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:
Jul. 12, 1994
Filed:
May. 28, 1992
Peter L Atkeson, Elkton, MD (US);
Thiokol Corporation, Ogden, UT (US);
Abstract
An integrated field-effect initiator useful for the pyrotechnic initiation or detonation of explosives includes a semiconductor channel of a first conductivity type bounded on opposite ends by semiconductor material of an opposite conductivity type to define two PN junctions in the conduction path. The semiconductor channel is doped to define a conduction path of sufficiently high impedance to prevent unintended initiation. A gate electrode is positioned adjacent the channel and separated therefrom by an insulation layer to affect the conductivity of the channel as a function of a potential applied to the gate. In normal operation, an initiation electrical potential is applied to the opposite ends of the conduction path and a gate potential is applied to the gate to effect field-enhanced conduction in the path sufficient to allow vaporization of the path to cause initiation of an explosive material in contact with the path. In another embodiment, a slapper structure is mounted adjacent the channel and is propelled into the explosive to effect detonation. The initiator can be manufactured by conventional integrated circuit fabrication techniques and provides a normally inhibited device that requires application of a gate potential prior to initiation.