Remotely reconfigurable system for mapping subsurface geological anomalies
First Claim
1. A system for collecting resistivity data from a subsurface media comprising:
- a power distribution unit distributing an injection current, an operating power source and an operating ground to a set of interconnected voltage control units;
the power distribution unit further comprising a high voltage source, and a high voltage sink;
a reference electrode in contact with the geological surface, connected to the power distribution unit for defining a high voltage reference;
a current source connected to the power distribution unit;
a data collection unit connected to the power distribution unit;
an array of electrodes in contact with a geological surface, having at least a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode;
the set of interconnected voltage control units connected to the array of electrodes and in in data communication with the power distribution unit,the set of interconnected voltage control units programmed to dispense the injection current into the array of electrodes in a predetermined pattern;
the set of interconnected voltage control units programmed to measure the voltages between the array of electrodes and the reference electrode and to send a first signal to the power distribution unit related to the measured voltages;
the set of interconnected voltage control units wherein each voltage control unit further comprises;
a microcontroller;
volatile memory connected to the microcontroller;
non-volatile memory connected to the microcontroller;
an analog to digital converter connected to the microcontroller, attached to at least one electrode of the array of electrodes; and
attached to the high voltage reference so as to make a measurement of a voltage at the at least one electrode;
the microcontroller programmed to store the measurement in the volatile memory;
an upstream communications port and a downstream communications port;
a bi-directional transceiver connected to the upstream communications port and the downstream communications port and to the microcontroller;
a first solid state switch connected to the at least one electrode and the high voltage source, the first solid state switch being connected to and controlled by the microcontroller so as to operationally connect the high voltage source to the at least one electrode;
a second solid state switch connected to the at least one electrode and to the high voltage sink, the first solid state switch being connected to and controlled by the microcontroller so as to operationally connect the high voltage sink to the at least one electrode; and
a capacitor connected to the operating power source for storing and supplying energy to the microcontroller, the voltage meter, the nonvolatile memory, the analog to digital converter, the bi-directional transceiver, the first solid state switch and the second solid state switch when the operational power source is disconnected.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and transmitting geophysical data from a plurality of electrodes inserted into the soil utilizing a set of identical dynamically reconfigurable voltage control units located on each electrode and connected together by a communications and power cable. A test sequence is provided in each voltage control unit. Each voltage control unit records data measurements for transmission to a central data collector. Each voltage control unit incorporates and determines its positional relationship to other voltage control units by logging when the unit is attached to the electrode. Each voltage control unit I equipped with a magnetic switch for detecting when they are in contact with the electrode.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A system for collecting resistivity data from a subsurface media comprising:
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a power distribution unit distributing an injection current, an operating power source and an operating ground to a set of interconnected voltage control units; the power distribution unit further comprising a high voltage source, and a high voltage sink; a reference electrode in contact with the geological surface, connected to the power distribution unit for defining a high voltage reference; a current source connected to the power distribution unit; a data collection unit connected to the power distribution unit; an array of electrodes in contact with a geological surface, having at least a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode; the set of interconnected voltage control units connected to the array of electrodes and in in data communication with the power distribution unit, the set of interconnected voltage control units programmed to dispense the injection current into the array of electrodes in a predetermined pattern; the set of interconnected voltage control units programmed to measure the voltages between the array of electrodes and the reference electrode and to send a first signal to the power distribution unit related to the measured voltages; the set of interconnected voltage control units wherein each voltage control unit further comprises; a microcontroller; volatile memory connected to the microcontroller; non-volatile memory connected to the microcontroller; an analog to digital converter connected to the microcontroller, attached to at least one electrode of the array of electrodes; and
attached to the high voltage reference so as to make a measurement of a voltage at the at least one electrode;
the microcontroller programmed to store the measurement in the volatile memory;an upstream communications port and a downstream communications port; a bi-directional transceiver connected to the upstream communications port and the downstream communications port and to the microcontroller; a first solid state switch connected to the at least one electrode and the high voltage source, the first solid state switch being connected to and controlled by the microcontroller so as to operationally connect the high voltage source to the at least one electrode; a second solid state switch connected to the at least one electrode and to the high voltage sink, the first solid state switch being connected to and controlled by the microcontroller so as to operationally connect the high voltage sink to the at least one electrode; and a capacitor connected to the operating power source for storing and supplying energy to the microcontroller, the voltage meter, the nonvolatile memory, the analog to digital converter, the bi-directional transceiver, the first solid state switch and the second solid state switch when the operational power source is disconnected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of gathering resistivity data from a subsurface media comprising:
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providing an array of electrodes in the subsurface media; providing a set of voltage control units connected by a set of cables; connecting the set of voltage control units to the array of electrodes; connecting the set of voltage control units to a power distribution unit in a serial connection; registering a positional relationship of the set of voltage control units based on a connection time to the array of electrodes, including the following substeps of; generating a random number based on the receipt of a register signal; broadcasting the random number to the set of voltage control units; assigning a pole position voltage control unit from the set of voltage control units based on the random number; assigning an order to the set of voltage control units based on the random number; and storing the order in the pole position voltage control unit; choosing a test sequence; loading the test sequence into the set of voltage control units; prompting the power distribution unit to send a high voltage signal to the set of voltage control units to activate the test sequence; using the test sequence to reconfigurably adapt the set of voltage control units to inject a current signal into the subsurface media and take a set of voltage readings from the array of electrodes based on the current signal; transmitting a data set related to the set of voltage readings to a data collection mode; and using the set of voltage readings to derive a resistivity map.
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5. A method of gathering resistivity data from a subsurface media comprising:
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providing an array of electrodes in the media; providing a set of voltage control units connected by a set of cables; connecting the set of voltage control units to the array of electrodes; connecting the set of voltage control units to a power distribution unit in a serial connection; registering a positional relationship of the set of voltage control units based on a connection time to the array of electrodes; choosing a test sequence including the step of forming a table comprised of a series of connection states related to a predetermined permutation of connections of the high voltage signal to the array of electrodes by each voltage control unit of the set of voltage control units; loading the test sequence into the set of voltage control units; prompting the power distribution unit to send a high voltage signal to the set of voltage control units to activate the test sequence; using the test sequence to reconfigurably adapt the set of voltage control units to inject a current signal into the subsurface media and take a set of voltage readings from the array of electrodes based on the current signal; transmitting a data set related to the set of voltage readings to a data collection mode; and using the set of voltage readings to derive a resistivity map. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method of switching a current to an electrode inserted into a geological surface the method comprising:
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providing a high voltage source for driving the current into the electrode; providing a high voltage sink for sinking the current extracted from the electrode; providing a charge pump device that produces an output charge; providing a first signal line to charge the charge pump device; providing a second signal line to pulse the charge pump device; providing a third signal line to discharge the charge pump device; providing a fourth signal line to a first transistor to connect and disconnect a ground signal to the charge pump; providing a second transistor having the output charge of the charge pump appear on a second transistor gate, a source of the second transistor being connected to the high voltage sink and a drain of the second transistor being connected to the electrode; sending a voltage on the first signal line and a set of voltage pulses on the second signal line to the charge pump to accumulate a charge so that the second transistor is caused to conduct between the high voltage source and the electrode; removing a voltage on the fourth signal line to disconnect the ground signal from the charge pump; discontinuing the charge to the charge pump by removing power from the first signal line and the second signal line; floating an accumulated charge on the second transistor so that the second transistor continues to conduct; sending a voltage on the fourth signal line to connect the ground signal to the charge pump; and sending a voltage on the third signal line to discharge the accumulated charge on the second transistor so that the second transistor ceases to conduct between the high voltage source and the electrode.
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8. A solid state switch apparatus for switching a high voltage signal onto an output pin in a connected state and off of the output pin in a disconnected state, the solid state switch being operationally powered by a supply voltage, the solid state switch capable of sustaining one of the group of the connected state and the disconnected state when the supply voltage is removed from the solid state switch, the solid state switch being comprised of:
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an isolation transformer having; an input DC power supply signal in one to one voltage relationship with an isolated output DC power supply signal; an input A signal in a in one to one voltage relationship with an isolated output A signal; an input B signal in a in one to one voltage relationship with an isolated output B signal; an input ground signal in a in one to one voltage relationship with an output ground signal; a charge pump with an input connected to the isolated output DC power supply signal and being driven by the isolated output A signal, the charge pump having an output charge at an output DC voltage larger than the input; a first transistor connected to the output charge of the charge pump, the first transistor connected to the isolated output ground signal and further connected to the isolated B signal so that the isolated output signal B causes the first transistor to conduct the output charge of the charge pump to discharge to the isolated output ground; a second transistor connected to the high voltage signal, the second transistor being connected to the output charge of the charge pump and further connected to the output pin, the output charge of the charge pump being connected to a gate input of the second transistor so that when a charge is produced on a gate input, the second transistor is caused to conduct the high voltage signal to the output pin; a third transistor connected to the input ground signal, the third transistor connected to an external power off signal and further connected to an earthed ground so that the external power off signal causes the third transistor to conduct between the input ground signal and the earthed ground. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of collecting geophysical resistivity data from subsurface media comprising the steps of:
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deploying an array of electrodes dispersed in a pattern in the subsurface media; providing a reference electrode; providing an array of voltage control units correlated to the array of electrodes; equipping each voltage control unit in the array of voltage control units with bi-directional data communications means for generating a data communication signal to and from the array of voltage control units; providing a voltage measurement device in each voltage control unit in the array of voltage control units; providing a power distribution unit, connected to the first voltage control unit, the power distribution unit supplying an injection current, an operational power, a control line and data communication signal to the array of voltage control units, the power distribution unit having a test button for a test start signal; providing a high voltage source, connected to the power distribution unit, for supplying the injection current; providing a high voltage sink, connected to the power distribution unit, for sinking an injection current return; providing a proportional control means for ramping the high voltage source; providing a means for activating and deactivating the operational power; providing a capacitor in each voltage control unit of the array of voltage control units to store energy from the operational power when the operational power is activated; and
deliver energy to the array of voltage control units when the operational power is deactivated;providing a current measuring device, in the power distribution unit, to measure the injection current; providing a voltage measuring device, in the power distribution unit, to measure an injection voltage of the high voltage source line; providing a data collector for collecting a set of test data, the set of test data comprising a set of measured voltages; providing a voltage control switch in each voltage control unit of the array of voltage control units, the switch being in one connecting state from the group of connecting states; (i) a first state of connecting the injection current to an electrode, (ii) a second state of connecting the injection current return to an electrode, and (iii) a third state of disconnection from the electrode; cabling the array of control units together interconnecting in a serial fashion; running a self-test on each voltage control unit of the array of voltage control units when operational power is activated; providing a set of predefined test sequence tables, each test sequence table of the set of predefined sequence tables comprised of a table of tests, each test of the table of tests including a linear position parameter and an instruction parameter; distributing a predefined test sequence table to the array of voltage control units; attaching each voltage control unit in the array of voltage control units to the correlated electrode in the array of electrodes; selecting a test sequence identifier associated with tone predefined test sequence table of the set of predefined test sequence tables; and running a test associated with the test sequence identifier. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification