, the first counting means 11 are different from the second counting means 12, or they are implemented by common counting means.

The electronic detonator 1 further comprises a switch device 13 disposed between firing means or primer head or explosive primer 14 and an energy storage module 15 storing the energy source necessary for firing the electronic detonator 1. The switching device 13 is by default in the open position during the phases during which the electronic detonator 1 is not fired. The device switch 13 is in the closed position when the electronic detonator 1 is ignited. Thus, once the firing delay countdown has been finalized, the switch device 13 is controlled in the closed position and the energy contained in the energy storage module 15 is discharged into the primer head 14, causing the electronic detonator to ignite 1.

Figure 1c shows elements of a firing system according to a second embodiment. In this embodiment, the firing system includes at least one receiving device 30 ’associated with several electronic detonators 1 a’, 1 b ’. In particular, the receiving device 30 ’is connected by wire to one or more electronic detonators 1a’, 1 b ’. In other embodiments, the receiving device 30 ’and the electronic detonators are not wired but communicate with each other by wireless communication means.

The receiving device 30 ’can be a firing console intended to exchange messages with the electronic detonators 1a’, 1 b ’to carry out testing, programming or firing operations.

The reception device 30 ’comprises reception means 10’ configured to receive the firing commands of the firing sequence. These reception means 10 ’are similar to those described with reference to FIG. 1b.

The receiving device 30 'further comprises first counting means 11' similar to those described with reference to Figure 1b.

In this embodiment, the electronic detonator 1 a ', 1 b' includes second counting means 12 ', an energy storage module 15', firing means 14 'and a similar switching device 13' to those described with reference to Figure 1 b.

The firing process according to the invention is described below with reference to Figures 2a and 2b.

The method is described with reference to a firing system such as that shown in Figures 1a and 1b. When the process is implemented by a firing system such as that shown in Figure 1c, it is similar but certain steps are implemented by different elements of the firing system.

As described below, an electronic detonator 1 implementing a firing method according to the invention receives one or more firing commands from among the firing commands of a sequence 100 of firing commands fire, emitted for example by a control console 2.

The sequence 100 of firing commands or sequence of firing 100 includes a variable number of firing commands, the number being at least two. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2a, the firing sequence 100 includes five firing commands 101, 102, 103, 104, 105.

In this embodiment, each firing command is issued by the control console 2 at a time of transmission Tx1 - Tx5 respectively. Among the five firing commands 101, 102, 103, 104,

105 of sequence 100, only two firing commands (the second and fourth) are received 102, 104 at times of reception Rx2, Rx4.

It will be noted that in general the times of transmission are similar to the corresponding times of reception, owing to the negligible delays in transmission of the firing commands.

Each firing command 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 has an associated synchronization delay. In the embodiment shown, the second 102 and fourth 104 firing commands of the sequence 100 have associated synchronization delays referenced t2 and t4.

When a firing command 102, 104 is received by the electronic detonator 1, the associated synchronization time t2, t4 is counted down, by the first counting means 11, from the time of reception Rx2, Rx4 of the firing control 102, 104.

Once the synchronization delay countdown has been finalized (updated or not), the firing delay associated with electronic detonator 1 is counted down, by the second counting means 12. In other words, the delay in firing trotard is counted down from the synchronization instant Is.

When the countdown for the trotard firing delay is finalized, the electronic detonator 1 is fired.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2a, the synchronization delay t2 is counted down when the second command 102 of the sequence 100 is received at the time of reception Rx2 by the detonator 1.

In one embodiment, when a second firing command 104 is received in the electronic detonator 1, the synchronization delay count is updated with the synchronization delay t4 associated with said second firing command received 104 (or fourth firing command in the sequence).

In the embodiment shown, the fourth firing command 104 of the sequence 100 is received at the time of reception Rx4 by the electronic detonator 1. The synchronization time to be counted down, corresponding to the synchronization time t2 associated with the second firing command 102 is updated with the synchronization time t4 associated with the fourth firing command 104.

Thus, the count being updated with a synchronization delay associated with a firing command received later, the time drift in the count of the synchronization delay is reduced.

The time drift being minimized, the synchronization accuracy of the electronic detonators 1 is improved.

Updating the synchronization delay count is optional. In other words, the synchronization delay countdown is implemented from the reception of the first firing command 102.

The synchronization delay associated with a firing command is part of a set of characteristics relating to the corresponding firing command. The set of characteristics relating to the firing command comprises synchronization data relating to the sequence of firing commands. This synchronization data includes the delay synchronization or data allowing the determination of the synchronization times associated respectively with the firing commands.

The set of characteristics relating to the firing control includes, in addition to the synchronization data, other characteristics relating to the firing control 101 - 105 as will be described below.

For example, the synchronization data includes a list of synchronization times t1 - 15 associated respectively with firing commands 101 - 105.

In one embodiment, the set of characteristics relating to each firing command 101-105 includes information relating to the identity of the command. For example, a firing command 101-105 can be identified in the firing sequence 100 by an identification number.

The identification number can be a serial number indicating the position of the firing control 101 - 105 in the firing sequence 100.

In a firing sequence 100, the order numbers of the firing commands can be increasing or decreasing according to different embodiments.

Note that when the command identification number is decreasing in the firing sequence 100, it is not necessary to know the number of firing commands in the firing sequence 100.

In one embodiment, the set of characteristics relating to the firing command, such as the synchronization times associated with the firing commands, can be included respectively in the firing commands 101 - 105. When a firing command 101 - 105 is received by the electronic detonator 1, the synchronization delay t1 - 15, is extracted from the firing command received 102, 104, in order to implement the countdown.

In another embodiment, the set of characteristics relating to the firing sequence 100 is previously stored in the electronic detonators 1. Thus, in this embodiment, the synchronization times associated with the firing commands 101 - 105 are stored in the electronic detonator 1.

In one embodiment, the synchronization data comprises a list of synchronization delays associated respectively with firing commands.

Consequently, when a firing command 101-105 is received by the electronic detonator 1, the synchronization delay associated with the order serial number is obtained from the synchronization delay list.

According to other embodiments, the synchronization data comprises the value of the time interval between the issuance of two consecutive firing commands.

FIG. 2b represents the case of a firing method in which the synchronization delay associated with a firing command is determined from the values of the time intervals between the issuance of two firing commands 101 '- 109' consecutive.

The time interval may be the same or different between each transmission of two consecutive commands in the sequence.

When the intervals are different, the synchronization data can include a list of time intervals.

In this embodiment, the set of characteristics includes the number of firing commands 101 ’- 109’ in the firing sequence 100 ’.

In this embodiment, the electronic detonator 1 is configured to determine the synchronization delay associated with a firing command 101'-109 'received, knowing the identification number of the firing command received, the number of firing commands 101'-109 'in the firing sequence 100' and the time interval between firing commands 101'-109 '.

FIG. 2b represents the emission of a sequence 100 ′ of firing commands on a time line t. The 100 'sequence includes nine ignition commands 101'— 109 'issued respectively at times of emission Tx1 to Tx9.

Among the nine firing commands 101 '- 109' in the firing sequence 100 ', five are received by the electronic detonator 1 at reception instants Rx2 to Rx4, Rx6 and Rx7.

The time intervals Dt1 to Dt8 between each emission of two consecutive firing commands, as well as a time interval Dt9 associated with the last emission in this example, were previously stored in the electronic detonator 1.

In this embodiment, the counting of the synchronization delay from the moment of receipt of the firing command comprises several partial delay counts, the partial delays corresponding to the time intervals Dt1 to Dt9.

In other words, the synchronization delay is formed by the sum of the time intervals between times of emission Tx1 to Tx9 of firing commands.

At the end of the countdown of the last partial delay, or of the time interval corresponding to the last firing command (here the ninth command 109 ′), the firing delay count associated with the electronic detonator 1 is implemented, the firing of the electronic detonator 1 being implemented once the firing delay count has been finalized.

It will be noted that, although all of the commands are not received by the electronic detonator 1, the partial counts, corresponding to the counts of the time intervals associated with all of the firing commands of the sequence 100 ′, are set in work, and this from the first reception of a firing order.

It should also be noted that the electronic detonator 1 must know the number of firing commands 101 ’- 109’ in the firing sequence 100 ’in order to be able to determine the synchronization delay to count down.

In the diagram shown, the first firing command received corresponds to the second command 102 'of the sequence. This command is received at the time of receipt Rx2. At this time, the count of partial delay associated with this command Dt2 (corresponding to the time interval between the emissions of the second and third firing commands) is implemented. At the time of reception of the third firing command 103 ′, the partial countdown of the time interval associated with this command Dt3 (corresponding to the time interval between the transmissions of the third and fourth firing commands fire) is implemented. It is the same for the reception of the fourth firing command 104 '.

At the end of the countdown of the time interval associated with the fourth firing command 104 ', the time interval Dt5 associated with the fifth firing command 105', although not being received by the electronic detonator 2 is implemented. For this, the first counting means 1 1 are updated.

Similarly, the counts of the time intervals Dt8, Dt9 associated with the eighth 108 ’and ninth 109’ firing commands, although not received by the electronic detonator, are implemented.

Alternatively, the electronic detonators 1 implement, before the emission of the firing sequence 100 ′, a step of determining the synchronization times associated respectively with the firing commands 101 ′ - 109 ′ of the sequence 100 '. For this, for each firing command, the sum of the partial delay associated with the firing command and the partial delays associated with the following firing commands in the 100 ’sequence, is determined. At the end of this determination step, in each electronic detonator 1, a synchronization delay is associated with each firing command 101 '- 109' 'in the sequence 100' '.

For example, for the second firing command 102 'of the firing sequence 100', the sum of the partial delay Dt2 (delay associated with the second firing command 102 'and the associated partial delays Dt3 to Dt9 to the following firing controls, is implemented.

As for the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2a, when each firing command 102 ′, 103 ′, 104 ′, 106 ′, 107 ′ is received by the electronic detonator 1, the associated synchronization delay determined is counted, by the first counting means 1 1, from the moment of receipt Rx2, Rx3, Rx4, Rx6, Rx7 of the firing command 102 ', 103', 104 ', 106', 107 ' .

In addition, in order to reduce time drift, a countdown of a synchronization delay associated with a firing command can be updated with the synchronization delay associated with a firing command received later.

In this embodiment, and still with reference to the example shown in FIG. 2b, when a second firing command 103 'is received in the electronic detonator 1, the counting of the synchronization delay is updated with the synchronization delay associated with said second firing command received 103 ′ (or third firing command in the sequence). This process for updating the synchronization delay countdown is implemented when the commands 104 ’, 106’ and 107 ’are received by the electronic detonator 1.

In one embodiment, the storage in the electronic detonators 1 of the set of characteristics relating to the 100 ’sequence of firing commands is implemented during a storage step.

This storage step can be implemented during the manufacture of electronic detonators 1.

In certain embodiments, the set of characteristics can be updated later, during the operation of the firing system.

In one embodiment, the storage step is implemented on receipt of the data containing the set of characteristics, sent for example by the control console 2.

For example, once the firing system is installed in the field and before being used, the control console 2 addresses the set of characteristics to each electronic detonator 1.

The set of characteristics relating to the firing command, may also include modulation parameters used when issuing the firing commands of the sequence 100, 100 ′. Depending on the embodiments, the modulation parameters may be identical for the transmission of all the commands of the sequence 100, 100 ′ or may be different depending on the firing command issued.

By modulation parameters is meant the manner in which messages are formed and sent over the transmission channel. For example, the modulation parameters include the modulation type, the carrier frequency, the frequency bandwidth, the spectrum spread factor, the modulation order, the type of correction coding.

In certain embodiments, the characteristics of the set of characteristics can be determined as a function of the quality of communication between the control console 2, or other transmitting device, and the electronic detonators 1.

The quality of communication between the control console 2 and the electronic detonators 1 can be determined in different ways.

Thus, as a function of the quality of communication determined, characteristics relating to the sequence 100, 100 ′ of firing commands are determined, for example the number of firing commands in the firing sequence 100, 100 'to be used to guarantee the level of reliability of reception of firing commands, the synchronization delay or synchronization data such as the time interval between each firing command, and the modulation format to be used.

In one embodiment, the determination of the quality of communication is implemented as a function of messages exchanged between the control console 2 and the electronic detonators 1.

In one embodiment, the determination of the communication quality is implemented as a function of messages sent by electronic detonators 1 to the control console 2.

In another embodiment, the determination of the quality of communication is implemented as a function of messages sent by the control console 2 to electronic detonators 1. This embodiment has the advantage of being implemented more quickly as the mode from previous realization. In fact, in the previous embodiment, it is necessary to wait for the reception of a large number of messages from each electronic detonator 1, and making it possible to have a reliable statistic of the quality of communication. When the messages used for determining the quality are those sent by the control console 2, only the control console must send a large number of messages.

In order to implement the determination of the quality of the communication, each electronic detonator 1 can comprise, according to one embodiment, an element making it possible to carry out statistics on the quality of communication, for example an element making it possible to count the number messages received from the command console 2 correctly. This value can be sent subsequently to command console 2 for example, on a specific request from the latter, so as to calculate the packet error rate (or PER for "Packet Error Rate") for each electronic detonator 1.

By way of nonlimiting example given in order to illustrate the description, if the desired probability of failure is less than 10 ³ for each electronic detonator 1 and the error rate obtained for the set of electronic detonators is increased by 10 ^_1 , it is then necessary to repeat the firing command at least 3 times to guarantee the desired reliability.

Of course, depending on the criterion chosen, the number of messages exchanged between the control console 2 and the electronic detonators 1 must be adapted according to a predefined reliability criterion. A reliability criterion can be an overall probability of failure on the set of electronic detonators that does not exceed a certain threshold. It is also possible to analyze the temporal evolution of the communication channel, for example for radio communications subject to external interference.

As indicated below, depending on the quality of communication determined, characteristics relating to the firing sequence 100, 100 ′ are determined, for example the number of firing commands to be used to guarantee the level of reliability of receipt of the order firing time, synchronization delay or synchronization data such as the time interval between each firing command, and the modulation format to be used.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2b, different modulation parameters are used for issuing different firing commands.

It will be noted that, depending on the type of modulation used, the firing commands are received by the electronic detonators 1 with more or less temporal precision. The advantage of having good reception time accuracy is directly linked to the precision of the synchronization of the electronic detonators 1. However, better reception time accuracy is generally obtained at the expense of other criteria, typically the sensitivity of the receiver, that is, the reach or robustness of the communication.

Taking this into account, the 100 ’sequence of firing commands may include groups of firing commands issued with different modulation parameters.

In one embodiment, a first group 100a ’of firing commands is sent with modulation parameters allowing good communication robustness. The modulation parameters of this first group are selected in order to guarantee reliability of reception of at least one firing command from this first group 100a ’. The selection of these modulation parameters is known to those skilled in the art and does not need to be described here.

Groups of additional firing commands can be sent later with modulation parameters allowing better temporal precision of reception than the first group of firing commands, in spite of poorer reception reliability.

In the example shown in FIG. 2b, a first group of firing commands 100a ′ uses first modulation parameters allowing good reception robustness. A second group of firing commands 100b ′ uses second modulation parameters allowing better temporal accuracy of reception but less good reception robustness as the first modulation parameters. A third group of firing commands 100c ′ uses third modulation parameters allowing even better reception time accuracy but less good reception robustness than the second modulation parameters.

In other embodiments, the modulation parameters are different for each firing command in the sequence 100, 100 ′ and evolve starting from parameters allowing the best robustness and the least good time reception accuracy to parameters allowing poorer robustness and better temporal accuracy of reception.

As indicated above, the emission of the firing sequence is implemented by the control console 2. In addition, depending on the embodiments, the control console 2 can send to the electronic detonators 1 l set of characteristics relating to the 100, 100 ′ sequence of firing commands.

In other embodiments, part of the firing commands of the sequence 100, 100 'are issued by a control console and other parts of the firing commands of the sequence 100, 100' are issued by one or more transmitting devices other than the control console.

In other embodiments, used for example when the electronic detonators are particularly far from the control console, or when there are obstructions of the signal between the control console and the detonators (for radio communication), the firing system includes relay devices configured to send part of the commands of the firing sequence 100, 100 '. In certain embodiments, an electronic detonator can constitute a relay device, that is to say that it comprises the means necessary to implement the emission of the firing commands.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a plot of land on which a firing system 200 ′ is installed according to one embodiment, comprising electronic detonators 1, a control console 2 and relay devices 3.

In this figure, the electronic detonators 1 and the control console 2 are those described with reference to Figures 1 a and 1 b. However, the electronic detonators can be connected to one or more shooting consoles, or for example as in the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1c.

For example, the control console 2 issues part of the commands in the firing command sequence 100, 100 ’. Relay devices 3, on receipt of a firing command, calculate the transmission times Tx1 to Tx5; Tx1 to Tx9 of future firing commands, thanks to the knowledge of the set of characteristics t1 -t5; Dt1 to Dt9 of the firing sequence 100, 100 ’. The relay devices 3 each issue in turn part of the firing commands of the firing sequence. For this, the relay 3 devices must have been identified beforehand, and their contribution to the emission of the firing sequence must have been planned beforehand.

The order of intervention of relay 3 devices in the firing sequence, and the number of commands issued by each relay 3 device, are of course variable and depend on the network topology. For example, the relay devices 3 can each issue in turn a set of firing commands, or else each in turn issue a single firing command, before repeating this succession of emissions d several times. '' a single firing command.

The control console 2 must necessarily issue at least the first command in the firing sequence, to initiate the sequence.

The control console 2 and each relay device 3 can issue the firing commands using similar or different modulation parameters.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the firing control method. It will be noted that, as described below, certain steps of the method are optional and that, depending on the embodiments, they are or are not implemented. Furthermore, the implementation of the process steps has been described above. The method is described with reference to the first embodiment of a firing system 200 shown in Figures 1a and 1b.

The method represented in FIG. 4 comprises a step of determining the quality of communication E01 between the reception devices and a transmission device. In the first embodiment (FIGS. 1a and 1b), the quality of communication determined corresponds to the quality of communication between the electronic detonators 1 and the control console 2.

The method then comprises a step of determining at least one characteristic of the set of characteristics E02 as a function of the quality of communication determined in the preceding determination step E01.

In an embodiment not shown, the set of characteristics of the firing sequence is sent to the electronic detonators by the control console.

In the embodiment shown, the firing method includes a prior step of storing E03 in the electronic detonators 1 of the set of characteristics relating to the sequence of firing commands 100, 100 ’.

Once the characteristics of the firing sequence 100, 100 ′ are determined and stored, a transmitting device, such as the control console 2 implements an emission step E100 of the firing sequence 100, 100 '.

The firing process includes a step E10 of receiving a firing command. This firing command is part of a sequence of firing commands issued comprising at least two firing commands.

On receipt of the firing command, the method implements a step E20 of the synchronization delay associated with the command firing received, implemented from the moment of receiving the firing command.

Optionally, the firing process includes steps for receiving additional firing commands in the firing sequence 100, 100 ’. In the example shown, the firing method includes a step E11 of receiving a second firing command (for example, fourth firing command 104 in the case shown in FIG. 2a).

According to the embodiment shown, the ignition method comprises a step E21 of updating the countdown of the synchronization delay in progress with the synchronization delay (for example t4 in the case of FIG. 2a) associated with the second firing command received.

Once the synchronization delay count has been finalized, the firing process comprises a step E30 of the ignition delay associated with the electronic detonator 1 from the synchronization instant Is.

Once the firing delay count has been finalized, the firing process comprises a firing step E40 of the electronic detonator 1.

When the method is implemented by a firing system such as that shown in FIG. 1c, the step of receiving E10 of a firing command and the step of counting E20 of the synchronization delay are carried out by the receiving device (s) 30 '.

In addition, the set of characteristics relating to the firing command sequence 100, 100 ’is stored in the reception device or devices during the storage step E03. In this embodiment, once the synchronization instant is determined, it is sent to the electronic detonators 1, 1 a ’, 1 b’ associated with it. Thus, each electronic detonator 1, 1 a ’, 1 b’ implements a step of receiving the synchronization instant, followed by a step of counting (E30) the firing delay.

Of course, other embodiments of the firing process are possible. For example, the characteristics of the firing sequence may not be determined based on the quality of communication. In addition, these characteristics may not be addressed by the console before the firing sequence is sent. In this case, characteristics relating to the sequence, such as the synchronization times associated with each firing command are included in the firing command.

Claims

1. Method for igniting a set of electronic detonators, each electronic detonator (1) having an associated firing delay (trotard), the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

- reception (E10), by a reception device (10; 30 ') associated with one or more electronic detonators (1) of a firing command among a sequence of firing commands (100, 100') issued comprising at least two firing commands, a synchronization delay (t2, t4) being associated with each firing command;

- count (E20) from the moment of receipt of said firing command, the synchronization delay (t2, t4) associated with said firing command received;

- count (E30) of said firing delay (tretard) associated with each electronic detonator (1) from a synchronization instant (l _s ) corresponding to the instant at which said count of the synchronization delay (t2, t4 ) is finalized; and

- firing (E40) of each electronic detonator (1) when said counting of said firing delay is finalized.

2. A firing method according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving step is carried out by a receiving device (10) associated with a single electronic detonator (1) and forming an integral part of the electronic detonator, l the counting step (E20) of the synchronization delay and the counting step (E30) of the firing delay are carried out by the electronic detonator (1).

3. Firing method according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving step is carried out by a receiving device (30 ') being associated with several electronic detonators (1), the firing method comprising in addition a step of reception by each detonator of the synchronization instant, the step of counting (E20) of the synchronization delay being carried out by the reception device (30 ′), and the step of counting (E30) of the delay firing being carried out by each electronic detonator, after reception of the synchronization instant.

4. Firing method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises additional reception steps (E11) of firing commands among said sequence of firing commands issued comprising at least two firing commands, the counting of the synchronization delay being updated (E21) on each additional reception of a firing command with the synchronization delay (t2, t4) associated with said firing command fire received.

5. Firing method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each firing command includes a set of characteristics relating to the sequence of firing commands (100, 100 ’).

6. Firing method according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the firing control includes information relating to the identity of the control.

7. Method of firing according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a prior stage of storage (E03) in the receiving devices (10; 30 ') of a set of characteristics relating to the sequence of firing commands (100, 100 ').

8. Firing method according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that said set of characteristics includes synchronization data relating to the sequence of firing commands (100, 100 '), said data synchronization allowing the determination of synchronization times (t2, t4) associated respectively with firing commands.

9. Firing method according to claim 8, characterized in that said synchronization data comprise a list of synchronization times (t1 - 15) associated respectively with firing commands.

10. A firing method according to claim 8, characterized in that said synchronization data includes the value of the time interval between the issuance of two consecutive firing commands.

11. Firing method according to claim 8, characterized in that said synchronization data comprise a list of time intervals (Dt1 - Dt9), each time interval (Dt1 - Dt9) being associated with two commands of consecutive firing, a time interval (Dt1 - Dt9) representing the time between the issuance of the two consecutive firing commands.

12. Firing method according to one of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that said set of characteristics includes the number of firing commands in the firing sequence (100, 100 ’).

13. Firing method according to one of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that said set of characteristics includes modulation parameters used when issuing the firing commands of the sequence (100, 100 ').

14. The firing method according to claim 13, characterized in that said modulation parameters are different for different firing commands.

15. Firing method according to one of claims 5 to 14, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

- determination of the quality of communication (E01) between reception devices (10; 30 ’) and a transmission device (2, 3) of the firing commands of the firing sequence, and

- the determination of at least one characteristic (E02) of the set of characteristics as a function of the quality of communication determined.

16. A firing method according to claim 15, characterized in that said step of determining the quality of communication (E01) is implemented as a function of messages sent by reception devices (10; 30 ') to a device for transmitting (2, 3) the firing commands of the firing sequence.

17. Firing method according to one of claims 15 or 16, characterized in that said step of determining the quality of communication (E01) is implemented as a function of messages sent by a transmission device (2, 3) of the firing commands of the firing sequence to reception devices (10; 30 ').

18. Firing method according to one of claims 7 to

17, characterized in that it comprises a step of transmitting by a transmitting device (2, 3) commands for firing the firing sequence of said set of characteristics.

19. Firing method according to one of claims 1 to

18, characterized in that it includes steps for sending (E100) by a device (2, 3) for issuing commands to initiate the firing sequence of said sequence of firing commands (100, 100 ').

20. Firing method according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that it comprises steps for transmitting part of the firing commands of the sequence (100, 100 ') by a control console (2) and steps for transmitting part of the firing commands of the sequence (100, 100 ') by a transmission device other than the control console.

21. Electronic detonator characterized in that it comprises:

- means for receiving (10) a firing command from a sequence of firing commands (100, 100 ') sent comprising at least two firing commands, a synchronization delay (t2, t4 ) being associated with each firing command;

- first counting means (1 1) configured to count down from the moment of receipt of said firing command (100, 100 '), said synchronization delay (t2, t4) associated with said firing command fire received;

- second counting means (12) configured to count down a firing delay (trotter) associated with the electronic detonator (1) from a synchronization instant (l _s ) corresponding to the instant at which said delay countdown synchronization (t2, t4) is finalized; and

- firing means (14) when said counting of said firing delay (tretard) is finalized.

22. Electronic detonator according to claim 21, characterized in that it comprises storage means for storing a set of characteristics relating to the sequence of firing commands (100, 100 ’).

23. Transmitter device characterized in that it comprises transmission means (20) configured to emit a sequence of firing commands (100, 100 ') from a set of electronic detonators (1), said sequence of firing commands (100, 100 ') comprising at least two firing commands, a synchronization delay (t2, t4) being associated with each firing command, used for obtaining an instant of synchronization (l _s ) from which the firing delay countdown is started for firing the electronic detonators (1).

24. Firing system comprising a transmitter device according to claim 23 and a set of electronic detonators (1), the electronic detonators (1) being according to one of claims 21 or 22 and the transmitter device being a console of firing.