Sep 8, 2026

US12729937 - Compact encapsulated exploding foil initiator assembly

A compact encapsulated initiator assembly includes an initiator chip having a plurality of bridge contacts; a first terminal, including a first terminal end facing an opposite axial direction, configured to releasably and electrically couple with an electrical conductor of ordnance, and a first chip end that electrically couples with one of the bridge contacts; a second terminal, including a second terminal end, configured to releasably and electrically couple with another electrical conductor of ordnance, and a second chip end that electrically couples with another of the bridge contacts; and a shaped composite housing encapsulating at least some of the initiator chip, the first terminal, and the second terminal, such that at least a portion of an outer diameter of the first terminal end and an outer diameter of the second terminal end are positioned nearer a center axis than an outer edge of the initiator chip.

Assignee: Reynolds Systems, Inc.
Inventors: John P. Segal, Christopher J. Nance
Filing date: 2025-07-29

initiatorexplosiveordnance

The patent describes a compact encapsulated exploding foil initiator assembly designed for ordnance applications, featuring an initiator chip with bridge contacts and two terminals for electrical coupling. The assembly is housed in a shaped composite structure that positions the terminal ends closer to the center axis than the initiator chip’s outer edge, enhancing its compactness and functionality.

Claim 1

1 . A compact encapsulated initiator assembly comprising: an initiator chip, formed on an electrically non-conductive substrate, having a plurality of bridge contacts; a first terminal, including a first terminal end, configured to releasably and electrically couple with an electrical conductor of ordnance, and a first chip end that electrically couples with one of the bridge contacts; a second terminal, including a second terminal end, configured to releasably and electrically couple with another electrical conductor of ordnance, and a second chip end that electrically couples with another of the bridge contacts; and a shaped composite housing encapsulating at least some of the initiator chip, the first terminal, and the second terminal, wherein at least a portion of an outer diameter of the first terminal end and an outer diameter of the second terminal end are positioned nearer a center axis than an outer edge of the initiator chip. an initiator chip, formed on an electrically non-conductive substrate, having a plurality of bridge contacts; a first terminal, including a first terminal end, configured to releasably and electrically couple with an electrical conductor of ordnance, and a first chip end that electrically couples with one of the bridge contacts; a second terminal, including a second terminal end, configured to releasably and electrically couple with another electrical conductor of ordnance, and a second chip end that electrically couples with another of the bridge contacts; and a shaped composite housing encapsulating at least some of the initiator chip, the first terminal, and the second terminal, wherein at least a portion of an outer diameter of the first terminal end and an outer diameter of the second terminal end are positioned nearer a center axis than an outer edge of the initiator chip.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12729937

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12729937