Logger device for blasting operations and method of use

Abstract

An electrical interface apparatus includes two electrical input terminals, a microprocessor disposed in electrical communication with the two electrical input terminals, and a connector disposed in electrical communication with the microprocessor. The two input terminals are disposed and configured to be releasably connected to two detonator leg wires of a detonator, the microprocessor is configured to receive an input signal from the two detonator leg wires when a voltage reference is injected into the two detonator leg wires via the two electrical input terminals, and the connector is disposed and configured to be releasably connected to a handheld computer.

1 . An electrical interface apparatus, comprising:
 two electrical input terminals;   a microprocessor disposed in electrical communication with the two electrical input terminals; and   a USB connector disposed in electrical communication with the microprocessor;   wherein the two input terminals are disposed and configured to be releasably connected to two detonator leg wires;   wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive an input signal from the two detonator leg wires when a voltage reference is injected into the two detonator leg wires via the two electrical input terminals; and   wherein the USB connector is disposed and configured to be releasably connected to a handheld computer.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the USB connector is disposed at one end of a flexible USB cable, and is configured to be releasably connected to the handheld computer via hand manipulation of the flexible USB cable, and wherein an opposing end of the flexible USB cable is electrically connected to the microprocessor.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flexible hood disposed on a side of the apparatus opposite that of the two electrical input terminals;   wherein the USB connector is disposed within the flexible hood;   wherein the USB connector is releasably connectable to the handheld computer concurrently with the flexible hood being releasably sealable to the handheld computer to form a weather seal between the apparatus and the handheld computer to protect the connections at the USB connector when the apparatus is releasably connected to the handheld computer.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a voltage reference source disposed in electrical communication with the two electrical input terminals;   wherein the voltage reference source is configured to provide the voltage reference to be injected into the two detonator leg wires via the two electrical input terminals.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a USB power bus disposed and configured in electrical communication with the USB connector and the two electrical input terminals;   wherein the USB connector is configured to receive the voltage reference from the handheld computer and communicate the voltage reference to the two electrical input terminals via the USB power bus.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an analog-to-digital converter disposed in electrical communication between the two electrical input terminals and the microprocessor, and configured to convert an analog signal from the two electrical input terminals to a digital signal to be communicated to the microprocessor.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a serial-to-USB interface disposed in electrical communication between the microprocessor and the USB connector, the serial-to-USB interface disposed and configured to convert serial data from/to the microprocessor to USB data to/from the USB connector.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the microprocessor is responsive to executable program code which when executed on the microprocessor facilitates display of a mixed number-and-symbol system on a display of the handheld computer in response to the input signal from the two detonator leg wires when the voltage reference is injected into the two detonator leg wires via the two electrical input terminals.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the display of the mixed number-and-symbol system comprises:
 display of a first symbol string in response to the input signal being representative of too high of a resistance at the two detonator leg wires;   display of a second symbol string in response to the input signal being representative of too low of a resistance at the two detonator leg wires; and   display of a numerical value representative of, and in response to, the input signal being representative of a resistance at the two detonator leg wires falling within a pre-defined acceptable range.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first symbol string comprises a plurality of plus sign characters; and   the second symbol string comprises a plurality of minus sign characters.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the microprocessor is responsive to executable program code which when executed on the microprocessor facilitates presentation of a mixed number-and-indicator system on an audio-visual system of the handheld computer in response to the input signal from the two detonator leg wires when the voltage reference is injected into the two detonator leg wires via the two electrical input terminals.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the presentation of the mixed number-and-indicator system comprises:
 audible presentation of a first sound in response to the input signal being representative of too high of a resistance at the two detonator leg wires;   audible presentation of a second sound in response to the input signal being representative of too low of a resistance at the two detonator leg wires; and   display of a numerical value representative of, and in response to, the input signal being representative of a resistance at the two detonator leg wires falling within a pre-defined acceptable range.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the presentation of the mixed number-and-indicator system comprises:
 visual presentation of a first color in response to the input signal being representative of too high of a resistance at the two detonator leg wires;   visual presentation of a second color in response to the input signal being representative of too low of a resistance at the two detonator leg wires; and   display of a numerical value representative of, and in response to, the input signal being representative of a resistance at the two detonator leg wires falling within a pre-defined acceptable range.   
     
     
         14 . A combination logger and electrical interface apparatus for testing seismic borehole shots, the combination comprising:
 a logger comprising a handheld computer having an input port and a user interface; and   an electrical interface apparatus comprising:   two electrical input terminals; and   a microprocessor disposed in electrical communication with the two electrical input terminals;   wherein the two input terminals are disposed and configured to be releasably connected to two detonator leg wires of the seismic borehole shots;   wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive an input signal from the two detonator leg wires when a voltage reference is injected into the two detonator leg wires via the two electrical input terminals; and   wherein the microprocessor configured and disposed in signal communication with the input port of the handheld computer.   
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the handheld computer is configured to provide a digital record of borehole attributes measured at a specific location, time, and date, at least a portion of the borehole attributes being received from the electrical interface apparatus.   
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the specific location, time, and date are provided by a GPS receiver disposed within the handheld computer.   
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the borehole attributes include at least one of: type of explosive in a respective borehole; quantity of explosive in a respective borehole; weight of explosive in a respective borehole; depth of a respective borehole; type of rock in a respective borehole; and, electrical resistance of a detonator in a respective borehole.   
     
     
         18 . A method for checking an electrical characteristic of a borehole detonator having two detonator leg wires, the method comprising:
 connecting an electrical interface apparatus to a handheld computer, the electrical interface apparatus comprising:   two electrical input terminals;   a microprocessor disposed in electrical communication with the two electrical input terminals; and   a USB connector disposed in electrical communication with the microprocessor;   wherein the two input terminals are disposed and configured to be releasably connected to the two detonator leg wires;   wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive an input signal from the two detonator leg wires when a voltage reference is injected into the two detonator leg wires via the two electrical input terminals;   wherein the microprocessor is responsive to executable program code which when executed on the microprocessor facilitates display of a mixed number-and-symbol system on a display of the handheld computer in response to the input signal from the two detonator leg wires when the voltage reference is injected into the two detonator leg wires via the two electrical input terminals; and   wherein the USB connector is disposed and configured to be releasably connected to a handheld computer;   connecting the two electrical input terminals to the two detonator leg wires;   injecting a voltage reference into the two detonator leg wires and receiving an input signal from the two detonator leg wires in response to the injected voltage reference; and   displaying the mixed number-and-symbol system on the display of the handheld computer in response to the input signal;   wherein the mixed number-and-symbol system is a numerical value representative of, and in response to, the input signal being representative of a resistance at the two detonator leg wires falling within a pre-defined acceptable range; and   wherein the mixed number-and-symbol system is a string of characters in response to the input signal being representative of a resistance at the two detonator leg wires falling outside the pre-defined acceptable range.