Techniques for surface exploration and monitoring
First Claim
1. A system for measuring a property of a surface, the system comprising:
- a plurality of survey probes; and
a survey controller configured to program the same survey probes for seismic or electrical measurements of the surface.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for surface exploration and monitoring are presented. In representative embodiments, a system is provided that can perform multiple types of measurements of a surface. For example a single system of survey probes and one or more survey controllers can be used to offer both seismic and electrical measurements. A survey controller can be configured to automatically poll survey probes to obtain identifiers of the probes and determine a relative order the probes. Survey probes can be configured to: (a) collect signals associated with a surface; (b) digitize the signals to form digital data; and (c) store the digital data for later transmission to the survey controller. Relative positions of survey probes can be automatically determined using a transmitting beacon or other techniques. Survey probes can automatically disconnect from a power conduit while measuring a surface property and operate using an internal source of power when disconnected, to reduce noise. The survey controller can be remotely accessible through a computer network for remote control of the survey probes.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A system for measuring a property of a surface, the system comprising:
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a plurality of survey probes; and
a survey controller configured to program the same survey probes for seismic or electrical measurements of the surface.
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2. A system for measuring a property of a surface, the system comprising:
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a plurality of survey probes, each having a unique identifier; and
a survey controller configured to automatically poll the survey probes to obtain each identifier and determine a relative order the probes. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for measuring a property of a surface, the system comprising:
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a survey controller; and
a plurality of survey probes configured to;
(a) collect signals associated with the surface;
(b) digitize the signals to form digital data; and
(c) store the digital data for later transmission to the survey controller. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for measuring a property of a surface, the system comprising:
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a survey controller; and
a plurality of survey probes configured to;
(a) collect signals associated with the surface; and
(b) sample and hold the signals for later transmission to the survey controller.
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20. A system for measuring a property of a surface, the system comprising:
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a survey controller; and
a plurality of individually-addressable survey probes;
where the survey controller is configured to;
(a) transmit a first signal to individually program survey probes to conduct one or more steps for measuring the property of the surface; and
(b) transmit a second signal to cause survey probes to conduct the one or more steps according to a timing sequence. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for measuring a property of a surface, the system comprising:
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a survey controller; and
a plurality of individually-addressable survey probes;
where the survey controller is configured to transmit a diagnostic signal to individual survey probes to diagnose the individual survey probes.
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27. A system for measuring a property of a surface, the system comprising:
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a survey controller; and
a plurality of survey probes whose position relative to one another is automatically determined. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for measuring a property of a surface, the system comprising:
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a plurality of survey probes; and
a survey controller configured to supply power to the survey probes using a power conduit;
where the survey probes automatically electrically disconnect from the power conduit while measuring the property and operate using an internal source of power when disconnected to reduce noise.
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32. A system for measuring a property of a surface, the system comprising:
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a plurality of survey probes; and
a survey controller that is remotely accessible through a computer network for remote control of the survey probes, the remote control comprising;
(a) remote initiation of a measurement of the property of the surface; and
(b) remote collection of data from a measurement of the property of the surface. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. A system for measuring a property of a surface, the system comprising:
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a plurality of survey probes; and
a survey controller configured to program the plurality of survey probes to simultaneously apply a stimulus to the surface in an arbitrary pattern. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A method for measuring a property of a surface, the method comprising:
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collecting signals associated with the surface using a plurality of survey probes;
digitizing the signals using the plurality of survey probes to form digital data; and
storing the digital data using the plurality of survey probes for later transmission to a survey controller. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification