EP0279796B1 — Detonator

USPTO Abstract

A firing unit for initiation of detonators, which contain at least one base charge in a detonator casing, which firing unit comprises an electrically actuable fuse head, a current source connected to the electrically actuable fuse head via switching means, and an electronics unit comprising a signal decoder designed so as to distinguish a start signal supplied to the detonator via an external signal conductor, a delay circuit designed in such a way that, when the start signal is received, it supplies an ignition signal after a predetermined time and the switching means, which are designed in such a way that, when the ignition signal is received, they connect the current source to the fuse head in order to electrically actuate the latter, the electronics unit comprising at least one chip made from a semiconductor material and having a microcircuit. According to the invention, at least the chip and an additional component are electrically and mechanically connected on a substrate having a circuit pattern. The chip can support the electrically actuable fuse head on its surface and the circuit pattern can contain a spark gap, made in a thin metal layer. The invention also relates to detonators equipped with a firing unit as described above. <IMAGE>