Development of MEMS based safe electro-thermal pyrotechnic igniter for a new generation of microfuze

Pierre Pennarun; Carole Rossi; Daniel Esteve; Veronique Conedera

doi:10.1117/12.608082

1 July 2005 Development of MEMS based safe electro-thermal pyrotechnic igniter for a new generation of microfuze (Invited Paper)

Pierre Pennarun, Carole Rossi, Daniel Esteve, Veronique Conedera

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5836, Smart Sensors, Actuators, and MEMS II; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.608082
Event: Microtechnologies for the New Millennium 2005, 2005, Sevilla, Spain

Abstract

This paper presents the design and development of a safe MEMS based micro electro-thermal igniter for a safe microfuze for military purpose. The proposed device’s architecture is made of: (1) one pyrotechnical micro igniter, (2) one arming function, (3) one disarming function and (3) one sterilization function. The pyrotechnical electro-thermal igniter consists in a resistive element that converts electrical energy into heat to initiate an energetic material. The arming function permits the igniter to be armed, ready to fire, only if the ignition conditions are respected. For that, a short-circuit to the electrical ground is cut and the igniter is connected to the power supply. The igniter can be reset to the safe mode (disarmed state) thanks to the disarming function that reconnects the igniter's electrical pads to the electrical ground. If necessary the igniter can be sterilized meaning that the system's ignition capability is definitively removed. All these functions are based on the use of two electro-thermal micro switches : one ON-OFF and one OFF-ON. Due to the application requirements (the fuze is used once but after a long storage, all components must have a high level of safety and reliability and the power consumption must be minimized), we opted for a new generation of one shot, safe and reliable micro switches. They are based on electro thermal mechanisms and consist in breaking one electrical connection (ON-OFF switch) or micro soldering locally two electrical connections (OFF-ON switch). Both switches have been developed in MEMS technology, characterized and are presented in this paper. A prototype of safe micro igniter with ON-OFF and OFF-ON switches has been also realized and is presented.

Citation Download Citation

Pierre Pennarun, Carole Rossi, Daniel Esteve, and Veronique Conedera "Development of MEMS based safe electro-thermal pyrotechnic igniter for a new generation of microfuze (Invited Paper)", Proc. SPIE 5836, Smart Sensors, Actuators, and MEMS II, (1 July 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.608082

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