Explosive Test Site Range Instrumentation

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Electronic Detonators (CDU’s, EDU’s) and their CONTROLLERS, the combination also known as “firesets”.

Capacitive Discharge Units (CDU’s), also known as Electronic Detonator Units (EDU’s) consist of circuitry to charge a capacitor to a high voltage, then to switch the energy in that capacitor into a low impedance load, typically an exploding bridgewire, foil, or the like, at the end of a transmission line.

CDU’s can be configured as single-point or multiple-point outputs, the latter for applications where simultaneous high voltage, high current pulses are required. CAL-AV has recently delivered a 24-point fireset with simultaneity specified as 1 nanosecond maximum, shown here during assembly:

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Typically, CDU CONTROLLERS are packaged as rack and / or bench-mounted units, intended for indoor use. CDU’s are typically packaged as field hardware and are hardened to a degree depending on the application.

Two basic configurations of these units which we have produced are as follows:

1. The CDU Controller unit is located in a control room, often a bunker or bombproof, and is operated from AC mains power. It generates both the high voltage and triggering pulse, which are sent over long cables to the remote CDU. It may also generate a lower voltage for internal electronics within the CDU, depending on monitoring requirements.

2. This configuration differs from the first in that AC mains power is supplied, along with arming and triggering signals, is sent from the CDU CONTROLLER to a remote CDU. The CDU internally generates the high voltage required to charge its discharge capacitor. A variation of this latter configuration is that a control signal is used to enable remote (range) AC mains power to the remote CDU(s).

Digital Time Delay / Pulse / Timing Generators

These instruments produce the electrical signals required for sequencing events at precise times. Their digital nature allows easy positioning or repositioning of these signals in time for adjustment of experimental requirements. Some features of these instruments include:

• Single and multiple channels (150 channels is the largest to date)
• Resolutions of .001, .01, .1 and 1 microsecond standard
• Computer control, e.g. GPIB is optional on some models
• Jitter: Sub-nanosecond, depending on configuration
• Indeterminacy: Zero to clock period, depending on configuration
• Insertion delay: Zero to 150 nS, depending on configuration
• Outputs: TTL to 300V / 50 ohms standard

Custom and Semi-Custom Hardware

Since 1959, CAL-AV LABS, Inc. has manufactured electronics for research labs and operational users from government, industry, and universities. Our efforts are split about evenly between standard instruments and modified or custom designs. Some selected examples of these efforts that are related to range instrumentation follow:

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• DDG, 150-channel GPIB-controlled, HV outputs, for rail gun control.
• CDU, 12" Dia. Field Case, 36V Primary Power.
• “CRAB” 12” Dia. Field case, remote 120V power control for 12 CDU’s.
• 4-Channel CDU Remote Control, 0-5KV.
• 6-Channel Trigger Generator, Make/Break Screen.
• 12-Channel DDG; 1 nS Resolution, GPIB Control, TTL and Fiber Outputs, 90V Outputs On To and All Delayed Outputs. Range 0-1000 Seconds for flash X-ray application.
• 30-Channel DDG; similar to above, large pulse-power generation application.
• 24-Channel, Rubidium clock; 10 nanosecond jitter at 10 minutes out.
• 6-Channel DDG; 0-10 Seconds, 100 nS Resolution. Two 10A Form C relay outputs with overrun timer on 2 Channels. Explosive range high-speed photography application.
• Numerous specialized interfaces, signal conditioners, etc., utilizing both copper and fiber-optic inputs and outputs.

E-mail: info@cal-av.com

Voice: 520.624.1300
FAX: 520.624.1311

CAL-AV Labs, Inc.
2440 N. Coyote Drive, Suite 116
Tucson, AZ  85745
USA

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