Initiator head with circuit board

Abstract

An initiator head includes a housing piece defining an interior chamber, a circuit board supported in the interior chamber, a line-in terminal coupled to the circuit board, and insulating material filling the interior chamber and covering a top surface of the circuit board for absorbing shocks or vibrations and electrically insulating electronics of the circuit board.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An initiator head comprising:
 a housing including:
 a first housing piece defining an interior chamber; and 
 a second housing piece covering the interior chamber; 
   a circuit board supported in the interior chamber;   an insulating material provided in the interior chamber and covering the circuit board; and   a line-in terminal coupled to the circuit board.   
     
     
         2 . The initiator head according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing defines a hole therethrough in fluid communication with the interior chamber; and   the hole is defined in the second housing piece.   
     
     
         3 . The initiator head according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the housing defines a hole therethrough in fluid communication with the interior chamber; and   the second housing piece includes a plate, the plate defining the hole therethrough.   
     
     
         4 . The initiator head according to  claim 3 , wherein the first housing piece includes:
 a base; and   a wall extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the base, the plate of the second housing piece being engaged with the wall of the first housing piece.   
     
     
         5 . The initiator head according to  claim 4 , wherein the plate of the second housing piece is parallel with and axially spaced from the base of the first housing piece. 
     
     
         6 . The initiator head according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulating material comprises silicone or epoxy. 
     
     
         7 . The initiator head according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing defines a hole therethrough in fluid communication with the interior chamber; and   the hole defines a central axis therethrough, the central axis being perpendicular to a plane defined by the circuit board.   
     
     
         8 . An initiator head comprising:
 a first housing piece;   a circuit board supported on the first housing piece;   a line-in terminal coupled to the circuit board; and   a second housing piece in contact with and covering a top surface of the circuit board;   wherein the circuit board is positioned between the first housing piece and the second housing piece.   
     
     
         9 . The initiator head according to  claim 8 , wherein the first housing piece includes:
 a base; and   a wall extending away from an outer periphery of the base.   
     
     
         10 . The initiator head according to  claim 9 , wherein the circuit board is supported by a ledge of the first housing piece in spaced relation from the base. 
     
     
         11 . The initiator head according to  claim 8 , wherein the line-in terminal is exposed through an opening in the second housing piece. 
     
     
         12 . The initiator head according to  claim 9 , wherein the second housing piece is engaged with and conforms to the wall of the first housing piece and the circuit board. 
     
     
         13 . The initiator head according to  claim 8 , wherein the second housing piece is fabricated from a softer material than the first housing piece. 
     
     
         14 . The initiator head according to  claim 8 , wherein the second housing piece comprises an insulating material. 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing an initiator head, the method comprising:
 providing a first housing piece that defines an interior chamber;   positioning a circuit board within the interior chamber;   coupling a second housing piece to the first housing piece to cover the interior chamber; and   filling the interior chamber with an insulating material to cover the circuit board with the insulating material.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the insulating material comprises silicone or epoxy. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the circuit board comprises a line-in terminal; and   the line-in terminal is exposed through an opening in the second housing piece.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein filling the interior chamber includes injecting the insulating material into the interior chamber via a hole defined through the second housing piece. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the insulating material is a second housing piece having a definite shape, and filling the interior chamber includes press fitting the second housing piece into the interior chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the insulating material is a second housing piece, and filling the interior chamber includes injection molding the second housing piece into the interior chamber.