A detonator includes a control circuit and a charging circuit. The control circuit receives a first signal transmitted using a voltage applied to a cable by a blasting device and transmits a second signal to the blasting device using a current flowing to the cable. The charging circuit performs a charging operation by receiving the voltage through the cable. The charging circuit stops the charging operation while the control circuit transmits the second signal to the blasting device.

A detonator includes a control circuit and a charging circuit. The control circuit receives a first signal transmitted using a voltage applied to a cable by a blasting device and transmits a second signal to the blasting device using a current flowing to the cable. The charging circuit performs a charging operation by receiving the voltage through the cable. The charging circuit stops the charging operation while the control circuit transmits the second signal to the blasting device.

A wireless electronic detonator includes an energy source and functional modules. A first switching switch is provided between the energy source and the functional modules, making it possible to connect or not connect the energy source to the functional modules. A control module for controlling the first switching means includes a module for recovering radio energy configured to receive a radio signal from a control console, to recover the electric energy in the radio signal received, to generate an energy recovery signal (VRF) representative of the level of electric energy recovered, and to generate as output a control signal (VOUT) as a function of the recovered energy, the control signal controlling the first switch.

A wireless electronic detonator includes an energy source and functional modules. A first switching switch is provided between the energy source and the functional modules, making it possible to connect or not connect the energy source to the functional modules. A control module for controlling the first switching means includes a module for recovering radio energy configured to receive a radio signal from a control console, to recover the electric energy in the radio signal received, to generate an energy recovery signal (VRF) representative of the level of electric energy recovered, and to generate as output a control signal (VOUT) as a function of the recovered energy, the control signal controlling the first switch.

A wireless initiation device comprises a power source, a processing module, a first housing and an initiation unit. The processing module processes wireless electromagnetic communications signals received by an electromagnetic receiver system associated with the processing module. The wireless electromagnetic communications signals includes a wireless electromagnetic communications signal representative of a FIRE command. The processing module is configured to generate an initiation signal upon receipt of the FIRE command. At least one of the power source and the processing module is disposed in the first housing, and the first housing has a first connector. The initiation unit has a second housing within which is disposed an initiation module that is configured to discharge initiation energy sufficient to initiate an explosive charge associated with the device. The initiation module is connected to, or connectable with, the processing module such that initiation module can receive an initiation signal from the processing module. The initiation unit also has a second connector that is configured to mate with the first connector, thereby connecting the first and second housings. The initiation module is configured to execute a sequence upon receipt of the initiation signal, the sequence resulting in discharge of initiation energy from the initiation unit.

A wireless initiation device comprises a power source, a processing module, a first housing and an initiation unit. The processing module processes wireless electromagnetic communications signals received by an electromagnetic receiver system associated with the processing module. The wireless electromagnetic communications signals includes a wireless electromagnetic communications signal representative of a FIRE command. The processing module is configured to generate an initiation signal upon receipt of the FIRE command. At least one of the power source and the processing module is disposed in the first housing, and the first housing has a first connector. The initiation unit has a second housing within which is disposed an initiation module that is configured to discharge initiation energy sufficient to initiate an explosive charge associated with the device. The initiation module is connected to, or connectable with, the processing module such that initiation module can receive an initiation signal from the processing module. The initiation unit also has a second connector that is configured to mate with the first connector, thereby connecting the first and second housings. The initiation module is configured to execute a sequence upon receipt of the initiation signal, the sequence resulting in discharge of initiation energy from the initiation unit.

Disclosed is a geophysical or seismic exploration system. The system comprises a set of explosive device magazines configured for carrying a plurality of explosive device components, wherein the explosive device components are configurable to form individual explosive devices, and wherein each explosive device carries a set of explosive compositions and is configured for collimating an explosive shock wave produced thereby into a quasi-planar shock wave output from a distal end of the explosive device to produce a geophysical or seismic exploration wave. The system also includes a set of unmanned explosive device deployment support vehicles, wherein each unmanned explosive device deployment support vehicle comprises an aerial or land-based unmanned vehicle configured for carrying an explosive device magazine and delivering the explosive device magazine to a first in-field location at which each explosive device is deployable for carrying out a geophysical or seismic exploration operation.

Disclosed is a geophysical or seismic exploration system. The system comprises a set of explosive device magazines configured for carrying a plurality of explosive device components, wherein the explosive device components are configurable to form individual explosive devices, and wherein each explosive device carries a set of explosive compositions and is configured for collimating an explosive shock wave produced thereby into a quasi-planar shock wave output from a distal end of the explosive device to produce a geophysical or seismic exploration wave. The system also includes a set of unmanned explosive device deployment support vehicles, wherein each unmanned explosive device deployment support vehicle comprises an aerial or land-based unmanned vehicle configured for carrying an explosive device magazine and delivering the explosive device magazine to a first in-field location at which each explosive device is deployable for carrying out a geophysical or seismic exploration operation.

A downhole system including a gun string configured to be deployed into a wellbore, the gun string including plural gun assemblies. A detonator block attached to a given gun assembly of the plural gun assemblies. The detonator block includes a switch assembly. The switch assembly includes a communication unit (CU) configured to receive, from an external controller, a fire command to activate a detonator associated with the detonator block, a measuring unit configured to measure a parameter (V) at the switch assembly, and a computing core (CC) configured to locally make a decision whether to activate or not the detonator, after the fire command is received from the external controller, based on whether a voltage measured by the measuring unit at the switch assembly is larger or not than a threshold voltage.

A downhole system including a gun string configured to be deployed into a wellbore, the gun string including plural gun assemblies. A detonator block attached to a given gun assembly of the plural gun assemblies. The detonator block includes a switch assembly. The switch assembly includes a communication unit (CU) configured to receive, from an external controller, a fire command to activate a detonator associated with the detonator block, a measuring unit configured to measure a parameter (V) at the switch assembly, and a computing core (CC) configured to locally make a decision whether to activate or not the detonator, after the fire command is received from the external controller, based on whether a voltage measured by the measuring unit at the switch assembly is larger or not than a threshold voltage.