Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company

Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company (California) LLC

Ps/emc West, LLC

Ecomotors, Inc.

Transonic Combustion, Inc.

Michael Diamond

Steven D Nelson

Robert S Ritchie

Michael Frick

Joe E Carvalho

John J Walsh

Described herein are methods for controlling a piezoelectric element, for example, for use in a fuel injector, safely and efficiently at higher frequencies without causing damage to the fuel injector due to excessive heating. Methods incorporating features of the present invention can utilize waveform generation, waveform scaling and power amplification to drive a piezoelectric element. In some embodiments, various operating conditions are utilized to determine a scaling value which is compared to a target value to determine the level of scaling to be utilized with a generated waveform.

Piezoelectric actuator control for high rate of operation

One embodiment of the present invention features a circuit for driving a piezoelectric actuator, comprising a first transmission line to provide an input signal having a time-varying voltage; a second transmission line to provide a predetermined voltage current; a piezoelectric element; and a switch coupled to the second transmission line and the piezoelectric element, the switch configured to electrically connect and disconnect the predetermined voltage current to and from the piezoelectric element based on the input signal.

Piezoelectric actuator employing switch

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

A networked electronic ordnance system and method for controlling a variety of pyrotechnic devices at different energy levels include a bus controller controlling at least one pyrotechnic device operating at a first energy level and a smart connector adapting at least one pyrotechnic device operating at a second energy level to control by the bus controller. The smart connector may also include a plurality of capacitors for firing the pyrotechnic device(s). In an embodiment, at least one pyrotechnic device operating at a first energy level and at least one pyrotechnic device operating at a second level include a logic device have a unique identifier. The smart connector may also include an energy reserve capacitor and an emitter follower circuit electrically connected to a logic device. Additionally, the smart connector may be connected to an initiator for firing at least one pyrotechnic device at the second energy level.

Networked electronic ordnance system

A pyrotechnically powered actuator having a bellows that provides a force and stroke upon initiation is disclosed. The actuator includes a housing body with a first end and a second end. The bellows is coupled to the first end of the housing body. A cover is coupled to the second end of the housing body. An initiator is located within the housing body and includes a pyrotechnic material and a bridge element. The housing body, the bellows, and the cover define a hermetically sealed chamber. The bellows is compact, lightweight, and can withstand internal and external pressure at least as high as 3,000 psi. An exemplary embodiment includes a housing body that provides a compartment for adding supplemental pyrotechnic material. Further exemplary embodiments of the actuator include a chip initiator that requires less than 1 amp to function in less than 10 milliseconds.

Networked pyrotechnic actuator incorporating high-pressure bellows

The networked electronic ordnance system connects a number of pyrotechnic devices to a bus controller using lighter and less voluminous cabling, in a more efficient network architecture, than previously possible. Each pyrotechnic device contains an initiator, which includes a pyrotechnic assembly and an electronics assembly. One or more pyrotechnic devices each contain a logic device having a unique identifier. The pyrotechnic devices are individually controlled by the bus controller by addressing the unique identifier of each logic device. Each pyrotechnic device preferably includes an energy reserve capacitor which stores firing energy upon arming. Both digital and analog fire control conditions are provided before an armed pyrotechnic device can be fired. A plurality of initiators and/or other components of the system may be packaged together on a single substrate and networked together via that substrate.

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Thousand Oaks, CA, United States of America

Michael Diamond