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Energetic thin-film initiatorRelated Patent Categories: Explosive And Thermic Compositions Or Charges, Structure Or Arrangement Of Component Or Product, Contiguous Layers Or ZonesEnergetic thin-film initiator description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070169862, Energetic thin-film initiator. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not Applicable. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not Applicable. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC [0003] Not Applicable. COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL [0004] Not Applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0005] 1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field) [0006] The present invention relates to energetic material initiators. [0007] 2. Description of Related Art [0008] The initiation of an energetic material requires that a stable and reliable fuze mechanism activate the chemical reaction at a desired time. Fuzes are often used in conjunction with a safe and arm mechanism. Electronic Safe and Arm Fuze (ESAF) designs are increasingly being used due to their flexibility in state sensing, response logic and use of electricity as the initiating power source. The initiator is the component of the ESAF that converts the electrical energy to a form that can initiate the energetic material. The finished initiator package volume, the cost of initiator fabrication, the repeatability of initiator fabrication, and the required power to initiate an energetic chemical reaction must be minimized while reliability, resistance to misfire, and durability must be maximized for optimum service. [0009] Electro-Explosive Devices (EEDs) typically incorporate hot wire, semiconductor bridge, or exploding foil type initiators. Existing types of EEDs involve resistance heating (and relatively high power) to produce a high temperature used to trigger a fuze chain or energetic material. Existing devices that employ thin films include the following references. [0010] J. M. Boyd, "Thin-Film Electric Initiator--Application Of Explosives And Performance Tests", Defense Technical Information Center Report No. HDL-TR-1414 (1969), discloses a thin film deposited chemically that does not comprise a reactive material. The film produces a high temperature when a relatively high electrical current is applied across it. [0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,634, titled "Thin Film Bridge Initiators and Method of Manufacture", to Flickinger, et al., discloses a vapor deposited thin film that produces a high temperature when a relatively high current is passed through it. Again, the film does not comprise a reactive material. [0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,276, titled "Thin-Film Optical Initiator", to Erickson, discloses a film used in conjunction with an optical power input (laser). The laser heats a thin-film material which produces a high temperature which then initiates an output charge. [0013] The use of the multilayered thin film Exploding Film Initiator (EFI) of the invention provides a greater initial energy output then a conventional EFI for an equivalent input energy and can be tailored for initiation sensitivity and maximum achievable temperature. Once initiated, relatively high temperatures can be reached by the EFI through the release of chemically stored energy upon reaction of the EFI component materials. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0014] The present invention is of an energetic thin film initiator and a method of making same, comprising: providing a plurality of thin film layers of fuel; providing a plurality of thin film layers of oxidizer, at least one interposed between two of the thin layers of fuel; and providing an electrical input to the thin film layers that upon receipt of an electrical pulse causes ignition of layers of fuel and oxidizer. In the preferred embodiment, the electrical input comprises a pair of conductive electrical leads. A silicon wafer substrate is preferred for the thin film layers. An electrical pulse of less than or equal to approximately 2 watts causes ignition. A resultant temperature of the ignition is preferably at least approximately 4600 degrees F. The thin film layers are tailored for one or more properties selected from stored chemical energy content, maximum achievable reaction temperature, maximum reaction rate, deposition thickness, and required deposition area. The thin film layers have a thickness of less than approximately 100 micrometers for appropriate applications and less than approximately 100 nanometers for others. The ignition primarily results from free energy release associated with intermetallic reactions or from free energy release associated with oxidation-reduction reactions. [0015] Objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings: [0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the invention; and Continue reading about Energetic thin-film initiator... Full patent description for Energetic thin-film initiator Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Energetic thin-film initiator patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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