Multi-Axis, single mass accelerometer
First Claim
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1. A seismic sensor comprising:
- a frame;
a central mass disposed within the frame, the central mass having three principal axes; and
a plurality of transducers mechanically coupled between the frame and the central mass;
wherein the transducers are arranged in three pairs, the transducers in each pair being coupled to opposing sides of the central mass defined along a different one of the three principal axes; and
wherein each of the transducers has a crystal orientation defining a shear sensitivity, the shear sensitivity of the transducers in each pair being oriented generally parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the respective principal axis.
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Abstract
A seismic sensor comprises a central mass having three principal axes and disposed within a frame. A plurality of transducers is mechanically coupled between the frame and the central mass. The transducers are arranged in pairs, with the transducers in each pair being coupled to opposing sides of the central mass, as defined along each of the three principal axes. Electronics can be provided to combine signals of the transducers in each pair to generate output characterizing acceleration and rotation of the frame.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A seismic sensor comprising:
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a frame; a central mass disposed within the frame, the central mass having three principal axes; and a plurality of transducers mechanically coupled between the frame and the central mass; wherein the transducers are arranged in three pairs, the transducers in each pair being coupled to opposing sides of the central mass defined along a different one of the three principal axes; and wherein each of the transducers has a crystal orientation defining a shear sensitivity, the shear sensitivity of the transducers in each pair being oriented generally parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the respective principal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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6. A seismic sensor comprising:
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a frame; a central mass disposed within the frame, the central mass having three principal axes; and a plurality of transducers mechanically coupled between the frame and the central mass; wherein the transducers are arranged in three pairs, the transducers in each pair being coupled to opposing sides of the central mass defined along a different one of the three principal axes; and a conductive outer surface of the central mass, each of the transducers being electrically coupled to the conductive outer surface to define a common terminal potential thereof.
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7. A seismic sensor comprising:
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a frame; a central mass disposed within the frame, the central mass having three principal axes; and a plurality of transducers mechanically coupled between the frame and the central mass; wherein the transducers are arranged in three pairs, the transducers in each pair being coupled to opposing sides of the central mass defined along a different one of the three principal axes; and sensor electronics configured to combine signals of the transducers in each pair to generate output characterizing one or both of acceleration of the frame in a direction perpendicular to the corresponding principal axis along which the pair of transducers is coupled to the opposing sides of the central mass, and rotation of the frame about a respective one of the principal axes, perpendicular to the corresponding principal axis.
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8. A sensor apparatus comprising:
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a modular housing assembly having one or more components configured for deployment in a water column; a seismic sensor provided in the modular housing, the seismic sensor comprising a central mass disposed within a frame and a plurality of transducers mechanically coupled between the frame and the central mass, wherein the transducers are arranged in pairs coupled to opposing sides of the central mass, the opposing sides defined along three principal axes thereof; and sensor electronics configured to generate output by combining the signals of the transducers in each pair, the output characterizing a seismic wavefield propagating through the water column. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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20. A method comprising:
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deploying a seismic data acquisition apparatus in a seismic medium, the seismic data acquisition apparatus comprising at least one seismic sensor configured to generate seismic signals characterizing a seismic wavefield propagating through the seismic medium; recording the seismic signals generated by the at least one seismic sensor, wherein the seismic signals are responsive to reflections of the seismic wavefield from subsurface structure; processing the seismic signals to generate a seismic measurement characterizing the subsurface structure, wherein the seismic measurement is substantially free from shear contamination. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification