The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 05, 1989
Filed:
Jul. 11, 1988
William Streifer, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Donald R Scifres, San Jose, CA (US);
Jerome R Klein, Los Altos, CA (US);
Spectra Diode Laboratories, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A pyrotechnic ignition method in which a semiconductor laser bar or bars containing a number of independent laser array sources deliver optical power in a specified sequence through optical fibers to a set of pyrotechnic elements in order to initiate a sequence of pyrotechnic events, such as a fireworks display, building demolition, emergency ejection sequence, satellite launch, etc. A command signal is transmitted and received, typically by a remote station from the user. The signal is decoded to generate a set of electrical signals representing addresses of individual laser arrays on the laser bar. The laser arrays are activated in the desired sequence in response to the set of electrical signals and emit laser light. This light is transmitted along optical fibers coupled to the individual laser arrays and terminating in pyrotechnic elements. The pyrotechnic elements are ignited in response to optical power received from the optical fibers, typically by direct heating of a detonator. The detonator may also be ignited photochemically or by electric current produced by a photoelectric sensor in response to sensing of the laser light.