Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company (California) LLC

Joe E Carvalho

Steven D Nelson

Michael Diamond

Peter J Current

Michael R Hathaway

Richard A Davis

Joshua A Curtis

Ruben G Aguila

A method and system are disclosed for controlling a plurality of perforating gun assemblies arranged in a gun train and lowered into a wellbore. The perforating gun assemblies are connected to a top sub controller that is also lowered into the wellbore. The top sub controller includes a first communications module to communicate with an above-ground control panel via a wireline and a second communications module to communicate with a switch sub in each the plurality of perforating gun assemblies via a network bus. Each switch sub has a unique network address. During assembly, the control panel automatically detects the order of the perforating gun assemblies in the gun train based on polling each of the switch subs of the plurality of perforating gun assemblies using the respective unique network addresses.

Methods and systems for controlling networked electronic switches for remote detonation of explosive devices

In networked electronic ordnance systems as disclosed herein, a plurality of pyrotechnic devices communicate with a controller along a common bus. In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, at least some of the pyrotechnic devices in the ordnance system are configured such that the address for those devices can be defined during or subsequent to installation of the pyrotechnic devices in an end system. In some instances, a logic device in the pyrotechnic device includes a diagnostics block that initiates a suite of diagnostic tests within the pyrotechnic device in response to a diagnostics command received by the pyrotechnic device. Additionally, in some instances, an additional safety mechanism is added to an energy-reserve capacitor in the pyrotechnic device in compliance with a safe-by-wire standard.

Methods and systems for defining addresses for pyrotechnic devices networked in an electronic ordnance system

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Hollister, CA, United States of America

Joe E Carvalho