EP4264171B1 - Method for installing a set of electronic detonators and associated ignition method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method of installing a set of electronic detonators at the coal face.

It also relates to a method of firing a set of electronic detonators installed at the face of the quarry according to the installation method according to the invention.

The present invention further relates to a mobile test device for implementing the installation method according to the invention, as well as a firing system for a set of electronic detonators installed at the face of the quarry according to the installation method according to the invention.

In general, the present invention applies to the field of mines and quarries and to public works sites implementing programmable electronic detonators that are fired remotely according to a predetermined firing plan.

The blasting plan defines, at the mine face, the location of blast holes, each intended to receive an electronic detonator associated with an explosive, as well as the firing sequence, that is, the delay associated with each electronic detonator, according to its location in each blast hole at the mine face. Methods for installing detonator assemblies are known, for example, from FR 3 053 111 A1 And US 2005/103219 A1 .

The firing of electronic detonators according to a firing plan is traditionally implemented in two main stages, one at the quarry face, the other at a distance from the quarry face.

First, the electronic detonators are loaded into the mine holes defined by the firing plan, then identified one by one using a mobile test device at the face of the mine.

The mobile test device is generally designed to read, address, test, program one or more electronic detonators, simultaneously or individually, with or without contact.

The identification step involves reading a unique identifier associated with each electronic detonator by the mobile test unit as each electronic detonator is connected, either wired or wirelessly, to the mobile test unit. A delay is then assigned to each electronic detonator according to the chosen firing plan, which assigns a predefined delay to each blast hole based on its location in the blast face. This delay associated with each electronic detonator is stored in the mobile test unit.

In some applications, it is planned at this stage to program and store, in each electronic detonator, the ignition delay associated with it according to the chosen firing plan.

Typically, the mobile test device performs a test of the electronic detonators connected to the bus line in order to verify the correct connection of all the individually identified electronic detonators.

Once the previous step has been completed, the bus line to which the electronic detonators are connected is connected to a firing line and the latter is itself connected to a remote firing device.

The remote firing step can then be implemented.

This firing stage can be initiated several days, or even weeks, after the installation stage of the electronic detonators at the face of the mine.

The remote firing device carries out, before the actual firing, a test step to verify that all the electronic detonators of the firing plan are properly connected to the firing line and that the firing conditions of the electronic detonators at the face are still satisfactory to be able to trigger the firing.

To do this, the remote firing device compares the individual identification information sent to it by each electronic detonator with the data recorded by the mobile test device during the installation and testing stage of the electronic detonators at the quarry face.

Thus, the data recorded by the mobile test device during the installation phase, i.e., the number of electronic detonators placed at the face of the quarry and connected to the bus line, the unique identification associated with each electronic detonator as well as the delay associated with each electronic detonator (possibly programmed in each electronic detonator), are transferred from the mobile test device to the remote firing device and stored to allow the implementation of the test before firing.

This data transfer can be achieved using a storage medium such as a USB flash drive or, alternatively, via a wireless communication protocol between the mobile test device and the remote firing device. In practice, this requires moving the mobile test device and/or the storage medium over a considerable distance between the quarry face and the remote firing device.

The present invention aims to resolve at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a simplified installation of a set of electronic detonators, and then their firing according to a predefined firing plan.

The various aspects of the invention described below are found in independent claims 1, 10 to 12, 15 and 16.

For this purpose, the present invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method of installing a set of electronic detonators in mine holes of a working face.

• connexion des détonateurs électroniques chargés dans les trous de mine à un dispositif mobile de test ;
• réception par le dispositif mobile de test d'un message adressé par chaque détonateur dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques;
• détermination par le dispositif mobile de test à partir dudit message adressé par chaque détonateur d'un ensemble de valeurs représentatif du nombre total de détonateurs électroniques connectés au dispositif mobile de test ;
• envoi par ledit dispositif mobile de test à un ou plusieurs détonateurs dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques, d'un ensemble de données à mémoriser comprenant ledit ensemble de valeurs représentatif du nombre total de détonateurs électroniques connectés au dispositif mobile de test ; et
• mémorisation dudit ensemble de données dans des moyens d'enregistrement d'un ou plusieurs détonateurs dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques.

The installation process includes the following steps:

• connection of electronic detonators loaded in mine holes to a mobile test device;
• reception by the mobile test device of a message sent by each detonator of said electronic detonator set;
• determination by the mobile test device from said message sent by each detonator of a set of values representative of the total number of electronic detonators connected to the mobile test device;
• sending by said mobile test device to one or more detonators of said electronic detonator set, a data set to be stored comprising said value set representative of the total number of electronic detonators connected to the mobile test device; and
• storage of said data set in recording means of one or more detonators of said electronic detonator set.

Thus, at least one detonator in the set of electronic detonators stores at least part of a set of values representative of the total number of electronic detonators connected to the mobile test device when the detonators were installed at the face of the quarry.

This information can therefore be transmitted by at least one detonator once the electronic detonators are connected to a remote firing device to allow validation of the entire installation and the correct connection, and in particular to verify that there are no current leaks on the connection line of the electronic detonators to the remote firing device.

Storing information useful for the validation test in at least one electronic detonator eliminates the need for data transfer between the mobile test device and a remote firing device.

Therefore, it is not necessary to physically transfer the data, obtained at the time of the installation of the electronic detonators at the quarry face, to the remote firing device.

According to one embodiment, at the sending stage, said data set to be stored is sent to all detonators of the electronic detonator set, said data set being stored in recording means of each detonator of the electronic detonator set.

Storing the data set redundantly in all electronic detonators ensures that this data set can be transferred subsequently to a remote firing device, even if one of the detonators or its connection to the remote firing device fails.

Advantageously, the said data set to be stored also includes a reference to the quarry face.

Thus, when several blasts are planned over the same period of time, the reference of the blast face makes it possible to ensure the correct allocation of a set of stored data to a particular blast face.

In a practical embodiment, said set of values includes the total number of electronic detonators connected to the mobile test device.

The total number of electronic detonators connected during the installation process at the face allows subsequent verification that the correct number of electronic detonators is connected to the remote firing device, before the firing is triggered.

In a particular embodiment, each detonator includes means for storing at least one reference to a delay category chosen from a predefined set of delay categories.

In one embodiment, the installation method further includes, for each delay category, a step of issuing a test command by said mobile test device to a subset of electronic detonators including the same stored delay category reference and, at the determination step, said set of values includes, for each delay category, the number of electronic detonators including this same stored delay category reference.

This information on the number of electronic detonators of each delay category allows subsequent verification that the correct number of electronic detonators, of each delay category according to the chosen firing plan, is connected to the remote firing device, before the firing is triggered.

In another embodiment, in addition to or as an alternative to the previous embodiment, at the stage of reception by said mobile test device of a message addressed by each detonator of said electronic detonator set, said message includes at least the delay category reference stored in said storage means of said detonator, and at the determination stage, said set of values includes, for each delay category, the number of electronic detonators including this same stored delay category reference.

Preferably, in order to verify that the detonators of all the delay categories implemented during the installation at the face are properly connected, the data set to be stored includes the number of delay categories of said predefined set of delay categories.

In practice, at the memorization stage, the number of electronic detonators including said recorded delay category reference is memorized respectively in the recording means of at least one electronic detonator including said memorized delay category reference.

• sélection dans le dispositif mobile de test d'un modèle d'associations de chaque catégorie de retard à un retard prédéfini selon un plan de tir prédéterminé ; et
• programmation d'un retard de mise à feu dans chaque détonateur de l'ensemble de détonateurs électroniques à partir dudit modèle d'associations et de la référence de catégorie de retard mémorisée dans les moyens de mémorisation dudit détonateur.

In one embodiment, the installation process further includes the following steps:

• selection within the mobile test device of a pattern of associations of each delay category to a predefined delay according to a predetermined firing plan; and
• programming of a firing delay in each detonator of the electronic detonator assembly from said model of associations and the delay category reference stored in the storage means of said detonator.

Programming the delay at the mobile test device level is simplified through the use of an association model. The firing delay can be programmed automatically based on the delay category stored at each detonator. All detonators can be programmed simultaneously, rather than one by one.

The present invention also relates, according to a second aspect, to a method of firing a set of electronic detonators installed at the face of the quarry according to the installation method described above, implemented in a firing device.

• connexion dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques au dispositif de mise à feu ;
• réception d'un message adressé par chaque détonateur dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques ;
• réception dudit ensemble de données mémorisé dans lesdits moyens d'enregistrement d'un ou plusieurs détonateurs dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques ;
• extraction dudit ensemble de données mémorisé dudit ensemble de valeurs représentatif du nombre total de détonateurs électroniques connectés au dispositif mobile de test lors de l'installation dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques au front de taille ;
• détermination du nombre courant de détonateurs électroniques dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques connecté au dispositif de mise à feu à partir du message adressé par chaque détonateur dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques ;
• comparaison dudit nombre courant avec ledit ensemble de valeurs représentatif du nombre total de détonateurs électroniques connectés au dispositif mobile de test ; et
• émission d'un message de validation d'un test si ledit nombre courant est en concordance avec ledit ensemble de valeurs représentatif du nombre total et d'un message de non-validation si ledit nombre courant n'est pas en concordance avec ledit ensemble de valeurs représentatif du nombre total.

The ignition process includes the following steps:

• connection of said electronic detonator assembly to the firing device;
• reception of a message sent by each detonator of said electronic detonator set;
• reception of said data set stored in said recording means of one or more detonators of said electronic detonator set;
• extraction of said stored data set of said representative value set of the total number of electronic detonators connected to the mobile test device during the installation of said electronic detonator set at the quarry face;
• determination of the current number of electronic detonators of said electronic detonator set connected to the firing device from the message sent by each detonator of said electronic detonator set;
• comparison of said current number with said set of values representative of the total number of electronic detonators connected to the mobile test device; and
• issuing a validation message if said current number is in agreement with said set of values representative of the total number and a non-validation message if said current number is not in agreement with said set of values representative of the total number.

The verification of correct connection of the detonator set can thus be carried out from the data set transmitted by one or more electronic detonators to the remote firing device and does not require the transfer of data between the mobile test device used during the installation of the detonators at the quarry face and the firing device, remote from the quarry face.

• connexion dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques au dispositif de mise à feu ;
• réception d'un message adressé par chaque détonateur dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques, ledit message comprenant au moins la référence de catégorie de retard mémorisée dans lesdits moyens de mémorisation dudit détonateur ;
• réception dudit ensemble de données mémorisé dans lesdits moyens d'enregistrement d'un ou plusieurs détonateurs dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques ;
• extraction à partir dudit ensemble de données mémorisé dudit ensemble de valeurs comprenant, pour chaque catégorie de retard, le nombre de détonateurs électroniques comprenant ladite référence de catégorie de retard mémorisée ;
• détermination, pour chaque catégorie de retard, du nombre courant de détonateurs électroniques comprenant ladite référence de catégorie de retard mémorisée, à partir dudit message adressé par chaque détonateur dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques ;
• comparaison, pour chaque catégorie de retard, dudit nombre courant avec ledit nombre de détonateurs électroniques comprenant ladite référence de catégorie de retard mémorisée ; et
• émission d'un message de validation d'un test si ledit nombre courant est égal audit nombre de détonateurs électroniques comprenant ladite référence de catégorie de retard mémorisée pour toutes les catégories de retard, et d'un message de non-validation si ledit nombre courant est différent dudit nombre de détonateurs électroniques comprenant ladite référence de catégorie de retard mémorisée pour au moins une catégorie de retard.

According to one embodiment, the method for firing a set of electronic detonators installed at the quarry face comprises the following steps:

• connection of said electronic detonator assembly to the firing device;
• reception of a message sent by each detonator of said electronic detonator set, said message including at least the delay category reference stored in said storage means of said detonator;
• reception of said data set stored in said recording means of one or more detonators of said electronic detonator set;
• extraction from said stored data set of said set of values including, for each delay category, the number of electronic detonators including said stored delay category reference;
• determination, for each delay category, of the current number of electronic detonators including said stored delay category reference, from said message sent by each detonator of said set of electronic detonators;
• comparison, for each delay category, of said current number with said number of electronic detonators including said stored delay category reference; and
• issuing a validation message for a test if said current number is equal to said number of electronic detonators including said stored delay category reference for all delay categories, and a non-validation message if said current number is different from said number of electronic detonators including said stored delay category reference for at least one delay category.

The firing procedure thus makes it possible to validate or not the installation of the electronic detonators and their connection before firing, based on knowledge of the number of electronic detonators of each delay category.

• connexion dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques au dispositif de mise à feu ;
• envoi, pour chaque catégorie de retard, d'une commande de test par ledit dispositif de mise à feu à destination d'un sous-ensemble de détonateurs électroniques comprenant une même référence de catégorie de retard mémorisée ;
• réception, pour chaque catégorie de retard, d'un message adressé par chaque détonateur dudit sous-ensemble de détonateurs électroniques comprenant ladite même catégorie de retard mémorisée ;
• réception dudit ensemble de données mémorisé dans lesdits moyens d'enregistrement d'un ou plusieurs détonateurs dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques ;
• extraction à partir dudit ensemble de données mémorisé dudit ensemble de valeurs comprenant, pour chaque catégorie de retard, le nombre de détonateurs électroniques comprenant ladite référence de catégorie de retard mémorisée ;
• détermination, pour chaque catégorie de retard, du nombre courant de détonateurs électroniques comprenant ladite référence de catégorie de retard mémorisée, à partir dudit message adressé par chaque détonateur dudit sous-ensemble de détonateurs électroniques comprenant ladite même catégorie de retard mémorisée ;
• comparaison, pour chaque catégorie de retard, dudit nombre courant avec ledit nombre de détonateurs électroniques comprenant ladite référence de catégorie de retard mémorisée ; et
• émission d'un message de validation d'un test si ledit nombre courant est égal audit nombre de détonateurs électroniques comprenant ladite référence de catégorie de retard mémorisée pour toutes les catégories de retard, et d'un message de non-validation si ledit nombre courant est différent dudit nombre de détonateurs électroniques comprenant ladite référence de catégorie de retard mémorisée pour au moins une catégorie de retard.

According to another embodiment, the method for firing a set of electronic detonators installed at the quarry face comprises the following steps:

• connection of said electronic detonator assembly to the firing device;
• sending, for each category of delay, a test command by said firing device to a subset of electronic detonators including the same stored delay category reference;
• reception, for each category of delay, of a message sent by each detonator of said subset of electronic detonators including said same category of stored delay;
• reception of said data set stored in said recording means of one or more detonators of said electronic detonator set;
• extraction from said stored data set of said set of values including, for each delay category, the number of electronic detonators including said stored delay category reference;
• determination, for each delay category, of the current number of electronic detonators including said stored delay category reference, from said message sent by each detonator of said subset of electronic detonators including said same stored delay category;
• comparison, for each delay category, of said current number with said number of electronic detonators including said stored delay category reference; and
• issuing a validation message for a test if said current number is equal to said number of electronic detonators including said stored delay category reference for all delay categories, and a non-validation message if said current number is different from said number of electronic detonators including said stored delay category reference for at least one delay category.

In practice, at the stage of issuing a non-validation message, the delay category or categories whose current number is different from said number of electronic detonators including said stored delay category reference is or are identified.

The operator can thus identify defective detonators among the set of electronic detonators, and decide, according to the category of delay concerned, whether to suspend firing or to trigger it.

• sélection d'un modèle d'associations de chaque catégorie de retard à un retard prédéfini selon un plan de tir prédéterminé ; et
• programmation d'un retard de mise à feu dans chaque détonateur dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques à partir dudit modèle d'associations et de la référence de catégorie de retard mémorisée dans les moyens de mémorisation dudit détonateur.

In an advantageous embodiment, the ignition process further comprises the following steps:

• selection of a model associating each delay category with a predefined delay according to a predetermined firing plan; and
• programming of a firing delay in each detonator of said electronic detonator assembly from said model of associations and the delay category reference stored in the storage means of said detonator.

The delay programming can thus be performed from the remote firing device and is simplified through the use of an association model. The firing delay can be programmed automatically according to the delay category stored at each detonator. All detonators can be programmed simultaneously, rather than one by one.

The present invention also relates, according to a third aspect, to a mobile test device for implementing the installation method described above.

• des moyens de réception d'un message adressé par chaque détonateur dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques chargés dans des trous de mine;
• des moyens de détermination à partir dudit message adressé par chaque détonateur d'un ensemble de valeurs représentatif du nombre total de détonateurs électroniques connectés audit dispositif mobile de test ; et
• des moyens d'envoi à un ou plusieurs détonateurs dudit ensemble de détonateurs électroniques d'un ensemble de données à mémoriser comprenant ledit ensemble de valeurs représentatif du nombre total de détonateurs électroniques connectés audit dispositif mobile de test.

The mobile testing device includes:

• means of receiving a message sent by each detonator of said set of electronic detonators loaded into mine holes;
• means of determining, from said message sent by each detonator, a set of values representative of the total number of electronic detonators connected to said mobile test device; and
• means of sending to one or more detonators of said electronic detonator set a set of data to be stored comprising said set of values representative of the total number of electronic detonators connected to said mobile test device.

The mobile test device has characteristics and advantages similar to the installation process it implements.

The present invention finally relates, according to a fourth aspect, to a firing system for a set of electronic detonators installed at the face of the quarry according to the installation method described above.

The firing system includes a mobile test device adapted to be connected to a bus line, the electronic detonators being connected to said bus line, and a firing device adapted to be connected remotely via a firing line to said bus line.

In practice, each detonator of said electronic detonator set includes means for storing a delay category reference selected from a predefined set of delay categories, each delay category being identified by a predefined combination of a numeric code and a color code, said numeric code being stored as a delay category reference in said storage means of each detonator.

Advantageously, said numeric code and said color code of each predefined combination are visible on at least one location chosen from a connection cable of the electronic detonator or a connector of said electronic detonator to the bus line.

The combination of a number and a color makes it possible to define simply and visually the delay category to which the electronic detonator belongs and thus facilitates its installation at the quarry face.

In practice, this predefined set of delay categories includes between 16 and 32, or even 64 different delay categories.

The ignition system has characteristics and advantages similar to the ignition process described previously.

• [Fig. 1] la figure 1 est une vue schématique d'un système de mise à feu conforme à un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• [Fig. 2] la figure 2 est un schéma illustrant la programmation d'un plan de tir pour un système de mise à feu de la figure 1 ;
• [Fig. 3] la figure 3 est un schéma illustrant un modèle d'associations de catégories de retard à des retards prédéfinis selon l'exemple du plan de tir de la figure 2 ;
• [Fig. 4] la figure 4 est un algorithme d'un procédé d'installation d'un ensemble de détonateurs électroniques selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ; et
• [Fig.5] la figure 5 est un algorithme d'un procédé de mise à feu d'un ensemble de détonateurs électroniques selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description with reference to the attached drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples:

• [ Fig. 1 ] there figure 1 is a schematic view of a firing system according to an embodiment of the invention;
• [ Fig. 2 ] there figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the programming of a firing plan for a firing system of the figure 1 ;
• [ Fig. 3 ] there figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a model of associating delay categories with predefined delays, following the example of the firing plan of the figure 2 ;
• [ Fig. 4 ] there figure 4 is an algorithm for a method of installing a set of electronic detonators according to an embodiment of the invention; and
• [ Fig. 5 ] there figure 5 is an algorithm for a method of firing a set of electronic detonators according to an embodiment of the invention.

We will first describe, with reference to the figure 1 a firing system for a set of electronic detonators installed at the quarry face.

The firing system includes several electronic detonators, each intended to be installed in a mine hole at the face (called "face" in Anglo-Saxon terminology).

Typically, each electronic detonator 10 is placed with a predetermined amount of explosive in a blast hole drilled in a wall.

All 10 electronic detonators thus installed at the face of the quarry are intended to be fired in a single burst.

Such a firing system is used particularly in mining and quarrying applications and public works sites.

In this embodiment, the firing system includes a mobile test device 20 adapted to be connected to an L1 bus line.

The electronic detonators 10 are also connected to the L1 bus line and thus linked to the mobile test device 20.

The mobile test device 20 can thus communicate with one or more electronic detonators 10, simultaneously or individually, in order to read information or data stored by the electronic detonators 10, send information to these electronic detonators 10 and test their connection and their state of operation.

In some embodiments, the mobile test device 20 is also designed to program the electronic detonators 10, and for example program a firing delay ( delay in Anglo-Saxon terminology) as will be described in more detail later.

The mobile test device 20 conventionally includes receiving means 21 and sending means 22 enabling communication with the electronic detonators 10, simultaneously or individually.

The receiving means 21 are adapted in particular to receive a message sent by each electronic detonator 10, simultaneously or individually. The sending means 22 are adapted to send messages and/or information to be stored or programmed into each electronic detonator 10.

The receiving means 21 and sending means 22 can be formed of a bidirectional transmitter/receiver, known to a person skilled in the art in the field of wired network communication.

Although in the example of implementation illustrated in the figure 1 , the electronic detonators 10 and the mobile test device 20 are connected by a wired link using the bus line L1, the invention is not limited to this type of connection.

In particular, the mobile test device 20 and the electronic detonators 10 could communicate via a wireless link, specifically a radio link. The receiving means 21 and transmitting means 22 could then consist of a bidirectional transmitting/receiving antenna, known to those skilled in the art in the field of wireless network communication.

The mobile test device 20 further includes a microprocessor 23 enabling the implementation of various data processing, calculations and parameter settings as will be described later with reference to the method of installing electronic detonators at the face of the quarry.

The mobile test device 20 also includes a memory 24 of the type EEPROM ( Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) type.

The role and function of the mobile test device 20 will be described in more detail with reference to the method of installing the electronic detonators 10 at the face of the quarry.

The firing system also includes a firing device 30 intended to be remotely connected to the electronic detonators 10.

As illustrated in the figure 1 , the firing device 30 is connected via an L2 firing line, itself connected to the L1 bus line.

The firing device 30 is intended to be placed at a long distance from the quarry face to allow the firing to be triggered safely for the operator commanding the firing from the firing device 30.

The firing device 30 includes receiving means 31 and sending means 32 enabling bidirectional communication between the electronic detonators 10 and the firing device 30, simultaneously or individually.

The receiving means 31 and sending means 32 are similar to those described previously in connection with the mobile test device 20.

The firing device 30 further includes a microprocessor 33 enabling the implementation of various data processing, calculations and parameter settings as will be described later with reference to the firing process as described later.

A programmable memory 34 of the EEPROM type is also provided in the firing device 30.

A display screen 35 can also be fitted to the firing device 30 to communicate with the operator.

The role and function of the ignition device 30 will be described in more detail with reference to the ignition process.

Each electronic detonator 10 includes bidirectional communication means 13 adapted for communication of the electronic detonator 10 with the mobile test device 20 and/or the firing device 30. The bidirectional communication means 13 of the electronic detonators are similar to the receiving means 21 and sending means 22 described previously in connection with the mobile test device 20.

Furthermore, each electronic detonator 10 includes storage means 11 adapted to store identification information specific to each electronic detonator 10.

These means of memorization 11 are formed for example of a read-only memory (in Anglo-Saxon terminology ROM or Read Only Memory) or a writable memory of the EEPROM type memory.

In particular, each electronic detonator 10 is associated with a unique identifier ID set in the electronic detonator 10 at the time of its manufacture.

The IDY value of this ID identifier is included here, for purely illustrative purposes, between ID1 and IDN, N corresponding to the total number of electronic detonators 10 installed at the face for the implementation of a shot.

In the illustrated embodiment, and without limitation, each electronic detonator 10 also includes a reference x of delay category Cx recorded in the storage means 11.

In principle, the implementation of a Cx delay category consists of pre-categorizing the electronic detonators 10 according to their Cx delay category, all electronic detonators 10 associated with the same Cx delay category then being programmed with the same firing delay ( delay ) according to a predetermined firing plan.

Each Cx delay category is preferably identified by a predefined combination of a numerical code x and a color code.

The numeric code or number x is stored as a reference for the delay category Cx in the storage means 11 of each electronic detonator 10.

To facilitate the installation of electronic detonators 10 in mine holes at the face, the Cx retardation category to which the electronic detonator is associated is visually apparent on each electronic detonator 10.

The use of a numerical code or number x and a color code makes it easier, in combination, for the operator at the quarry face to identify each electronic detonator 10 to be installed.

Preferably, the number x and the associated color of each combination are visible on the electronic detonator 10.

The number x and/or the colour code may be visible for example on the connection cable of the electronic detonator 10 to the bus line L1.

This method of implementation was illustrated in the figure 1 where a different colour label, bearing the number 1, x, ..., n, is attached to the connecting cable of each electronic detonator 10.

Of course, other types of locations could be chosen to make visible the Cx delay category to which the electronic detonator 10 is associated.

For example, the combination of the numerical code and the color code identifying each Cx delay category could also be seen on a connector (not shown) linking the electronic detonator 10 to the bus line L1.

Furthermore, an RFID-type label can be attached to an external face of the electronic detonator housing 10. This label can thus include not only the color code and the numerical code x of the delay category Cx but also the IDY identifier of the electronic detonator 10.

The benefit of categorizing electronic detonators 10 will be explained in more detail below, with reference to the installation and firing process of electronic detonators.

Finally, each electronic detonator 10 further includes recording means 12 consisting of a writable memory of the EEPROM type.

In practice, the recording means 12 can be separate from the storage means 11 of each electronic detonator 10 or be formed from the same EEPROM memory with separate registers for storing the different data.

As will appear in the description below, the recording means 12 make it possible to store locally, at the level of each or some of the electronic detonators 10, data in connection with the firing plan in which these electronic detonators 10 are implemented.

This was thus illustrated at the figure 2 an example of a firing plan associated with a cutting front identified by a reference FZ.

When defining a firing plan, the programmer defines at the quarry face the location of the various electronic detonators 10, schematically illustrated by points at the figure 2 and associates them with a delayed ignition.

A T-pattern association model (or template in Anglo-Saxon terminology) as illustrated in the figure 3 , is then defined in parallel, allowing to associate to each category of delay Cx a firing delay (in milliseconds).

By way of non-limiting example, the figures 2 and 3 illustrate the implementation of six delay categories C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 associated respectively with 0, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1250 ms of ignition delay.

Of course, this example is purely illustrative.

In practice, the predefined set of Cx delay categories comprises between 16 and 32 different delay categories for the execution of a standard firing plan. This number can be increased to 64 for larger firing plans. Typically, using 20 to 25 different delay categories is sufficient to execute a firing plan for a given FZ-sized front.

Using a T-association model avoids the need to know the firing delay value at the firing plan level as illustrated in the figure 2 .

Indeed, the firing plan can be implemented by locating the electronic detonators 10 with the same ignition delay and assigning them a delay category Cx, and doing so for each different ignition delay in the firing plan. The association model T then allows the ignition delay to be defined for each delay category Cx.

At the firing plan level as illustrated in the figure 2 , each electronic detonator 10 can thus be visualized by a colored dot and a number x, corresponding to the color code and the numerical code characterizing its Cx delay category.

We will now describe, with reference to the figure 4 a method for installing a set of electronic detonators 10 according to an embodiment of the invention.

As described previously with reference to the figure 1 , each electronic detonator 10 is placed in a mine hole of a working face.

This placement of electronic detonators is carried out according to the firing plan such as the one given as an example in the figure 2 .

The installer can for this purpose have a loading card, available for example on the mobile test device 20, which allows the location of each electronic detonator and its Cx delay category to be identified, visualized by the associated color code and numerical code x.

This loading card simplifies the placement of each 10 electronic detonators in the dedicated blast hole.

The installer can, for a given face FZ, obtain the necessary number of electronic detonators 10 of each category of delay Cx, then place them at the face FZ respecting only the color code and/or the numerical code of the loading card.

The installation process then includes a step S41 of connecting the electronic detonators 10 to the mobile test device 20.

In the example implementation described with reference to the figure 1 and, without limitation, the connection of the electronic detonators 10 is made via the bus line L1, itself connected to the mobile test device 20.

The installation process then includes a reception step S42 by the mobile test device 20 of a message addressed by each electronic detonator 10.

The emission of a message by each electronic detonator 10 can be carried out spontaneously.

For example, the transmission of a message by each detonator can take place as soon as it is connected to the L1 bus line, which is itself connected to the mobile test device 20.

Each electronic detonator 10 is thus adapted to send a message to the mobile test device 20 as soon as it is powered on.

The messages at the S42 reception stage are thus received one after the other, as the electronic detonators are connected to the L1 bus line.

Alternatively, in another embodiment, the mobile test device 20 addresses, in a transmission step, a test command to all the electronic detonators 10, after their connection to the bus line L1.

The reception step S42 then allows a message in response, addressed by each electronic detonator 10 to the mobile test device 20, to be received simultaneously or individually.

The reception step S42 is implemented by the reception means 21 of the mobile test device 20.

The installation process then includes a determination step S43, from the message sent by each electronic detonator 10, of a set of values V representative of the total number of electronic detonators 10 connected to the mobile test device 20.

The determination step S43 is implemented by determination means formed by the microprocessor 23, from the messages received at the reception step S42.

In particular, this set of values V determined by the mobile test device 20 may include the total number N of electronic detonators 10 connected to the mobile test device 20.

The total number N of electronic detonators 10 can be determined from the number of messages received at the reception stage S42.

More specifically, in the embodiment illustrated in the figure 1 , in which each electronic detonator 10 is associated with a delay category Cx, at the determination step S43, the set of values V comprises, for each delay category Cx, the number Nx of electronic detonators 10 including the reference x of delay category Cx stored in the storage means 11.

The set of numbers Nx of electronic detonators associated with each category of delay Cx thus forms a set of values V representative of the total number N of electronic detonators 10 at the cutting front.

In such an embodiment, the determination step S43 can also specifically determine the total number N of electronic detonators 10 by the following calculation: $$N={\displaystyle \sum _1^n\mathit{Nx}\left(\mathit{Cx}\right)}$$ where n is the number of delay categories used in the implemented firing plan.

In order to enable the determination of the number Nx of electronic detonators 10 associated with the delay category Cx, at the reception step S42, the message includes at least the reference x of the delay category Cx stored in the storage means 11 of the electronic detonator 10, and this for each electronic detonator 10 connected to the mobile test device 20.

In such an embodiment, the number n of delay categories Cx from the predefined set of delay categories used in the FZ-sized front can then also be determined from the set of received messages. For example, the microprocessor 23 is suitable for calculating the sum of the different references x of delay category Cx extracted from the received messages.

The number n of Cx delay categories is useful for verifying later, during a pre-firing test as described below, that the electronic detonators 10 of each Cx delay category of the predefined set of Cx delay categories implemented in the firing plan are indeed present.

Alternatively, the message sent by each electronic detonator 10 may not contain information about the Cx delay category to which each electronic detonator is associated.

In this case, the mobile test device 20 interrogates the electronic detonators 10, delay category by delay category; only the electronic detonators 10 associated with the same delay category Cx are examined. simultaneously sending a message to the mobile test device 20. The latter can thus determine, at the determination step S43, the number Nx of electronic detonators 10 associated with the delay category Cx.

In such an embodiment, the Cx delay categories used for the FZ face must be stored at the mobile test device 20 to allow interrogation of the electronic detonators 10, delay category by delay category.

At the S43 determination stage, the set of values V thus includes the total number N of electronic detonators at the cutting front, determined directly from the number of messages received and/or determined indirectly from the number Nx of electronic detonators of each delay category Cx.

This information determined during the implementation of the process of installing the electronic detonators 10 at the face of the quarry is useful for verifying the proper functioning and correct connection of each electronic detonator 10 at the time of the firing triggering, which may occur several days, or even several weeks, after the installation of the electronic detonators 10 at the face of the quarry.

To this end, the installation process includes a step S44 of sending by the mobile test device 20 to at least one electronic detonator 10 of a data set D to be stored.

The S44 sending step is implemented by the sending means 22 of the mobile test device 20. The data set D is received by the bidirectional communication means 13 of the electronic detonator(s) 13.

The data set D is intended to be stored in the recording means 12 of an electronic detonator 10.

The electronic detonator 10 that stores the data set D can be randomly selected by the mobile test device 20 from among the set of electronic detonators 10, or it can be selected according to the strength of the message sent by each detonator. electronic 10. In the latter case, the electronic detonator 10 having a higher amplitude response signal can be selected.

The data set D to be stored includes the set of values V representing the total number N of electronic detonators 10 connected to the mobile test device 20.

The installation process thus includes a step S45 of memorizing the data set D in a writable memory of at least one electronic detonator 10.

Information such as the total number N of electronic detonators 10 connected to the mobile test device 20 can thus be stored at the level of one or more electronic detonators connected to the bus line L1.

In one embodiment, at the sending step S44, the data set D to be stored is sent to all electronic detonators 10 of the set of electronic detonators connected to the bus line L1.

Therefore, the data set D is stored in the recording means 12 of each electronic detonator 10 of the electronic detonator set.

The information thus stored is then available at any of the electronic detonators 10.

Therefore, in the event of failure of one or the other of the electronic detonators 10, the redundant storage of the data set D makes it possible to secure the availability of this information at the level of all the electronic detonators 10.

Alternatively, at the S44 memorization step, the number Nx of electronic detonators 10 associated with the delay category Cx is memorized in the recording means 12 of at least one electronic detonator 10 which includes this reference of delay category Cx memorized in the memorization means 11.

Thus, the memorization of the number Nx of electronic detonators 10 associated with each category of delay Cx is distributed among the electronic detonators 10 of each category of delay Cx.

For reasons of redundancy, the number Nx of electronic detonators 10 associated with the delay category Cx can be stored in the recording means 12 of all electronic detonators 10 which include this reference of delay category Cx stored in their recording means 11.

In addition to the total number N of electronic detonators and/or the number Nx of electronic detonators 10 of each delay category Cx, the data set D to be stored may also include a reference FZ of the quarry face from among a set of quarry faces.

In the context of multiple blast planning, the FZ reference of the blast face, as associated with the blast plan during its programming as explained previously with reference to the figure 2 , allows subsequent verification, particularly before programming the delays of each electronic detonator, of the concordance of the firing plan used with the FZ cutting front to be programmed.

The dataset D to be stored may also include the number n of delay categories Cx used in the FZ size front.

The process of installing the electronic detonators 10 and reading and programming them by the mobile test device 20 can be completed at this stage.

However, it is also possible to plan the programming by the mobile test device 20 of the predefined delay associated with each electronic detonator 10 according to the firing plan.

In this case, the installation process further includes a selection step S46 of a T association model as illustrated in the figure 3 , associating each category of Cx delay with a predefined delay according to a predetermined firing plan.

The selection of an association model T is carried out by an operator, from association models T stored in the memory 24 of the mobile test device 20.

From this association model T, a programming step S47 is implemented by the mobile test device 20: the predefined delay is addressed to each electronic detonator 10 according to its associated Cx delay category. The predefined delay is then stored in the recording means 12 of each electronic detonator 10.

The S47 programming step is thus implemented from the association model T and the Cx delay category reference stored in the storage means 12 of each electronic detonator 10.

The use of a T association model allows the predefined delay to be programmed simultaneously in all electronic detonators from the stored Cx delay category reference.

Programming the delay in each electronic detonator 10 according to a firing plan is thus facilitated.

We will now describe, with reference to the figure 5 the firing process of a set of electronic detonators installed at the quarry face.

The ignition process is implemented in the ignition device 33 as illustrated in the figure 1 , which can be placed at a long distance from the FZ size front and electronic detonators 10.

Furthermore, the firing process of all the electronic detonators 10 can be implemented long after the step of installing the electronic detonators 10 in the mine holes.

It is therefore essential to test, before triggering the firing, that all the electronic detonators 10 are in working order and connected to the firing device 30 to receive the firing order.

To this end, the firing process first includes a connection step S51 of the electronic detonator assembly 10 to the firing device 30.

In practice, the connection can be made by an L2 firing line connected to the L1 bus line to which the electronic detonators 10 were connected at the time of installation at the face.

The firing process then includes a step S52 of receiving a message addressed by each electronic detonator 10.

The firing device 30 thus receives, at the level of the receiving means 31, a number N' of messages addressed by all the electronic detonators 10 connected to the firing device 30.

The transmission of messages by the electronic detonators 10 can be spontaneous, as soon as the electronic detonators 10 are powered on during the connection and/or power-up of the firing device 30.

In an alternative embodiment, the firing device 30 can be adapted to implement a step of sending by the sending means 32 a test command to all the electronic detonators 10.

The S52 reception stage is then adapted to receive in response the messages addressed by each electronic detonator 10.

The firing process also includes a receiving step S53 of the data set D stored in the recording means 12 of at least one electronic detonator 10.

As previously stated, the data set D can be stored in one, several or all of the electronic detonators 10 of the set of electronic detonators installed at the face.

More specifically, and without limitation, in the implementation illustrated in the figure 1 for which each electronic detonator 10 is associated with a Cx delay category, at the S52 reception step of a message addressed by each electronic detonator 10, the message further includes at least the Cx delay category reference stored in the storage means 11 of the electronic detonator 10.

Alternatively, the firing device 30 can be adapted to implement a sending step, for each Cx delay category, of a test command to the subset of electronic detonators 10 including the same stored Cx delay category reference.

The number of messages received thus corresponds directly to the current number of electronic detonators 10 associated with this category of delay Cx.

The firing process then includes an extraction step S54 from the data set D of a set of values V representative of the number total N of electronic detonators 10 connected to the mobile test device 20 when the set of electronic detonators 10 was installed at the face of the quarry.

The S54 extraction step is implemented by the microprocessor 33 of the firing device 30.

The representative set of values for the total number of electronic detonators can correspond, as previously indicated, to the total number N of electronic detonators 10 connected to the bus line L1 and/or to the number Nx of electronic detonators 10 associated with each Cx delay category, and this for the predefined set {1, ..., x, ..., n} of Cx delay categories.

At the S54 extraction step, it is also possible to extract from the data set D the FZ reference of the relevant face as well as the number n of Cx delay categories used in the face at the time of the installation of the electronic detonators 10.

The firing process further includes a determination step S55, from the reception step S52 of the messages addressed by each electronic detonator 10, of the current number N' of electronic detonators 10 connected to the firing device 30.

The S55 determination step is implemented by a microprocessor calculator 33 of the firing device 30.

The current number N' can thus be calculated from the sum of the messages received at the reception stage S52.

In the embodiment in which the message received at the reception step S52 includes the Cx delay category reference stored in each electronic detonator 10, the determination step S55 is adapted to determine, for each Cx delay category, the current number N'x of electronic detonators 10 associated with that Cx delay category.

In the embodiment in which the electronic detonators 10 are queried delay category by delay category by the firing device 30, the number of messages received in response to each transmission of a test command corresponds to the current number N'x of electronic detonators 10 associated with this category of delay Cx.

The current number N'x of electronic detonators 10 associated with each category of delay Cx also allows us to determine alternatively, by calculating the sum, the current number N' of electronic detonators connected to the firing device 30.

It should be noted that from the set of data D transmitted by the electronic detonators 10, it is possible to know, at the level of the firing device 30, the installation conditions of the electronic detonators 10 at the face of the quarry, and in particular the total number N of electronic detonators connected to bus line L1, as well as the number Nx of electronic detonators 10 associated with each category of delay Cx.

This information can thus be transmitted directly from one or more electronic detonators 10 to the firing device 30 and avoids any transfer of information by the mobile test device 20 or any other information medium.

From the extraction steps S54 and determination S55, a comparison step S56 is implemented by the microprocessor 33 of the firing device 30.

At this comparison step S56, the current number N' of electronic detonators 10 connected to the firing device 30 is compared with the representative set of values of the total number N of electronic detonators connected to the mobile test device 20 at the time of installation of the electronic detonators 10.

As previously stated, the current number N' is calculated from the number of messages received at the reception stage S52.

At the comparison step S56, the current number N' is compared with the total number N of electronic detonators 10 or with the sum of the number Nx of electronic detonators 10 associated with each category of delay Cx.

In practice, the current number N' is consistent with the set of values V representing the total number N when $$\mathrm{N}\prime =\mathrm{N}$$ Or $$N\prime ={\displaystyle \sum _1^n\mathit{Nx}\left(\mathit{Cx}\right)}$$ where n is the number of delay categories in the predefined set at the time of installation at the cutting face of the electronic detonators.

In the embodiment in which each electronic detonator 10 is associated with a delay category Cx, the comparison step S56 also includes a comparison, for each delay category Cx, x belonging to {1, ..., n} of the current number N'x of electronic detonators 10 connected to the firing device 30 with the number Nx of electronic detonators 10 associated with the delay category Cx.

In practice, the current number N'x of electronic detonators 10 connected to the firing device 30 is consistent with the number Nx of electronic detonators 10 associated with the delay category Cx when $$\mathrm{N}\prime \mathrm{x}=\mathrm{Nx},$$ and this for any category of delay Cx, x belonging to {1, ..., n}.

Depending on the result of the comparison(s), an S57 emission step of a VAL-OK validation message is implemented if the current number N' is in agreement with the representative set of values of the total number N of electronic detonators connected to the mobile test device 20 at the time of installation, and if, for all delay categories Cx, the current number N'x is in agreement with the number Nx of electronic detonators 10 associated with the delay category Cx at the time of installation of the electronic detonators 10, when electronic detonators associated with a delay category Cx are implemented.

This S57 message transmission step can be carried out by emitting a sound message or displaying information or an alert on the display screen 35 of the firing device 30.

As previously stated, the programming of the predefined delay associated with each electronic detonator 10 can be implemented by the firing device 30.

In this case, the firing process includes a selection step S58 of a pattern of associations T as illustrated in the figure 3 , associating for each category of delay Cx a predefined delay according to a predetermined firing plan. The selection of the association model T can be implemented from association models stored in the programmable memory 34 of the firing device 30.

When several shots are programmed and are to be implemented by the firing device 30, the FZ reference of the cutting face allows the selection of the T association model corresponding to the selected firing plan.

Thanks to the T association model, the predefined delay can be programmed simultaneously in all 10 electronic detonators, during a single programming step S59.

The S59 programming step is thus implemented from the association model T and the Cx delay category reference stored in the storage means 11 of each electronic detonator 10.

In practice, a global message, including according to the association model T, a predefined delay associated with each category of delay Cx, can be addressed to all the electronic detonators 10, the programming of each predefined delay being implemented according to the reference of the category of delay Cx stored in the storage means 11 of each electronic detonator 10.

Programming the delay in each electronic detonator 10 according to a firing plan is thus facilitated.

After this procedure of testing and validating the connection of all the electronic detonators 10 by the firing device 30, and possibly programming the delay associated with each electronic detonator 10, a step of sending S60 of a firing order can be safely implemented for the triggering of the shot.

Conversely, if at the end of the comparison step S56, the current number N' of electronic detonators 10 is not in agreement with the set of values V representing the total number N of electronic detonators connected to the mobile test device 20 at the time of During the installation, an S61 emission step of a VAL-NOK non-validation message is implemented.

This VAL-NOK message is addressed to the operator and prevents firing when the electronic detonators 10 are not all connected, are defective, or exceed the number loaded in the blast holes at the time of installation. This VAL-NOK message can also be an audible alert or a message displayed on the screen 35 of the firing device 30.

In the embodiment in which each electronic detonator 10 is associated with a delay category Cx, the comparison step S56 also includes the comparison for each delay category Cx of the current number N'x of electronic detonators with the number Nx of electronic detonators 10 associated with the delay category Cx.

If the current number N'x is different from the number Nx for at least one delay category Cx, the S61 emission step of a VAL-NOK non-validation message is implemented.

An identification step S62 is implemented to identify the Cf delay category or categories for which the current number N'f is different from the number Nf of electronic detonators 10 including the stored Cf delay category reference.

The S62 identification step thus allows the operator to be informed of the Cf delay category or categories for which there is one or more additional electronic detonators for example, or one or more defective electronic detonators 10, or not connected to the firing device 30.

Depending on the importance of these 10 defective electronic detonators in the firing process, the operator can decide to interrupt or trigger the firing.

The S62 identification step thus allows for improved management of remote firing, avoiding intervention at the quarry face thanks to the identification of 10 defective electronic detonators in the firing plan.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated.

In particular, the installation and firing process can be implemented using electronic detonators that are not categorized based on a delay to be programmed later.

Claims (18)

1. Method for installing a set of electronic detonators (10) in blast holes of a working face (FZ), the method comprising the following steps:

   - connecting (S41) said electronic detonators (10) loaded in the blast holes to a mobile test device (20);

   - receiving (S42) by said mobile test device (20) a message transmitted by each detonator of said set of electronic detonators (10);

   - determining (S43) by said mobile test device (20) from said message transmitted by each detonator (10) a set of values (V) representative of the total number (N) of electronic detonators (10) connected to the mobile test device (20);

   - sending (S44) by said mobile test device (20) to one or more detonators of said set of electronic detonators (10), a data set (D) to be stored comprising said set of values (V) representative of the total number (N) of electronic detonators (10) connected to the mobile test device (20); and

   - storing (S45) said data set (D) in recording means (12) of one or more detonators of said set of electronic detonators (10).
2. Installation method according to Claim 1, characterised in that in the sending step (S44), said data set (D) to be stored is sent to all detonators of said set of electronic detonators (10), said data set (D) being stored in recording means (12) of each detonator of said set of electronic detonators (10).
3. Installation method according to either one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that said data set (D) to be stored further comprises a reference (FZ) of said working face.
4. Installation method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said set of values (V) comprises the total number (N) of electronic detonators (10) connected to the mobile test device (20).
5. Installation method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, each detonator (10) comprising means for storing (11) at least one delay category reference (Cx) chosen from a predefined set of delay categories, characterised in that said installation method further comprises, for each delay category (Cx), a step of issuing a test command by said mobile test device (20) to a subset of electronic detonators (10) comprising a same stored delay category reference (Cx) and in that in the determination step (S43), said set of values (V) comprises, for each delay category (Cx), the number (Nx) of electronic detonators (10) comprising said same stored delay category reference (Cx).
6. Installation method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, each detonator (10) comprising means for storing (11) at least one delay category reference (Cx) chosen from a predefined set of delay categories, characterised in that in the step of receiving (S42) by said mobile test device (20) a message transmitted by each detonator of said set of electronic detonators (10), said message comprises at least the delay category reference (Cx) stored in said storage means (11) of said detonator and in that in the determination step (S43), said set of values (V) comprises, for each delay category (Cx), the number (Nx) of electronic detonators (10) comprising said same stored delay category reference (Cx).
7. Installation method according to either one of Claims 5 or 6, characterised in that said data set (D) to be stored comprises the number (n) of delay categories (Cx) of said predefined set of delay categories.
8. Installation method according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterised in that in said storage step (S45), the number (Nx) of electronic detonators (10) comprising said stored delay category reference (Cx) is stored respectively in the recording means (12) of at least one electronic detonator (10) comprising said stored delay category reference (Cx).
9. Installation method according to one of Claims 5 to 8, characterised in that it further comprises the following steps:

   - selecting (S46) in the mobile test device (20) a model of associations (T) of each delay category (Cx) with a predefined delay according to a predetermined blasting plan; and

   - programming (S47) a firing delay in each detonator of said set of electronic detonators (10) from said model of associations (T) and the delay category reference (Cx) stored in the storage means (11) of said detonator (10).
10. Method for firing a set of electronic detonators (10) installed at the working face according to the installation method according to one of Claims 1 to 9, implemented in a firing device (30), characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

    - connecting (S51) said set of electronic detonators (10) to the firing device (30);

    - receiving (S52) a message transmitted by each detonator of said set of electronic detonators (10);

    - receiving (S53) said data set (D) stored in said recording means (12) of one or more detonators of said set of electronic detonators (10);

    - extracting (S54) said stored data set (D) from said set of values (V) representative of the total number (N) of electronic detonators (10) connected to the mobile test device (20) during the installation of said set of electronic detonators (10) at the working face (FZ);

    - determining (S55) the current number (N') of electronic detonators of said set of electronic detonators (10) connected to the firing device (30) from the message transmitted by each detonator of said set of electronic detonators (10);

    - comparing (S56) said current number (N') with said set of values (V) representative of the total number (N) of electronic detonators (10) connected to the mobile test device (20); and

    - issuing (S57, S61) a test validation message if said current number (N') is in line with said set of values (V) representative of the total number (N) and a non-validation message if said current number (N') is not in line with said set of values (V) representative of the total number (N).
11. Method for firing a set of electronic detonators (10) installed at the working face (FZ) according to the installation method according to one of Claims 5 to 9, implemented in a firing device (30), characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

    - connecting (S51) said set of electronic detonators (10) to the firing device (30);

    - receiving (S52) a message transmitted by each detonator of said set of electronic detonators (10), said message comprising at least the delay category reference (Cx) stored in said storage means (11) of said detonator (10);

    - receiving (S53) said data set (D) stored in said recording means (12) of one or more detonators of said set of electronic detonators (10);

    - extracting (S54) from said stored data set (D) of said set of values (V) comprising, for each delay category (Cx), the number (Nx) of electronic detonators (10) comprising said stored delay category reference (Cx);

    - determining (S55), for each delay category (Cx), the current number (N'x) of electronic detonators (10) comprising said stored delay category reference (Cx), from said message transmitted by each detonator of said set of electronic detonators (10);

    - comparing (S56), for each delay category (Cx), said current number (N'x) with said number (Nx) of electronic detonators (10) comprising said stored delay category reference (Cx); and

    - issuing (S57, S61) a test validation message if said current number (N'x) is equal to said number (Nx) of electronic detonators (10) comprising said delay category reference (Cx) stored for all delay categories, and a non-validation message if said current number (N'x) is different from said number (Nx) of electronic detonators (10) comprising said delay category reference (Cx) stored for at least one delay category.
12. Method for firing a set of electronic detonators (10) installed at the working face (FZ) according to the installation method according to one of Claims 5 to 9, implemented in a firing device (30), characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

    - connecting (S51) said set of electronic detonators (10) to the firing device (30);

    - sending, for each delay category (Cx), a test command by said firing device (30) to a subset of electronic detonators (10) comprising a same stored delay category reference (Cx);

    - receiving (S52), for each delay category, a message transmitted by each detonator of said subset of electronic detonators (10) comprising said same stored delay category (Cx);

    - receiving (S53) said data set (D) stored in said recording means (12) of one or more detonators of said set of electronic detonators (10);

    - extracting (S54) from said stored data set (D) of said set of values (V) comprising, for each delay category (Cx), the number of electronic detonators (10) comprising said stored delay category reference (Cx);

    - determining (S55), for each delay category (Cx), the current number (Nx) of electronic detonators (10) comprising said stored delay category reference (Cx), from said message transmitted by each detonator of said subset of electronic detonators (10) comprising said same stored delay category (Cx);

    - comparing (S56), for each delay category (Cx), said current number (N'x) with said number (Nx) of electronic detonators (10) comprising said stored delay category reference (Cx); and

    - issuing (S57, S61) a test validation message if said current number (N'x) is equal to said number (Nx) of electronic detonators (10) comprising said delay category reference (Cx) stored for all delay categories, and a non-validation message if said current number (N'x) is different from said number (Nx) of electronic detonators comprising said delay category reference (Cx) stored for at least one delay category.
13. Firing method according to either one of Claims 11 or 12, characterised in that in the step of issuing a non-validation message (S61), the delay category or categories (Cf) whose current number (N'f) is different from said number (Nf) of electronic detonators (10) comprising said stored delay category reference (Cf) is or are identified.
14. Firing method according to one of Claims 11 to 13, characterised in that it further comprises the following steps:

    - selecting (S58) a model of associations (T) of each delay category (Cx) with a predefined delay according to a predetermined blasting plan; and

    - programming (S59) a firing delay in each detonator of said set of electronic detonators (10) from said model of associations (T) and the delay category reference (Cx) stored in the storage means (11) of said detonator (10).
15. Mobile test device for carrying out the installation method according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it comprises:

    - means for receiving (21) a message transmitted by each detonator of said set of electronic detonators (10) loaded in blast holes;

    - means for determining (23) from said message transmitted by each detonator (10) a set of values (V) representative of the total number (N) of electronic detonators (10) connected to said mobile test device (20); and

    - means for sending (22) to one or more detonators of said set of electronic detonators (10), a set of data (D) to be stored comprising said set of values (V) representative of the total number (N) of electronic detonators (10) connected to said mobile test device (20).
16. System for firing a set of electronic detonators (10) installed at the working face (FZ) according to the installation method according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it comprises a mobile test device (20) designed to be connected to a bus line (L1), the electronic detonators (10) being connected to said bus line (L1), and a firing device (30) designed to carry out the firing method according to one of Claims 10 to 14 and designed to be connected remotely via a firing line (L2) to said bus line (L1).
17. Firing system according to Claim 16, each detonator of said set of electronic detonators (10) comprising means for storing (11) a delay category reference (Cx) chosen from a predefined set of delay categories, characterised in that each delay category (Cx) is identified by a predefined combination of a numerical code (x) and a colour code, said numerical code (x) being stored as a delay category reference (Cx) in said storage means (11) of each electronic detonator (10).
18. Firing system according to Claim 17, characterised in that said numerical code (x) and said colour code of each predefined combination are visible at at least one location chosen from a connection cable of said electronic detonator (10) or a connector of said electronic detonator to the bus line (L1).