Remote seismic data acquisition unit with common radio and GPS antenna

• US 6,078,283 A
• Filed: 10/31/1997
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: INOVA Limited
• Original Assignee: Input/Output Incorporated
• Inventors: Bednar, Eugene David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/961,831
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357, 342/357.13, 701/213, 367/77, 455/132, 455/269
• US Class Current: 342/357.57
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/201 Constructional details of seismic cables, e.g. streamers integrated optoseismic systems G01V1/226; line connectors in general H01R, transducer mountings in general G10K11/004

Abstract

Remote seismic data acquisition unit for receiving seismic radio signals, having the capability of receiving both seismic data acquisition radio signals and GPS signals, uses a single antenna for receiving both types of signals, a signal splitter to separate the signals and a low noise amplifier to enhance the GPS signals. A GPS receiver/transmitter is incorporated within the housing for the seismic data acquisition system radio signal receiver.

Claims

1. An antenna/receiver assembly for receiving and separating GPS signals from seismic data radio signals comprising:

a housing;

a single antenna mounted to the housing and designed for receiving both seismic data radio signals and GPS signals;

a frequency splitter mounted within the housing and operatively connected to the antenna and having a seismic data signal output terminal and a GPS signal output terminal;

a GPS receiver mounted within the housing and operatively connected to the GPS signal output terminal of the frequency splitter; and

a radio signal connector mounted within the housing operatively connected to the geophysical data output terminal of the frequency splitter.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the seismic data acquisition radio signals are in the frequency range of about 216 to about 230 MHz.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the GPS signals are in the range of about 1200 to about 1600 MHz.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing and antenna mounted thereon form a hermetically sealed unit.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the antenna is designed to perform as a long wire antenna.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the antenna is a whip antenna.

7. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a low noise amplifier operatively connecting the frequency splitter to the GPS signal output terminal.

8. A method for determining the position of a remote seismic data acquisition unit comprising providing a single antenna that receives both seismic and global positioning system signals and coupling the one antenna to each of a seismic data signal receiver and a global positioning system signal receiver.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising separating the seismic data signals from the global positioning system signals and amplifying the global positioning system signal with a low noise amplifier.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the global positioning system signals are in the range of about 1200 to about 1600 MHz.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the antenna is designed to perform as a long wire antenna in receiving the global positioning system signals.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the antenna is a whip antenna.