General earthquake observation system

• US 4,604,699 A
• Filed: 01/25/1984
• Issued: 08/05/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Department of Health and Human Services (State of Victoria)
• Original Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior
• Inventors: Maxwell, Gary L., Warrick, Richard E., Fletcher, Jon P., Schaack, John V., Jensen, Edward G., Borcherdt, Roger D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Meyer, Charles B.
• Application Number:
  US06/573,775
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 364/420, 364/421, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File
• US Class Current: 702/15
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/01 Measuring or predicting earthquakes

Abstract

A computerized, automatic, portable general earthquake observation system is disclosed. The system includes a microprocessor and associated computer program stored in program memory, which control other components of the system through a computer bus. Input channels for receiving signals from sensors are connected to a signal conditioning module which is selectively coupled to an analog-to-digital conversion module, both under control of the microprocessor. A pre-event data memory module stores the digitized signals sent along a separate data bus by the analog-to-digital conversion module. Data stored in data memory module is analyzed by the microprocessor for information regarding disposition of data which includes archival storage on an internal data recorder using the data bus or transmission to desired external recorder using various possible modems. The microprocessor is also connected to an external time reference module, an automatic calibration module, and an operator interface module.

Claims

1. A computer system for monitoring analog signals produced by a plurality of transducers, the system comprising:

a computer bus;

a microcomputer comprised of a microprocessor and program memory connected to said computer bus, said program memory for storing software that controls operation of said microprocessor, which programmed microprocessor in turn controls the operation of said system;

a plurality of software selectable input channels connectable to the transducers, each channel comprising amplifiers and software selectable filters;

an analog to digital converter coupled to a selected input channel for converting analog data from said selected input channel to digital data;

a Direct Memory Access data bus;

Direct Memory Access data memory connected to said data bus;

a controller for initiating a Direct Memory Access data transfer of said digital data from said converter to said data memory through said data bus;

a data recorder connected to said data bus; and

means for automatically storing said digital data on said data recorder.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising a signal conditioning means for conditioning an analog signal received from a sensor and for providing the conditioned signal to said converter.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said conditioning means includes filtering means and means under control of said programmed microprocessor for changing the filtering of said filtering means.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 and further including portable battery means for providing all of the power to said system.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 and further including means under control of said programmed microprocessor for automatically controlling the power supplied to preselected components of said system.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 and further including a portable housing in which said system is contained, and a front panel mounted on said housing for permitting operator control of said system.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said front panel includes a keyboard having numeric keys, cursor control keys and function keys, and an alphanumeric display.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 and further including means under control of said programmed microprocessor for automatically controlling the power supplied to said display such that said power is turned off when said display is not being used.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 and further including means under control of said programmed microprocessor for automatically scanning preselected ones of said input channels.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said scanning means includes a control means for controlling the operation of said controller.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1 and further including an internal clock means for keeping track of the absolute time;

and

means under control of said programmed microprocessor for calibrating said internal clock means.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said clock calibrating means includes means for receiving an external time standard broadcast by a radio station and means for calibrating said internal clock means with said external time standard.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said clock calibrating means further includes means under control of said programmed microprocessor for automatically calibrating said internal clock means at predetermined, future times.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1 and further including a digital to analog converter means for providing an analog output signal of selectable, stored digital data.

15. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller under command of said programmed microprocessor causes new converted data to be stored cyclically in said data memory such that new data overwrites the oldest stored data.