Claims
- 1. A miniature arming device having an armed state and an unarmed state, comprising:a MEMS ignition device for producing a pyrotechnic output at a first location in response to application of an electric signal; pyrotechnic output control means, having an armed state and an unarmed state, for routing said pyrotechnic output from said first location to a second location when in said armed state and blocking said pyrotechnic output from said second location when in said unarmed state; a substrate, said substrate supporting said MEMS ignition device and said control means; and wherein said pyrotechnic output control means comprises: a channel for communicating a pyrotechnic output, said channel having an input and an output; a pyrotechnic barrier, said pyrotechnic barrier normally blocking said channel; and an electromagnet for moving said pyrotechnic barrier to unblock said channel when said electromagnet is energized, wherein a pyrotechnic output may pass through said channel to said second location.
- 2. The arming device of claim 1, wherein said pyrotechnic output control means further comprises:restoring means for restoring said pyrotechnic barrier to a position blocking said channel when said electromagnet is de-energized.
- 3. The arming device of claim 2, wherein said restoring means comprises a spring.
- 4. The arming device of claim 2, wherein said restoring means comprises a second electromagnet, said second electromagnet moving said pyrotechnic barrier to a blocking position in said channel responsive to energization of said second electromagnet.
- 5. The arming device of claim 1, further comprising: a pressure operated electrical switch, said pressure operated electrical switch being positioned to receive pressure from said output of said channel.
- 6. The arming device of claim 2, wherein said pyrotechnic barrier includes:a slider assembly, said slider assembly extending through said channel in a direction transverse to the axis of said channel; said slider assembly including a first portion, a window and a second portion, said window being located between said first and second portion, and said first portion being of a size to block said channel; said slider assembly being normally positioned with said first portion in said channel to block said channel; said electromagnet being coupled to said slider assembly for moving said first portion out of said channel and said window portion into said channel to open a channel output when said electromagnet is energized.
- 7. The arming device of claim 6, further comprising a spring for restoring said slider assembly to the normal position when said electromagnet is deenergized.
- 8. The arming device of claim 7, wherein said electromagnet comprises a solenoid, said solenoid including a movable core; and wherein said movable core is coupled to said slider assembly.
- 9. The arming device of claim 8, wherein each of said first and second portion of said slider assembly comprises a magnetic material.
- 10. The arming device of claim 8, wherein said pyrotechnic output control means further includes:a block; a shear pin; said block being disposed within said channel adjacent said input to said channel to block said channel; and said shear pin connected to said channel and said block for holding said block in a predetermined position in said channel in the absence of a pyrotechnic output from said MEMS ignition device.
- 11. The arming device as defined in claim 3, further comprising:a fusible link; said fusible link for restraining expansion of said spring until said spring is fused, whereby said pyrotechnic barrier is restrained from moving due to shock and vibration during transportation; and electrical lead means for coupling a source of electrical current through said fusible link when desired to fuse said fusible link.
- 12. The arming device of claim 2, further comprising:a releasible latch for holding said pyrotechnic barrier in said unblocking position following de-energization of said electromagnet, whereby said arming device remains in an armed state; a restoring electromagnet; said restoring electromagnet for releasing said latch and moving said pyrotechnic barrier into a position blocking said channel.
- 13. The arming device as defined in claim 12, further comprising: indicator means for indicating whether said pyrotechnic output control means is in an armed state or an unarmed state.
- 14. A miniature arming device having an armed state and an unarmed state, comprising:a MEMS ignition device for producing a pyrotechnic output at a first location in response to application of an electric signal; pyrotechnic output control means, having an armed state and an unarmed state, for routing said pyrotechnic output from said first location to a second location when in said armed slate and blocking said pyrotechnic output from said second location when in said unarmed state; a substrate, said substrate supporting said MEMS ignition device and said control means; and wherein said pyrotechnic output control means further includes means for shunting electrical signals from said MEMS ignition device when said pyrotechnic output control means is in said unarmed state.
- 15. The arming device as defined in claim 1, wherein said electromagnet further comprises a solenoid, said solenoid including an armature.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Reference is made to the copending, commonly assigned U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 08/912,709, filed Aug. 18, 1997 entitled Integrated Pulsed Propulsion and Structural Support System for Micro-satellite, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
DT 3524080 |
Jan 1987 |
NL |
WO 8201244 |
Apr 1982 |
SE |