Detonator black box

Abstract

A detonator includes a substrate, a controller mounted to the substrate, and a sensor coupled to the controller to measure a temperature, pressure, acceleration or other environmental info and/or electrical status of the internal electronics of the detonator. The controller is configured to store the measured environmental parameter and/or electrical status in a memory of the detonator, transmit the stored data from the detonator to a remote master controller, execute an action in response to a value of the measured environmental parameter, and/or prevent or modify at least one detonator function in response to the data obtained.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . An electronic detonator, comprising:
 a substrate;   a controller mounted to the substrate;   a memory coupled to the controller; and   a sensor coupled to the controller and configured to make multiple readings of a temperature, a pressure, or an acceleration;   wherein the controller is configured to store an environmental parameter measured by the sensor in the memory.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic detonator of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is one of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and an accelerometer. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic detonator of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is mounted to the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic detonator of  claim 2 , further comprising an enclosure that encloses the controller, the sensor, and at least a portion of the substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic detonator of  claim 4 , wherein the sensor is wired to circuitry of the substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic detonator of  claim 4 , wherein the enclosure is or includes plastic or heat shrink tubing. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic detonator of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is mounted to the substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic detonator of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to initiate environmental readings of the temperature, pressure, or acceleration continuously in the background at some predetermined regular periods. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic detonator of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to initiate environmental readings of the temperature, pressure, or acceleration in response to a demand from a remote master controller. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic detonator of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to store an electrical status of the detonator in the memory. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic detonator of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to transmit the electrical status or the environmental parameter to a remote master controller. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic detonator of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 execute an action in response to a value of the environmental parameter, and/or   prevent or modify at least one detonator function in response to data obtained from the sensor.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic detonator of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to store an electrical status of the detonator in the memory at multiple steps of a blast, including a power up step, a verify step, and arming step, a calibration step, and a firing step. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to store data in the memory, the data including at least one of activity, received commands, operational status indicators, and diagnostics. 
     
     
         15 . An electronic detonator, comprising:
 a controller;   a sensor coupled to the controller; and   a memory coupled to the controller;   the controller is configured to store an electrical status of the detonator in the memory at multiple steps of a blast, including a power up step, a verify step, and arming step, a calibration step, and a firing step.   
     
     
         16 . The electronic detonator of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to transmit the electrical status to a remote master controller. 
     
     
         17 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to store data in the memory, the data including at least one of activity, received commands, operational status indicators, and diagnostics. 
     
     
         21 . The electronic detonator of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is implemented as a thermally sensitive output of a voltage regulator. 
     
     
         22 . The electronic detonator of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect hot holes where exothermic reactions cause temperature rises in boreholes. 
     
     
         23 . The electronic detonator of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to initiate environmental readings of the temperature, pressure, or acceleration any time while connected to an active blasting operation.