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US4729315A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Thin film bridge initiator and method therefor

Assignee: LifeSparc Inc
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Filing: 1986-12-17
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Granted: 1988-03-08
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Expires: 2006-12-17
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Abstract

Abstract A thin film bridge initiator is mounted on a header for use in a detonator where a primer is activated by heat from the thin film. The initiator includes a substrate which carries a pair of metallic beam-type leads connected by a thin film bridge which activates the adjacent primer. The beam-type leads are affixed (welded) to a pair of electrical pins which are on adjacent sides of a slot in the header. The entire structure is very cost effective, reliable and provides fast functioning and safety. In addition, a process of manufacturing several bridge initiators at one time on a single wafer is provided.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert L. Proffit
  • 👤 John L. Wells
  • 👤 Alan L. Lause
  • 👤 John C. Cole

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 13:22
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B3/00; F42B3/10; F42B3/12; F42B3/13

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 111 words
A method of making a detonator utilizing an explosive containing shell having a bridge initiator for activating an adjacent primer and having a header with a pair of electrical pins comprising the following steps: providing a header having a slot with adjacent said pins having flat ends; fabricating a bridge initiator with a substrate carrying a pair of metallic beam-type leads connected by a thin film bridge; placing said initiator in said slot of said header and permanently affixing said beam leads to said flat ends of said pins; and completing fabrication of said detonator, including applying said primer to said initiator and placing said header in said explosive containing shell.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 111 words
A method of making a detonator utilizing an explosive containing shell having a bridge initiator for activating an adjacent primer and having a header with a pair of electrical pins comprising the following steps: providing a header having a slot with adjacent said pins having flat ends; fabricating a bridge initiator with a substrate carrying a pair of metallic beam-type leads connected by a thin film bridge; placing said initiator in said slot of said header and permanently affixing said beam leads to said flat ends of said pins; and completing fabrication of said detonator, including applying said primer to said initiator and placing said header in said explosive containing shell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method as in claim 1 including the step of making said flat ends of said pins coplanar with a portion of said header.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method as in claim 1 including the step of testing said fabricated initiator before placing said initiator in said slot of said header.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method as in claim 1 where in said step of fabricating said initiator a plurality of initiators are fabricated on a common wafer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method as in claim 1 where said beam leads have a thickness to provide structural strength for said affixing step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 75 words
A thin film bridge initiator mounted on a header for use in a detonator where an adjacent primer is activated by heat from said thin film bridge comprising: a substrate carrying a pair of metallic beam-type leads connected by a thin film bridge; a slot in said header for receiving said substrate, said header including a pair of electrical pins adjacent said slot and having flat ends permanently affixed to said pair of beam leads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 75 words
A thin film bridge initiator mounted on a header for use in a detonator where an adjacent primer is activated by heat from said thin film bridge comprising: a substrate carrying a pair of metallic beam-type leads connected by a thin film bridge; a slot in said header for receiving said substrate, said header including a pair of electrical pins adjacent said slot and having flat ends permanently affixed to said pair of beam leads.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
An initiator as in claim 6 where the depth of said slot in said header is substantially equal to the thickness of said substrate.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

CA581316A Cited
US3082691A Cited
US3426682A Cited
US3420174A Cited
US4267567A Cited
US4335653A Cited
US4409898A Cited
US4484523A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-03-08 1991-09-07 1992-03-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-03-08 1995-09-07 1996-03-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-03-08 1999-09-07 2000-03-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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