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:
Jun. 06, 2006
Filed:
May. 20, 2003
David W. Lloyd, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
David W. Lloyd, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
An improved spacecraft ordnance system includes a plurality of squibs each connected with a resistor having a squib unique resistance value and a driver unit including built-in test circuitry. Ordnance harness cables connect the squibs with the driver unit. The resistors enable squib identification. The built-in test circuitry enables unambiguous verification of correct connection of each squib with the driver unit. The built-in test circuitry includes a low-impedance multiplexer for selecting a driver line for monitoring, a precision current source for providing a relatively low current to a selected output of the driver unit producing a voltage proportional to the total resistance from signal to ground, and a analog/digital converter for digitizing the voltage and reporting the result to a computer for comparison to predicted values using a telemetry interface and therefore identifying the selected squib. An EMI-tight adapter housing the squib-specific resistor may be attached to the squib.