Remote firing device with diverse initiators

Abstract

A remote firing system for remotely detonating explosive charges includes features that provide safety and efficiency improvements. These features include safety communication among multiple remote devices and multiple controller devices, a polling functionality permitting rapid deployment of system devices, electronic key systems, programmable remote devices for easy replacement of failing remote devices, and an event history log for the remote devices for efficient diagnostic evaluation.

1 . A controller device, comprising:
 a set of selection and information panels that correspond with a set of remote devices, a subset of selection and information panels being selectable to cause a corresponding subset of remote devices to be selected for detonating explosives; and   a communication module for transmitting and receiving safety communication which comprises a safety data structure that includes a system identifier for identifying a remote firing system from other remote firing systems and device identifiers for identifying the subset of remote devices, the communication module being capable of communicating with the subset of remote devices to indicate their selection for detonating explosives by the controller device.   
     
     
         2 . The controller device of  claim 1 , further comprising dual fire panels that include dual fire switches, the dual fire switches being selectable together to cause the communication module to transmit a fire command to the subset of remote devices. 
     
     
         3 . The controller device of  claim 1 , wherein each selection and information panel of the set of selection and information panels includes a ready indicator to indicate that a corresponding remote device is ready for operation, an armed indicator to indicate that the corresponding remote device is armed for detonating explosives, a battery indicator to indicate the condition of the battery of the corresponding remote device, and a selected indicator to indicate whether the corresponding remote device is selected. 
     
     
         4 . The controller device of  claim 1 , further comprising a status panel being selectable to query the subset of remote devices for their status, the status of the subset of remote devices being presentable on the subset of the selection and information panels. 
     
     
         5 . The controller device of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic key port that is adapted to receive an electronic key to cause the controller device to operate.