Low-power satellite-timed seismic data acquisition system
First Claim
1. A portable seismic recorder comprising:
- electronic recording circuitry including a processor, memory, an analog-to-digital converter, and an oscillating clock circuit, said analog-to-digital converter being arranged for sampling and digitizing a signal from an analog seismic sensor at a frequency and a timing determined by said oscillating clock circuit, said processor and memory being arranged to store digitized seismic data sampled over an extended sampling period by said analog-to-digital converter; and
a radio receiver arranged to produce an output timing signal in synchronism with a time standard using one or more broadcast radio signals, said radio receiver being selectively coupled by said processor to said oscillating clock circuit so as to periodically synchronize operation of said oscillating clock circuit to said output timing signal of said radio receiver by cycling said radio receiver between enabled states in which said oscillating clock circuit is disciplined to said output timing signal and idle states in which said oscillating clock runs autonomously;
wherebysaid analog-to-digital converter is enabled to continually digitize and sample said signal from said analog seismic sensor for said extended sampling period as paced by said oscillating clock circuit while said oscillating clock circuit remains synchronous with said time standard within a predetermined tolerance without continuous operation of said radio receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A recording system and method for conducting seismic surveys including cordless battery-operated digital recorders, each employing an integral global positioning system receiver that is only periodically enabled for the purpose of establishing synchronized acquisition clock signals among all the recorders. The satellite receiver adjustment cycle is varied depending on past acquisition clock accuracy and temperature changes. A time stamp is recorded with the digitized seismic data in non-volatile memory. The memory is sized to allow extended periods of operation. Each recorder preferably includes a low-power system timer that may be used as a timer to remotely turn on and off the recorders according to a pre-programmed schedule to conserve power when the system is not in use. Electronic components are idled or de-energized when not needed.
59 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A portable seismic recorder comprising:
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electronic recording circuitry including a processor, memory, an analog-to-digital converter, and an oscillating clock circuit, said analog-to-digital converter being arranged for sampling and digitizing a signal from an analog seismic sensor at a frequency and a timing determined by said oscillating clock circuit, said processor and memory being arranged to store digitized seismic data sampled over an extended sampling period by said analog-to-digital converter; and a radio receiver arranged to produce an output timing signal in synchronism with a time standard using one or more broadcast radio signals, said radio receiver being selectively coupled by said processor to said oscillating clock circuit so as to periodically synchronize operation of said oscillating clock circuit to said output timing signal of said radio receiver by cycling said radio receiver between enabled states in which said oscillating clock circuit is disciplined to said output timing signal and idle states in which said oscillating clock runs autonomously;
wherebysaid analog-to-digital converter is enabled to continually digitize and sample said signal from said analog seismic sensor for said extended sampling period as paced by said oscillating clock circuit while said oscillating clock circuit remains synchronous with said time standard within a predetermined tolerance without continuous operation of said radio receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A seismic system for conducting a seismic survey over an extended sampling period in a geographic area across which one or more radio signals that allows a time standard to be determined is broadcast, the method comprising:
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a plurality of portable digital recorders and analog seismic sensors at select locations throughout said geographic area, each digital recorder having electronic recording circuitry including a processor, memory, an analog-to-digital converter, an oscillating clock circuit, and a radio receiver, wherein said analog-to-digital converter is arranged for sampling and digitizing a signal from at least one of said analog seismic sensors at a frequency and a timing determined by said oscillating clock circuit, said processor and memory are arranged to store digitized seismic data sampled by said analog-to-digital converter, said a radio receiver is arranged to produce an output timing signal in synchronism with said time standard using said one or more broadcast radio signals, and said radio receiver is selectively coupled by said processor to said oscillating clock circuit so as to periodically synchronize operation of said oscillating clock circuit to said output timing signal of said radio receiver by cycling said radio receiver between enabled states in which said oscillating clock circuit is disciplined to said output timing signal and idle states in which said oscillating clock runs autonomously;
wherebysaid plurality of portable digital recorders record in synchronicity with said time standard within a predetermined tolerance while minimizing power usage. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for conducting a seismic survey over an extended sampling period in a geographic area across which one or more radio signals that allows a time standard to be determined is broadcast, the method comprising the steps of:
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disposing a plurality of portable digital recorders and analog seismic sensors at select locations throughout said geographic area, each digital recorder having electronic recording circuitry including a processor, memory, an analog-to-digital converter, an oscillating clock circuit, and a radio receiver, wherein said analog-to-digital converter is arranged for sampling and digitizing a signal from at least one of said analog seismic sensors at a frequency and a timing determined by said oscillating clock circuit, said processor and memory are arranged to store digitized seismic data sampled by said analog-to-digital converter, said a radio receiver is arranged to produce an output timing signal in synchronism with said time standard using said one or more broadcast radio signals, and said radio receiver is selectively coupled by said processor to said oscillating clock circuit so as to periodically synchronize operation of said oscillating clock circuit to said output timing signal of said radio receiver by cycling said radio receiver between enabled states in which said oscillating clock circuit is disciplined to said output timing signal and idle states in which said oscillating clock runs autonomously; and recording seismic data by said plurality of portable digital recorders wherein each recorder repeatedly cycles its radio receiver between said enabled and idle states independently of the other recorders while recording;
wherebysaid plurality of portable digital recorders record in synchronicity with said time standard within a predetermined tolerance while minimizing power usage. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification