An RF-insensitive hybrid electroexplosive device incorporating an integral filter

As electroexplosive devices (EEDs) are increasingly exposed to the general public, their possible accidental initiation due to their susceptibility to electromagnetic interference (EMI) becomes a greater concern. Unintended signals coupled to the EED have usually been attenuated by the insertion of an L-C filter in the leads of the EED. However, these have typically been bulky, heavy, and expensive, and can often not be installed close to the EED itself, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the filter. The authors discuss a filter and an EED which are mounted on the same substrate using hybrid microelectronics technology and surface-mount components. The resulting structure is small, lightweight, inexpensive, and mechanically robust. Also demonstrated is a new EMI-insensitive EED, the semiconductor junction igniter. An electrical model was developed for the filter and EED, and it was verified with impedance measurements. Voltage attenuation and power dissipation were calculated, and the temperature of the devices under excitation was measured, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the filter