Mixed wireless and cabled data acquisition network

• US 7,869,444 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sercel (Cggveritas)
• Original Assignee: Sercel (Cggveritas)
• Inventors: Pennec, Daniel, Dronet, Jean-Luc, Deniau, Dominique, Menard, Jean-Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson; Robert W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhao; Wei
• Application Number:
  US11/262,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20070025307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,897 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/400, 455/555, 455/446, 455/524
• US Class Current: 370/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/46 Interconnection of networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4026 Bus for use in automation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/323 in the physical layer [OSI layer 1]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A data acquisition network includes an assembly of nodes including at least one wireless network of nodes in which two neighboring nodes transmit data between each other by radio waves. The assembly of nodes also includes at least one other network of nodes in which two neighboring nodes transmit data between each other by a cable. The data is also conveyed by radio waves. The at least one other network forms a cabled network of nodes.

Claims

1. A data acquisition network, comprising:

at least one first wireless network of seismic sensors having a radio-type data transmission protocol, wherein each seismic sensor of the first wireless network has sends and receives data by wireless link by radio waves having the radio-type data transmission protocol, wherein two neighboring seismic sensors of the first wireless network transmit data between them which are conveyed by the radio waves having the radio-type data transmission protocol,

at least second network of seismic sensors having the radio-type data transmission protocol, wherein each seismic sensor of the second network has sends and receives data also conveyed by radio waves having the radio-type data transmission protocol by cable, wherein two neighboring seismic sensors of the second network transmit data between them by radio waves having the radio-type data transmission protocol by means of a cable, wherein the at least second network forms a cabled network of seismic sensors,

wherein the second cabled network comprises a seismic sensor comprising means to send and receive data by a wireless link and by a cable link using both radio waves having the radio-type data transmission protocol for performing a relay transmitting the data by the radio waves having the radio-type data transmission protocol between the second cabled network and the first wireless network,

wherein the first wireless network of seismic sensors and the second cabled network of seismic sensors have the same radio-type data transmission protocol;

wherein the radio waves of the first wireless network are the same as the radio waves of the second cabled network.

2. The data acquisition network according to claim 1, wherein the data comprise data acquired at each of the seismic sensors.

3. The data acquisition network according to claim 1, wherein each of the seismic sensors of the at least one second network of seismic sensors comprises at least two antennas.

4. The data acquisition network according to claim 1, wherein the seismic sensor performing a relay is formed on the basis of a seismic sensor comprising at least two antennas and of which one at least of these antennas, which is removable, is mounted on a means of fixing able to receive a cable end.

5. The data acquisition network according to claim 4, wherein the seismic sensor performing a relay is situated respectively at one of the ends of the second cabled network of seismic sensors.

6. The data acquisition network according to claim 1, wherein the seismic sensors of the second cabled network of nodes (300) are formed on the basis of a seismic sensor comprising at least two antennas and of which two at least of these antennas, which are removable, are mounted on means of fixing able to receive cable ends.

7. The data acquisition network according to claim 1, wherein the seismic sensor performing a relay is formed on the basis of a seismic sensor comprising at least two antennas and at least one means of fixing able to receive a cable end.

8. The data acquisition network according to claim 7, wherein the seismic sensor performing a relay is situated respectively at one of the ends of the second cabled network of seismic sensors.

9. The data acquisition network according to claim 1, wherein the seismic sensors of the cabled network of seismic sensors are formed on the basis of a seismic sensor comprising at least two antennas and at least two means of fixing able to receive two cable ends.

10. The data acquisition network according to claim 3, wherein the cable linking two successive seismic sensors of the second network of seismic sensors comprises an antenna at each of its ends, so as to perform an electromagnetic coupling with the antennas of the second network of seismic sensors.

11. The data acquisition network according to claim 10, wherein each cable end is fixed to a means of fixing able to receive a cable end of a seismic sensor of the cabled network of seismic sensors.

12. The data acquisition network according to claim 1, wherein the cabled network of seismic sensors is formed by a cluster from among the various types of seismic sensors selected from the group consisting of:

seismic sensors each formed on the basis of a seismic sensor comprising at least two antennas and of which one at least of these antennas, which is removable, is mounted on a means of fixing able to receive a cable end,

seismic sensors each formed on the basis of a seismic sensor comprising at least two antennas and of which two at least of these antennas, which are removable, are mounted on respective means of fixing able to receive cable ends,

seismic sensors each formed on the basis of a seismic sensor comprising at least two antennas and at least one means of fixing able to receive a cable end comprising an antenna, and

seismic sensors each formed on the basis of a seismic sensor comprising at least two antennas and at least two means of fixing able to receive two cable ends each comprising an antenna.

13. The data acquisition network according to claim 1, wherein the cable linking two neighboring seismic sensors of the second cabled network of seismic sensors is a waveguide.

14. The data acquisition network according to claim 1, wherein the cable linking two neighboring seismic 1 of the second cabled network of seismic sensors is a coaxial cable.

15. The seismic sensor of a data acquisition network according to claim 1, comprising at least two antennas mounted on a body of which one at least of these antennas is mounted in a removable manner on a means of fixing made within the body, at least one means of fixing of a cable end, made within the body and disposed in proximity to the base of one of said at least two antennas, means for sending and receiving data by radio waves having a same radio-type data transmission protocol through both means of fixing.

16. The seismic sensor according to claim 15, wherein two antennas out of said at least two antennas comprise at their respective distal ends, means of fixing of a handle mechanically linking the two antennas.

17. The seismic sensor according to claim 16, wherein the handle comprises a magnetic coil so as to receive energy originating from an external induction battery charger.

18. The seismic sensor according to claim 16, wherein the handle comprises electrical contacts able to be connected to an external charger.

19. A method for acquiring data, comprising

assembling at least one first wireless network of seismic sensors having a radio-type data transmission protocol, wherein each seismic sensor of the first wireless network has sends and receives data by wireless link by radio waves having the radio-type data transmission protocol,

assembling at least second network of seismic sensors having the radio-type data transmission protocol, wherein each seismic sensor of the second network has sends and receives data also conveyed by radio waves having the radio-type data transmission protocol by cable,

wherein a seismic sensor comprising means to send and receive data by a wireless link and by a cable link using both radio waves having the radio-type data transmission protocol for performing a relay transmitting data by the radio waves having the radio-type data transmission protocol between the second cabled network and the first wireless network is provided in the second cabled network,

wherein radio waves on the first wireless network are the same as radio waves on the second cabled network,

transmitting data in a wireless manner and by radio waves having the radio-type data transmission protocol between two neighboring seismic sensors of the first wireless network,

transmitting data by a cable and by radio waves having the radio-type data transmission protocol between two neighboring seismic sensors of the second network,

wherein the at least second network forms a cabled network of seismic sensors,

wherein the first wireless network of seismic sensors and the second cabled network of seismic sensors have the same radio-type data transmission protocol.

20. The method for acquiring data according to claim 19, wherein the data comprise data acquired at the level of each of the seismic sensors.