US12674651 - Arrangement and method for increasing the functional safety of an opto-pyrotechnic initiator

The patent describes an arrangement that enhances the functional safety of an opto-pyrotechnic initiator by utilizing a laser and an optical fiber to guide laser radiation, incorporating an optical filter element that adjusts its transmission or reflection based on the laser’s power. This innovation allows for improved control over the initiation process by ensuring that the filter element can be switched to a higher transmission state when the laser power reaches a specific threshold, thereby enhancing safety during operation.

Claim 1

1 . An apparatus comprising: an opto-pyrotechnic initiator, in which a pyrotechnic mixture can be ignited by laser radiation; at least one laser which emits the laser radiation; and an optical fibre, via which the laser radiation is guided to the opto-pyrotechnic initiator, wherein an optical filter element having power-dependent or intensity-dependent transmission or reflection for the laser radiation is arranged in a beam path of the laser radiation between the laser and an initiating impingement location of the laser radiation in the opto-pyrotechnic initiator, the filter element is selected, and a beam of the laser radiation is guided in such a way through the filter element that for a laser power of the at least one laser by which an initiation is to be effected in the opto-pyrotechnic initiator in the arrangement, the filter element has a higher transmission or reflection, or can be switched to a higher transmission or reflection by applying an optical signal or an electronic signal that is independent of the laser radiation than at a lower laser power, and the filter element has a power-dependent or intensity-dependent transmission and includes a saturable absorber. an opto-pyrotechnic initiator, in which a pyrotechnic mixture can be ignited by laser radiation; at least one laser which emits the laser radiation; and an optical fibre, via which the laser radiation is guided to the opto-pyrotechnic initiator, wherein an optical filter element having power-dependent or intensity-dependent transmission or reflection for the laser radiation is arranged in a beam path of the laser radiation between the laser and an initiating impingement location of the laser radiation in the opto-pyrotechnic initiator, the filter element is selected, and a beam of the laser radiation is guided in such a way through the filter element that for a laser power of the at least one laser by which an initiation is to be effected in the opto-pyrotechnic initiator in the arrangement, the filter element has a higher transmission or reflection, or can be switched to a higher transmission or reflection by applying an optical signal or an electronic signal that is independent of the laser radiation than at a lower laser power, and the filter element has a power-dependent or intensity-dependent transmission and includes a saturable absorber.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12674651

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12674651