Digital geophone system

• US 20040252585A1
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Original Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Inventors: Wenstrand, Douglas S., McLoughlin, Michael P., Evancich, Nicholas H., Smith, Dexter G.
• Application Number:
  US10/492,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20040252585A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/66
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/16 Receiving elements for seismic signals; Arrangements or adaptations of receiving elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/181 Geophones
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/20 Arrangements of receiving elements, e.g. geophone pattern

Abstract

A high capacity digital geophone system capable of distributing seismic data over a computer network connection in a real-time manner. Each geophone can convert seismic energy signals to analog then digital data before forwarding the observed data to a network connection for dissemination. Moreover, each geophone may be embedded with a processing capability that allows for instant front end processing of data. Remote processing computers can then access geophone data over the network connection and feed it into software analysis applications.

Claims

1. A system for acquiring and disseminating seismic energy data comprising:

a plurality of geophones for acquiring and digitizing seismic data;

a computer network;

a computer network interface coupled between each of said plurality of geophones and said computer network; and

a plurality of remote processing devices coupled with said computer network such that any remote processing device can access digitized seismic data from any of said plurality of geophones.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of geophones further comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver such that location and time stamp data is appended to said digitized seismic data.

3. A geophone for acquiring and disseminating seismic energy data comprising:

a seismic sensor for detecting seismic energy;

a basis function converter for converting the seismic energy to an analog electrical signal;

a micro-controller comprised of an analog to digital converter for converting the analog electrical signal to a digital signal;

a processor for manipulating the digital signal; and

a network interface connection that allows the geophone to be connected to a computer network such that the digital signal representative of the seismic energy acquired by the seismic sensor can be disseminated over the computer network.

4. The geophone of claim 3 further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled with said processor, said GPS receiver for obtaining location and time stamp data to be appended to said digital signal.

5. The geophone of claim 4 wherein further comprising an amplifier wherein said analog electrical signal is amplified prior to being sent to said micro-controller.

6. The geophone of claim 5 wherein said micro-controller further comprises an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit for performing automatic gain control on the analog electrical signal prior to analog to digital conversion.

7. The geophone of claim 6 wherein said micro-controller further comprises an internal clock for providing back-up time stamp data to the digital signal.

8. The geophone of claim 4 wherein the network interface connection can transmit the digital signal to a computer network in a wireless manner.

9. A geophone for acquiring and disseminating seismic energy data comprising:

means for detecting seismic energy;

means for converting the seismic energy to an analog electrical signal;

means for converting the analog electrical signal to a digital signal;

means for manipulating the digital signal; and

means for connecting to a computer network such that the digital signal can be disseminated over a computer network.

10. The geophone of claim 9 further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) means for obtaining location and time stamp data to be appended to said digital signal.

11. The geophone of claim 10 further comprising means for amplifying said analog electrical signal.

12. The geophone of claim 11 further comprising means for performing automatic gain control on the analog electrical signal prior to analog to digital conversion.

13. The geophone of claim 12 further comprising means for transmitting the digital signal to a computer network in a wireless manner.