Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LOGGER DEVICE FOR BLASTING OPERATIONS AND METHOD OF USE
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
Serial No.
61/251,024, filed October 13, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference
in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention concerns a device and method for determining the
loca-
tion of boreholes by ground positioning satellite ("GPS") and/or other
suitable geographic
positioning information, and for gathering, evaluating and storing data
concerning the condi-
tion of electric detonators in the boreholes.
[0003] Patent Cooperation Treaty Publication No. WO 2008/139413 Al, published
on 20 November 2008, discloses a system for loading a flowable explosive into
blast holes
from mobile supply units (trucks). A GPS unit is operable to determine the
position of the
blast holes and a blast hole identification processor is in communication with
the GPS unit to
receive from the GPS unit a blast hole coordinate position. The blast hole
identification
processor identifies the blast hole based on its geographic coordinate
position.
[0004] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2005/0263027 Al, published
on
December 1, 2005, discloses a method for controlling initiation of detonators
by measuring
the spatial position of the detonator in relation to one or more adjacent
detonators and calcu-
lating the time of initiation of the detonator based upon its actual spatial
position. The spatial
position of the detonators is measured using an electronic positioning system,
preferably that
of an inertial positioning system or a global positioning system.
[0005] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2005/0103219 Al, published
on
May 19, 2005, discloses a blasting system to facilitate the actuation of a
plurality of pro-
grammable detonators according to a desired blasting pattern, by downloading
to the detona-
tors blasting information which is automatically determined by a portable
handheld unit. The
portable handheld unit incorporates a positional detecting device such as a
GPS device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An embodiment of the invention comprises an apparatus and a method for
as-
certaining the location of one or more boreholes in which one or more electric
detonators are
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contained, checking the condition and characteristics of the detonators, and
generating an
electronic record of the condition of each detonator, including the date and
time at which the
data was gathered. In the case of more than one detonator in a given borehole,
the condition
and location within the borehole of each individual detonator is also
obtained. Other infor-
mation, such as the type of detonator, its electrical resistance and
continuity of its leg wire
circuit are among the data which may be gathered. The resulting database is
transmittable
from the apparatus of the invention to any suitable electronic or other
storage device, such as
a remote desktop computer.
[0007] One aspect of the present invention provides that the apparatus
comprises a
handheld computer which is carried by the operator from borehole to borehole
and is remov-
ably connected in turn to the leg wires of individual ones of the detonator or
detonators in
each borehole, in order to record the status of the detonators. Optionally,
positional informa-
tion via a GPS receiver device or the like in the apparatus and/or other
borehole specific data
may also be recorded and transmitted by the apparatus.
[0008] Another aspect of the present invention provides that the location of
the bore-
hole is ascertained by receiving a signal from a global positioning satellite
or other position-
ing devices such as global navigation system satellites.
[0009] Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a galvanometer
with suit-
able firmware incorporated therein so that the galvanometer not only measures
the resistance
of the detonator to which it is connected, but outputs information to show
whether the detona-
tor electrical resistance is within, above or below the desired resistance
range.
[0010] The galvanometer may be an integral part of the handheld device or it
may be
an accessory which is readily connectable to and removable from the handheld
device.
[0011 ] A method aspect of the invention comprises utilizing a handheld
computer to
ascertain the condition of a plurality of electric detonators respectively
dispersed in one or
more boreholes by traveling from borehole to borehole and connecting the
detonator leg
wires to the handheld device to ascertain and record the condition of the
detonator and, via
GPS or equivalent satellite information, ascertain the position of each
borehole. A database
is then assembled by the handheld device to include the measured information
and the data-
base is transferred to another electronic device for storage and use.
[0012] An embodiment of the invention includes an electrical interface
apparatus hav-
ing two electrical input terminals, a microprocessor disposed in electrical
communication
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with the two electrical input terminals, and a USB connector disposed in
electrical communi-
cation with the microprocessor. The two input terminals are disposed and
configured to be
releasably connected to two detonator leg wires, 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 USB
connector is dis-
posed and configured to be releasably connected to a handheld computer.
[0013] An embodiment of the invention includes a logger in combination with an
electrical interface apparatus for testing seismic borehole shots, where the
logger is a hand-
held computer having an input port and a user interface, and includes logging
software loaded
thereon, where the combination is a combination of the logger and the above-
noted electrical
interface apparatus, with the exception that the microprocessor is configured
and disposed in
direct signal communication with an input port of the handheld computer as
opposed to being
connected via a USB connector.
[0014] An embodiment of the invention includes a method for checking an
electrical
characteristic of a borehole detonator having two detonator leg wires using
any of the above-
noted apparatuses. In an embodiment, the method includes: connecting the above-
noted elec-
trical interface apparatus to the above-noted handheld computer; connecting
the two electrical
input terminals to the two detonator leg wires; injecting a voltage reference
into the two deto-
nator leg wires and receiving an input signal from the two detonator leg wires
in response to
the injected voltage reference; and, displaying a mixed number-and-symbol
system on a dis-
play of the handheld computer in response to the input signal. In an
embodiment, the mixed
number-and-symbol system is a numerical value representative of, and in
response to, the in-
put signal being representative of a resistance at the two detonator leg wires
falling within a
pre-defined acceptable range; and, the mixed number-and-symbol system is a
string of char-
acters in response to the input signal being representative of a resistance at
the two detonator
leg wires falling outside the pre-defined acceptable range.
[0015] Other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the
following de-
scription and appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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[0016] Figure 1 is an exploded elevation view of a logger in accordance with
an em-
bodiment of the invention and comprising a handheld computer and a hood
fixture compris-
ing a galvanometer;
[0017] Figure 2A is an exploded assembly view of a logger and a connect-
able/detachable galvanometer in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention;
[0018] Figure 2B is an elevation view of an integrally formed
logger/galvanometer
combination in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0019] Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of rows of boreholes of a typical
blasting
set-up, with two of the assemblies of Figure 2 connected to leg wires of
respective detonators
within selected ones of the boreholes;
[0020] Figure 4 is a schematic flow path showing the general flow of data in
accor-
dance with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] Figure 4A is a schematic flow path showing more details of the general
flow
of data;
[0022] Figure 5 is a schematic flow path showing a more detailed flow of data
rela-
tive to that of Figure 4 and in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0023] Figure 6A is a chart which lists software specifications and their main
func-
tions in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and
[0024] Figures 6B through 6H inclusive schematically illustrate some details
of the
main functions listed in the chart of Figure 6A;
[0025] Figure 61 is a schematic flow chart showing data flow within the
handheld
computer; and
[0026] Figure 7 is a block diagram schematic of a galvanometer in accordance
with
an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] An embodiment of the invention includes a handheld computer 10 having
or
having attached thereto a galvanometer 12 to provide a handheld logger 14 for
testing electric
or electronic detonators 100 within boreholes 18. Logger 14 is capable of
measuring resis-
tance values of electric or electronic detonators 100 in a borehole 18, as
well as receiving op-
erator input and geographic position information, such as that provided by a
global position-
ing satellite ("GPS") or the like. The operator may input other data, such as
the type and
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quantity of explosive in the borehole 18, the explosive type, etc. The
resulting database is
transferable to an office computer 22 or other storage media, for recording
and storing the
data. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention provides for
an operator
to move from borehole 18 to borehole 18 and removably connect the handheld
logger 14 to
the leg wires 20 of each detonator 100 in the borehole 18, to develop a
database of the above-
described data, and transfer the database as described above. Maps of the
borehole locations
and other pertinent information may be developed from the database to
facilitate planning
additional shots, such as seismic survey shots, and to analyze seismic
results.
[0028] While the present invention is broadly applicable to blasting
operations gener-
ally, it is particularly suitable for seismic exploration blasting which is
carried out to ascertain
the best locations for locating and maximizing the yield of whatever mineral,
e.g., oil or gas,
is being sought. Typically, a geologist or geophysicist will prepare a macro
scale map of a
selected survey area covering hundreds or thousands of acres. Surveyor teams
are sent to the
geologically most promising sites in the mapped area to clear away, if
necessary, obstructions
such as trees, shrubs, deep grass, etc., and to drive marker stakes into the
ground at the se-
lected survey sites. If a selected survey site or a portion of it is not
accessible for drilling, for
example, it may be at the edge of a cliff, under water, etc., the surveyor
team then "skids" the
selected site to relocate it into a fully accessible position as close as
possible to the originally
selected survey site.
[0029] Drill crews then drill boreholes at the staked locations and load
suitable explo-
sives, e.g., dynamite, and detonators (blasting caps) into the boreholes. As
is typical, the
detonator leg wires are positioned to extend upwardly through the borehole to
the surface,
where they are accessible for connection. The explosive loads in the boreholes
are herein re-
ferred to as seismic borehole shots.
[0030] Seismic borehole shots often lay idle for a long time ("the idle
period"). The
idle period may be as much as six months or so, while the rest of the survey
site is being pre-
pared. That is, it may be months from the time the detonator and explosive are
loaded into a
first borehole until all the other boreholes in the survey site are staked,
drilled, loaded and
otherwise prepared for the blasting.
[0031] Figure 1 is an exploded view and Figure 2 is an assembled view of a
logger 14
which is comprised of a handheld computer 10, a display screen 1 Oa and a
keypad 10b for
inputting information. A stand-alone galvanometer 12 is electronically
connectible to com-
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puter 10 by a conventional USB cable 16. The galvanometer 12 includes in its
resistance cir-
cuit of a microprocessor (see block diagram schematic 200 in Figure 7).
Electric connector
posts 12a and 12b of galvanometer 12 are configured to be releasably connected
to detonator
leg wires as described below. The galvanometer 12 may be integrated into the
circuitry of a
suitable handheld computer, or it may be, as illustrated, a separate item
which is removably
electrically connectable to the handheld computer 10. In either case, the
logger 14 is utilized
to provide a digital record of borehole locations, electrical resistance of
the one or more deto-
nators in the boreholes, and other characteristics such as the type and
quantity of explosives
in each borehole, all as measured at a specific time and date which is
recorded in the data.
The microprocessor in the galvanometer resistance circuit preferably also has
the feature of
calibrating its readings to compensate for ambient temperature variations.
[0032] Figure 3 shows in plan view a series of boreholes 18 arranged in three
parallel
rows which are arbitrarily labeled as rows A, B and C. In addition to a
suitable explosive
charge, each borehole 18 contains one or more electric or electronic
detonators 100, each of
which has a pair of leg wires 20 extending from the detonators through its
respective bore-
hole and to the surface. Detonator leg wires 20 are shown as protruding only
from the two
boreholes being cataloged, but it will be understood that a similar pair of
leg wires (repre-
sented by reference numeral 20) will extend to the surface from each of the
one or more
detonators in each of the other boreholes. Loggers 14 are shown as being
respectively re-
movably, i.e., temporarily, connected to the leg wires 20 by attaching the leg
wires to posts
12a and 12b. These removable connections are made and unmade by hand and the
cataloging
is carried out by operators. Obviously, any suitable number of loggers 14 may
be placed in
use at any given time to share the workload among a number of operators.
[0033] The information obtained by the loggers 14 is useful not only for
analyzing the
layout of a blast site, e.g., a seismic survey site, but for providing a
digital record which may
be critical for defending against any claims made against the user by third
parties, or by the
user against a supplier. For example, during the idle period mentioned above,
a completed
borehole may "slump" due to soil conditions or significant rainfalls and the
slumping may
break or disconnect one or both of the detonator leg wires. The present
invention provides a
digital record of the status of the detonator and other conditions in the
borehole as of the time
loading of the borehole is completed.
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[0034] In addition, a map of the planned boreholes can be developed from the
data
obtained by use of the logger of the present invention and input into a
computer or other stor-
age device or media, in order to help locate future borehole placements in the
survey site or
sites or in future blasting operations generally. A practical advantage is
that the driller in the
field can enter all needed data electronically, and paper and pencil or pen
are not required.
The latter is a not inconsiderable advantage in inclement weather.
[0035] The galvanometer may be a separate item that is readily removably
connected
to the USB port of any suitable handheld computer. A number of different
galvanometers,
each customized for testing detonators having different electrical resistance
range specifica-
tions, may be provided for attachment to the same handheld computer. An
alternative design
is to utilize an off-the-shelf handheld computer such as the TrimbleTM Nomad
Handheld
Computer (sometimes herein referred to as the "Trimble Computer"), available
from Trimble
Navigation Limited, Corvallis, Oregon. This handheld computer can utilize
software which
is well suited for collecting, saving and transmitting field data, e.g., data
from cataloging the
boreholes of a blasting survey site or other blasting site. The handheld
computer 10 also has
an integrated GPS receiver 11 to provide the respective geographic locations
of the boreholes
18 of Figure 3. The Trimble Computer is, in accordance with one embodiment of
the present
invention, configured to have a galvanometer 12 removably connected to it to
provide a log-
ger 14. Logger 14 is small enough to be readily held in the hand while using
it in the field.
Further, the Trimble Computer is capable of building, storing and transmitting
a database in-
cluding, by way of example only, borehole location, type of explosive
utilized, results of gal-
vanometer tests for the electrical resistance of each detonator in a borehole,
etc. Obviously,
any other suitable handheld computer fitted with the galvanometer may be used
in the appara-
tus of the invention. As indicated above, different galvanometers may be
attached to hand-
held computer 10, as required in a given case. In an embodiment, the display
screen 1 Oa and
keypad 10b of handheld computer 10 is configured having a screen layout and
keypad layout
that are known to one skilled in the art of the Trimble Computer.
[0036] In another embodiment of the present invention, a single integrated
logger unit
may have the galvanometer circuitry incorporated into the circuitry of a
suitable handheld
computer. It is usually preferred, however, to couple a stand-alone version of
the galvanome-
ter with a suitable off-the-shelf handheld computer, as this approach is
simpler and less ex-
pensive than developing a customized handheld computer. Further, the ability
to change out
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galvanometers facilitates customizing the logger for use with detonators of
different electrical
characteristics. An integrated logger capable of testing different types of
detonators would
have to include circuitry and operator controls for setting different
acceptable ranges of elec-
trical resistance for different types of detonators. This provides an occasion
for operator er-
ror. Alternatively, a separate integrated logger would have to be provided for
each type of
detonator. Either alternative is obviously disadvantageous as compared to a
handheld com-
puter capable of having different galvanometers attached to it.
[0037] The galvanometer includes firmware (software which cannot be altered by
the
user) which is programmed to recognize the acceptable range of resistance of
the particular
electric or electronic detonators being utilized. If the measured resistance
exceeds the upper
limit of the desired resistance range, a string of plus signs may be displayed
on the handheld
computer to indicate that the resistance is too high. If the resistance is
below the low end of
the desired range, a string of minus signs may be displayed to indicate that
the resistance is
too low. If the resistance falls within the pre-programmed acceptable range, a
numerical dis-
play of the measured resistance may be shown. A mixed number-and-symbol system
is pre-
ferred over an all-numerical system because it largely eliminates the danger
that the operator
will misread a number or mistakenly think that an unacceptable number
displayed is within
the acceptable range. Obviously, any suitable symbols or indicia and/or
audible or visual
(lights) indications other than the specific above-described mixed number-and-
symbol system
may be employed.
[003 8] In all cases, the electrical output required to measure the resistance
of the deto-
nators is far below the minimum output required to overcome the resistance to
initiate the
detonators being tested. For example, an electronic detonator sold under the
trademark
DiPed and available from Dyno Nobel Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah, has a high
electrical re-
sistance range of 44.6 kilo-ohms to 49.5 kilo-ohms.
[0039] The galvanometer 12 may be configured with circuitry and operator
controls
which enable the adjustment of the acceptable resistance values for the
particular type of
detonators being utilized. This, however, presents a danger of operator error
if the wrong
range of acceptable resistance values is mistakenly selected. For that reason,
it is preferred to
provide customized galvanometers, each of which is configured for one
particular acceptable
resistance range. Each such customized galvanometer 12 may have a hood-like
configuration
and be configured to seal the interior of the handheld computer 10 to which
the galvanometer
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is connected. These "hoods" are configured to removably connect the
galvanometer both
electrically and physically to the handheld computer, making a water-and
weather-tight seal
between the hood-shaped galvanometer and the computer. The handheld computer
may have
a USB port to which the galvanometer is readily connectible. Hoods are
advantageously
clearly marked to indicate the desired resistance range of the detonators with
which that par-
ticular hood is to be used. Accordingly, the hoods may be of different colors,
etc., so as to
reduce the chance of connecting the wrong hood (for the particular type of
detonators being
interrogated) to the handheld computer. As a practical matter, however,
greater assurance
that the correct hood is being used is attained by having the blasting
supervisor, e.g., the
seismic survey supervisor, issue to each driller a tool kit from which the
hood or hoods not
designed for the particular type of detonators being interrogated have been
removed. This
leaves in the issued tool kit only the one appropriate hood for the detonators
being used in
that shot, together with other items such as the handheld computer, batteries,
etc.
[0040] After a suitable galvanometer 12 is connected to handheld computer 10
to pro-
vide the logger 14, the logger 14 is utilized as schematically illustrated in
Figure 3 to collect
data pertinent to each borehole 18, and the resulting logger data is fed back
to the desktop
software application 26. As discussed above, the logger data will typically
include informa-
tion showing whether each detonator has the appropriate desired resistance
value range, or
one which is above or below the desired range. The position of each borehole
is as deter-
mined by utilization of the GPS or equivalent signal. Other data may be input
by the operator
in the field, including the type and amount of explosive in each borehole, and
any other perti-
nent data.
[0041 ] Figure 4 shows a schematic flow chart in which an office computer 22
(so de-
nominated in order to distinguish it from the handheld computer 10) is shown
as receiving
and transmitting data between handheld computer 10 and office computer 22.
Customer spe-
cific data 30, which may include field definitions for example, is input into
the desktop soft-
ware application 26 and is included in the set-up data transmitted to the
field software 28 of
handheld computer 10. Software 26 accepts and records the data and outputs set-
up data to
the field software 28 of logger 14. As shown in Figure 4, at this stage, the
galvanometer 12 is
not connected to handheld computer 10 and so a cap 1 Oc has been inserted into
the opening in
which galvanometer 12 is inserted, in order to provide a weather- and air-
tight seal similar to
that provided by galvanometer 12. The desktop software application 26 running
on office
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computer 22 is also configured to receive post plot survey data 24, which may
include hole
coordinate information from a GPS for example, and to provide a final shot
report 32.
[0042] A more detailed example of data flow 105 between computer 22 and
handheld
computer 10 is shown in Figure 4A. Figure 4A is an overview of the workflow
between the
office (desktop) computer 22 and the handheld computer 10. It is seen that the
shot points
110, data dictionary 115, background images 120 are transmitted to the office
computer 22
together with files 125 containing the field data 130 from handheld computer
10. The field
data is recorded, including the resistance of the detonators, GPS coordinates,
a date and time
stamp and other attributes as determined by the data dictionary (see Figure 6E
for example),
created and fed into the office computer 22. Files are transferred between
office computer 22
and the handheld computer 10 as required, and handheld computer 10 may be used
to navi-
gate to one or more shot points 135. The software 26 of office computer 22 may
also be con-
figured and used to perform post-processing of GPS coordinates 140 and to
export data 145
such as the final shot report 32 for example.
[0043] Figure 5 shows a detailed software workflow chart 150 wherein the
legends in
the chart show the flow of information from the office computer 22 software,
as the logger is
launched. The job specific file 155 is created including defining fixed header
fields 160, in-
putting post-plot coordinates (X,Y) data 165, defining per-day data fields
170, defining per
hole shot point data fields 175, then reviewing the fields 180 and saving the
file 185. The
boxes 190, 191 and 192 to the left-hand side of Figure 5 give examples of
specific informa-
tion and data associated with the first (reference numeral 160), third
(reference numeral 170)
and fourth (reference numeral 175) steps of the specific file flow chart.
[0044] The right-hand side of Figure 5 shows the application of utilities 300
to upload
305 a job specific file to the handheld computer 10, download 310 the logger
files from hand-
held computer 10, delete 315 extraneous files, if any, from the handheld
computer 10, option-
ally update 320 the handheld software, and then combine 325 the files.
[0045] Figure 6A is a list of the main functions 330 to be performed on the
office
computer 22, which in an embodiment utilizes the TrimbleTM GPS Pathfinder
Office software
on a WindowsTM 2000, XP or VistaTM platform, or any other software platform
suitable for
the purposes disclosed herein.
[0046] Figure 6B provides a graphical flow chart 340 illustrating one example
type of
data import as indicated by the first bullet 331 under Main Functions 330 in
Figure 6A. The
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three steps 341, 342, 343 described in the example of Figure 6B are
schematically illustrated
by the various computer screens 345, 350, 355, 360 which appear in the order
indicated by
the arrows 341', 342', 343' interconnecting them. The graphical illustration
345 is represen-
tative of a.seg file of the U.S. National Petroleum Reserve from the U.S.
Geologic Survey (a
.seg file format is known to one skilled in the art). The graphical
illustration 350 is represen-
tative of the seg file 345 having been converted into a .dbf (dBase IV) file
in MicrosoftTM
Excel format (a.dbf file format is known to one skilled in the art). The
graphical illustration
355 is representative of a screen shot of the import tool available by running
the application
software on the office computer 22 (the content of screen shot depicted is
known to one
skilled in the art of TrimbleTM GPS Pathfinder Office software). The graphical
illustration
360 is representative of a screen shot of a map of the shot point field as
provided by the ap-
plication software on the office computer 22 (the content of screen shot
depicted is known to
one skilled in the art of TrimbleTM GPS Pathfinder Office software).
[0047] Figure 6C shows pertinent computer screens 365, 370, 375 on office
computer
22 executing TrimbleTM GPS Pathfinder Office software, which are involved in
importing
background images 380 (see Figure 6D for example) into the program. Background
images
other than that illustrated in Figure 6D may be imported from a variety of
sources. The back-
ground image 380 illustrated in Figure 6D may be overlain with a rendition of
the location of
boreholes on the surface of the terrain, see shot point field 360 in Figure 6B
for example.
The type of content depicted in screen shots 365, 370, 375, 380 is known to
one skilled in the
art of TrimbleTM GPS Pathfinder Office software.
[0048] Figure 6E shows computer screens 385, 390 of a data dictionary editor
with
typical attributes which are to be recorded in the field as illustrated in
Figure 3. The left-hand
screen 385 of Figure 6E shows the "Resistance" (of the detonators), the
explosive type used
in the borehole, the weight of explosive in the borehole, the depth of the
borehole and the
shot point. The shot point is the borehole to which the signal to initiate the
detonators is sent.
The GPS data is used to navigate to the selected shot point. The right-hand
screen 390 of
Figure 6E shows an edit screen for use in describing the shot point field
under consideration.
The type of content depicted in screen shots 385, 390 is known to one skilled
in the art of
TrimbleTM GPS Pathfinder Office software.
[0049] Figure 6F illustrates a transfer of files between a computer (e.g.,
office com-
puter 22) and the handheld logger unit 14 using a data transfer utility. The
graphical illustra-
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tion of screen shot 395 is representative of a data transfer utility provided
by the TrimbleTM
GPS Pathfinder Office software, and the graphical illustration of screen shot
400 is represen-
tative of a data transfer utility provided by MicrosoftTM ActiveSync software.
The type of
content depicted in screen shot 395 is known to one skilled in the art of
TrimbleTM GPS Path-
finder Office software, and the type of content depicted in screen shot 400 is
known to one
skilled in the art of MicrosoftTM ActiveSync software.
[0050] Figure 6G illustrates computer screens 405, 410 generated in the course
of
creating loading reports from the field data received from the handheld logger
14. The data
may then be exported from the office computer 22 (see export data 145 in
Figure 4A for ex-
ample). The type of content depicted in screen shots 405, 410 is known to one
skilled in the
art of TrimbleTM GPS Pathfinder Office software.
[0051 ] Figure 6H illustrates computer screens 415, 420 generated when
employing
data from local fixed GPS sources to improve the accuracy, differential
correction, of the lo-
cation of the boreholes as established by the field GPS, otherwise known as
post-processing
of GPS coordinates. The type of content depicted in screen shots 415, 420 is
known to one
skilled in the art of TrimbleTM GPS Pathfinder Office software.
[0052] Figure 61 is a schematic flow chart 500 providing a more detailed view
of the
software workflow of the handheld computer 10. As indicated, the logger
handheld software
is launched 505, job specific files are loaded 510 together with complete per-
day pull down
entries 515. An X,Y grid coordinate location 520 and complete per-hole pull-
down entries
525 are loaded into the software of the handheld computer 10 which is then
connected 530, as
illustrated in Figure 3, to the detonator leg wires. If the display screen l
Oa (Figure 2) of the
handheld computer 10 shows that the resistance of the detonator is in
specification 535, i.e.,
is in the desired range, another X,Y grid coordinate is selected and the steps
are repeated 540
to log each borehole 18 (Figure 3). If the resistance of the detonator is not
within specifica-
tion, a second try may be made 545 by reconnecting 550 the handheld computer
10 to the
detonator and repeating the measurement. If the re-measured resistance is
shown to be within
specifications, the operator moves on to the next borehole 18 (Figure 3). If
the detonator re-
sistance is shown as still outside specification, the resistance measurement
failure is ac-
knowledged 555 for that borehole and suitable steps to rectify the matter,
e.g., by replacing
the out-of-specification detonators, may be taken.
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13
[0053] In view of the foregoing, and with reference to Figures 1-3 and 7, it
will be
appreciated that an embodiment of the invention includes an electrical
interface apparatus
(also herein referred to as a galvanometer) 12 having two electrical input
terminals 12a, 12b,
a microprocessor 205 disposed in electrical communication with the two
electrical input ter-
minals 12a, 12b, and a USB connector 210 disposed in electrical communication
with the mi-
croprocessor 205. The two input terminals 12a, 12b are disposed and configured
to be re-
leasably connected to the two detonator leg wires 20 that are attached to an
associated deto-
nator 100. The microprocessor 205 is configured to receive an input signal
from the respec-
tive two detonator leg wires 20 when a voltage reference 212 from a voltage
reference source
215 is injected into the two detonator leg wires 20 via the two electrical
input terminals 12a,
12b. The USB connector 210 is disposed and configured to be releasably
connected to a
handheld computer 10.
[0054] In an embodiment, and with particular reference to Figure 1, the USB
connec-
tor 210 is disposed at one end of a flexible USB cable 16, and is configured
to be releasably
connected to the handheld computer 10 via hand manipulation of the flexible
USB cable 16.
An opposing end of the flexible USB cable 16 is electrically connected to the
microprocessor
205.
[0055] In another embodiment, and with particular reference to Figure 2A, the
elec-
trical interface apparatus 12 includes a flexible hood 220 disposed on a side
of the apparatus
12 opposite that of the two electrical input terminals 12a, 12b, and the USB
connector 210 is
disposed within the flexible hood 220. Here, the USB connector 210 is
releasably connect-
able to the handheld computer 10 concurrently with the flexible hood 220 being
releasably
sealable to the handheld computer 10 to form a weather seal between the
apparatus 12 and the
handheld computer 10 to protect the connections at the USB connector 210 when
the appara-
tus 12 is releasably connected to the handheld computer 10.
[0056] In yet another embodiment, and with reference to Figure 2B, the
electrical in-
terface apparatus 12 is integrally arranged with, that is, immovably fixed to,
the handheld
computer 10, in a combination that forms a logger 14 when appropriate logging
software is
loaded onto the handheld computer 10. Here, there would be no need for a USB
connector
per se, as the microprocessor 205 would be configured and disposed in direct
signal commu-
nication with an input port 225 of the handheld computer 10. The input port
225 is depicted
in dashed line fashion in Figure 2B, and in association with the USB connector
210 in Figure
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14
7, for illustrative purposes, but may be disposed within the combination
logger 14 in any
manner suitable for the purposes disclosed herein.
[0057] While Figures 1, 2A and 2B, depict alternative embodiments, all
embodiments
of the invention employ the functionality of the block diagram schematic 200
depicted in
Figure 7, which is a block diagram schematic of the electrical interface
apparatus 12, and
which will now be discussed in more detail.
[0058] With reference to Figures 1-3 as well as Figure 7, an embodiment of the
elec-
trical interface apparatus 12 includes microprocessor 205 disposed in
electrical communica-
tion with the two electrical input terminals 12a, 12b via an analog-to-digital
(A/D) converter
230, and disposed in electrical communication with the USB connector 210 via a
USB-to-
serial interface 235, where serial data 240 is communicated between the
microprocessor 205
and the USB-to-serial interface 235, and USB data 245 is communicated between
the USB-
to-serial interface 235 and the USB connector 210. The A/D converter 230 is
configured to
convert an input analog signal 250 from the two electrical input terminals
121, 12b to a digi-
tal signal 255 to be communicated to the microprocessor 205.
[0059] As mentioned above, a voltage reference source 215 is disposed in
electrical
communication with the two electrical input terminals 12a, 12b, and is
configured to provide
voltage reference 212 that is injected into the two detonator leg wires 20 via
the two electrical
input terminals 12a, 12b. The voltage reference 212 has a value that is below
the ignition
voltage of the detonator 100 under investigation, but of sufficient value for
the firmware pro-
grammed into the handheld computer 10 to test for and recognize an acceptable
range of re-
sistance of the particular detonator 100, thereby providing indication of the
electrical health
of the detonator 100 under investigation. In an embodiment, the ignition
circuit of each deto-
nator 100 in the bore hole 18 includes a resistor electrically connected
across the two detona-
tor leg wires 20, but disposed on the ignition circuit proximate the igniter
of the detonator, as
described in commonly assigned U.S. Publ. No. 2008/022324 1. As a result of
this testing, an
embodiment of the invention provides a digital record of the status of the
detonator 100 and
other conditions in the borehole 18.
[0060] With reference still to Figure 7, a power bus 260 is disposed in
electrical com-
munication with the USB connector 210, and offers a means for providing
operational power,
data communications, and grounding, via the USB connector 210 using known USB
industry
standard specifications, to the voltage reference source 215, the A/D
converter 230, the mi-
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croprocessor 205, and the USB-to-serial interface 235. While an embodiment is
described
herein with power bus 260 being a USB-type power bus, it will be appreciated
that the inven-
tion is not so limited and may employ other power/communications/grounding bus
configura-
tions as suitable for the purposes disclosed herein. Consequently, bus
configurations other
than a USB-type bus are contemplated and considered within the scope of the
invention dis-
closed herein.
[0061 ] In an embodiment, the voltage reference 212 is provided by the voltage
refer-
ence source 215 integrally arranged within the electrical interface apparatus
12, as discussed
above. However, in an alternative embodiment, the handheld computer 10
provides the volt-
age reference 212, which is communicated via the USB connector 210, or any
other connec-
tor suitable for the purposes disclosed herein, and the USB power bus 260, or
any other bus
suitable for the purposes disclosed herein, to the two electrical input
terminals 12a, 12b, as
depicted by dashed bus path 265.
[0062] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that an embodiment of the
invention
includes the microprocessor 205 being responsive to executable program code
which when
executed on the microprocessor 205 facilitates display, on the display I Oa of
the handheld
computer 10, of a mixed number-and-symbol system in response to the input
signal 250 from
the two detonator leg wires 20 when the voltage reference 212 is injected into
the two detona-
tor leg wires 20 via the two electrical input terminals 12a, 12b.
[0063] It will also be appreciated that the display of the mixed number-and-
symbol
system may have more than one form.
[0064] In a first embodiment, the display includes display of a first symbol
string,
such as a plurality of plus sign characters for example, in response to the
input signal 250 be-
ing representative of too high of a resistance at the two detonator leg wires
20, display of a
second symbol string, such as a plurality of minus sign characters for
example, in response to
the input signal 250 being representative of too low of a resistance at the
two detonator leg
wires 20, and display of a numerical value representative of, and in response
to, the input sig-
nal 250 being representative of a resistance at the two detonator leg wires 20
falling within a
pre-defined acceptable range.
[0065] In a second embodiment, the display is not so much a display, but an
indica-
tion, where the mixed number-and-symbol is replaced with a mixed number-and-
indication.
Here, the microprocessor 205 is responsive to executable program code which
when executed
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on the microprocessor 205 facilitates presentation of a mixed number-and-
indicator system
on an audio-visual system (referred to herein with reference to element l Oa)
of the handheld
computer 10 in response to the input signal 250 from the two detonator leg
wires 20 when the
voltage reference 212 is injected into the two detonator leg wires 20 via the
two electrical in-
put terminals 12a, 12b.
[0066] In an embodiment, the presentation of the mixed number-and-indicator
system
includes audible presentation of a first sound, such as a relatively high
frequency for exam-
ple, in response to the input signal 250 being representative of too high of a
resistance at the
two detonator leg wires 20, audible presentation of a second sound, such as a
relatively low
frequency for example, in response to the input signal 250 being
representative of too low of
a resistance at the two detonator leg wires 20, and display of a numerical
value representative
of, and in response to, the input signal 250 being representative of a
resistance at the two
detonator leg wires 20 falling within a pre-defined acceptable range.
[0067] In an alternative embodiment, the presentation of the mixed number-and-
indicator system includes visual presentation of a first color, such as green
for example, in
response to the input signal 250 being representative of too high of a
resistance at the two
detonator leg wires 20, visual presentation of a second color, such as red for
example, in re-
sponse to the input signal 250 being representative of too low of a resistance
at the two deto-
nator leg wires 20, and display of a numerical value representative of, and in
response to, the
input signal 250 being representative of a resistance at the two detonator leg
wires 20 falling
within a pre-defined acceptable range.
[0068] In an embodiment, the mixed number-and-symbol system is combined with
the mixed number-and-indication system such that both visual display (symbols
and/or col-
ors) and audible presentation is provided for too high or too low of a
resistance at the two
detonator leg wires 20.
[0069] From the foregoing description of structure, it will be appreciated
that an em-
bodiment of the invention also includes a method for checking an electrical
characteristic,
such as but not limited to resistance, of a borehole detonator 100 having two
detonator leg
wires 20, using an electrical interface apparatus 12 in combination with a
handheld computer
10, the structure of such combination being discussed above. In an example
embodiment, the
method includes connecting the two electrical input terminals 12a, 12b to the
two detonator
leg wires 20, injecting a voltage reference 212 into the two detonator leg
wires 20 and receiv-
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17
ing an input signal 250 from the two detonator leg wires 20 in response to the
injected volt-
age reference 212, and displaying a mixed number-and-symbol system and/or a
mixed num-
ber-and-indication system on the display and/or an audio-visual system of the
handheld com-
puter 10 in response to the input signal 250, where the mixed number-and-
symbol system
and/or the mixed number-and-indication system is representative of the
resistance measured
at the two detonator leg wires 20, as discussed above.
[0070] While reference is made herein to a USB connector 210, it will be
appreciated
that the scope of the invention is not limited to only a USB connector, but
may also be prac-
ticed using any connector and associated cable suitable for the purposes
disclosed herein. All
such other connectors and associated cables are contemplated and considered
within the
scope of the invention disclosed herein.
[0071 ] An embodiment of the invention may be embodied in the form of computer-
implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. The
present invention
may also be embodied in the form of a computer program product having computer
program
code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy
diskettes, CD-
ROMs, hard drives, USB (universal serial bus) drives, or any other computer
readable storage
medium, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), erasable
pro-
grammable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read
only
memory (EEPROM), or flash memory, for example, wherein, when the computer
program
code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an
apparatus for prac-
ticing the invention. The present invention may also be embodied in the form
of computer
program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into
and/or executed
by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over
electrical wiring
or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein
when the computer
program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes
an apparatus
for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose
microprocessor, the
computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific
logic cir-
cuits. A technical effect of the executable instructions is to check an
electrical characteristic
of a borehole detonator.
[0072] While the invention has been described in detail with reference to
specific em-
bodiments, it will be appreciated that numerous variations may be made to the
described em-
bodiments which variations nonetheless lie within the scope of the present
invention.
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[0073] While certain combinations of features relating to an electrical
interface appa-
ratus and/or detonator test apparatus have been described herein, it will be
appreciated that
these certain combinations are for illustration purposes only and that any
combination of any
of these features may be employed, explicitly or equivalently, either
individually or in com-
bination with any other of the features disclosed herein, in any combination,
and all in accor-
dance with an embodiment of the invention. Any and all such combinations are
contem-
plated herein and are considered within the scope of the invention disclosed.
