Patent US3930145A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3930145A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Data acquisition and processing system
Assignee: Geophysical Systems Corp
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Filing: 1973-05-07
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Granted: 1975-12-30
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Expires: 1993-05-07
Abstract
Abstract This abstract describes a system for acquisition of analog signals at a plurality of sensors, carrying these signals in goups of M channels to each of N spaced-apart array terminals, processing each signal in the array terminals by separately amplifying, adding to a shifting function of selected amplitude, axis-crossing-coding these sum signals and storing as single bit pulses, one for each channel, in a parallel-to-serial converter. Each of the converters in each of the array terminals are operatively connected in series and to an array controller, which also controls a disc magnetic recorder to run at constant speed. The disc generates a disc clock, and responsive to the disc clock the converters are read out in series as a sequential train of MN bits and stored on the disc. Successive samples at subsequent digitizing intervals are stored on the disc, to form a first record. Subsequent records are processed, coded and recorded, and composited with previous records on the disc. After a plurality of records have been composited the stacked series is read off the disc in demultiplexed form, and stored in a computer memory. The resulting traces are than processed by a computer and FFT box.
Inventors
- 👤 J Robert Fort
- 👤 James A Westphal
- 👤 C Hewitt Dix
- 👤 Donald R Juiles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/28; G01V2210/00; G01V2210/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A seismic exploration system comprising: a. means for generating seismic disturbances in the earth; b. a plurality of spaced detectors for generating a plurality of analog signals in response to said seismic disturbances after traveling through the earth; c. means for amplifying said analog signals, adding to each signal a shifting function to form a sum signal and zerocrossing-coding said sum signals and storing said coded signals; d. means on command from a rotating magnetic disc storage means for sequentially reading out said stored coded signals in the form of a plurality of trains of digital bit signals and transmitting them through a single pair of conductors to said disc storage means; e. means for storing said trains of digital bit signals on rotating magnetic disc means in first selected spaced relation, the time of read out of said signals being dependent upon the instantaneous position of said disc as it rotates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A seismic exploration system comprising: a. means for generating seismic disturbances in the earth; b. a plurality of spaced detectors for generating a plurality of analog signals in response to said seismic disturbances after traveling through the earth; c. means for amplifying said analog signals, adding to each signal a shifting function to form a sum signal and zerocrossing-coding said sum signals and storing said coded signals; d. means on command from a rotating magnetic disc storage means for sequentially reading out said stored coded signals in the form of a plurality of trains of digital bit signals and transmitting them through a single pair of conductors to said disc storage means; e. means for storing said trains of digital bit signals on rotating magnetic disc means in first selected spaced relation, the time of read out of said signals being dependent upon the instantaneous position of said disc as it rotates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
4 words
shifting function generator means,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
4 words
shifting function generator means,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
The seismic system as in claim 1 including: a. means to repeat said generation of said seismic disturbance in thE earth and means for forming a second train of digital bit signals; b. means on said disc to store said second train of bit signals in said first selected spaced relation; c. means on said disc to read out said first train of bits and to store same in second selected spaced relation, the times of read out and recording being dependent upon the instantaneous position of said disc as it rotates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
139 words
The seismic system as in claim 2 including: a. means to repeat said generation of said seismic disturbance in the earth and means for forming a third train of digital bit signals; b. means on said disc to store said third train of bit signals in said first selected spaced relation; c. means on said disc to read out said second train of bits from the first spaced positions, and to read out said first train of bits from the second spaced positions; d. means to add said first and second trains of bits to form a sum train of bits; and e. means to store said sum train of bits in said second selected spaced relation on said disc, the times of read out and recording being dependent upon the instantaneous position of said disc as it rotates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
means to add the signal from said amplifier to the shifting function from said generator, and to pass the sum signal to an axis-crossing coder means,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
means to add the signal from said amplifier to the shifting function from said generator, and to pass the sum signal to an axis-crossing coder means,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The seismic system as in claim 3 including computer means and means responsive to said computer means and said disc means to read out from said disc in single trace-temporal order, the sum trains of bits stored on said disc; and memory storage means responsive to said computer means to store said single trace-temporal order trains of bits.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
314 words
parallel-to-serial converter means having a plurality of M parallel input channels each of which is connected to one of said M coder means; g. means to control each of said AXC simultaneously, at selected intervals of time, to sample the sum signal and to create a pulse of +1 or 0, indicative of its timing compared to the time of the axis crossing of the sum signal; h. means in response to a command from an array controller to read out from said converter the series of bits stored therein, in sequential order, the first group of M bits from the first terminal, the second group of M bits from the second terminal and so on until all N terminals have responded, said bits formed in a train of NM bits on said single pair of signal conductors; i. at the array controller, means to store these sequential bit signals transmitted by the array terminals on a speed-controlled magnetic recording disc means at first preselected spaced locations; j. means to repeat the transmission of the elastic wave signal and means to process each of the geophone signals as before, to produce a second train of bits, and means on command from said array controller to transmit to and to record on said disc said second train of bits in said first spaced locations; k. means to read out from said disc said first train of bits from said first locations and means to store said first train in second spaced positions on said disc; l. means to read out said first and second trains to form a train of first sum words and to store said first sum words in said second locations; and m. means responsive to computer means and said array controller means to read out said train of sum words in single trace-temporal order and to store same in computer memory.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
314 words
parallel-to-serial converter means having a plurality of M parallel input channels each of which is connected to one of said M coder means; g. means to control each of said AXC simultaneously, at selected intervals of time, to sample the sum signal and to create a pulse of +1 or 0, indicative of its timing compared to the time of the axis crossing of the sum signal; h. means in response to a command from an array controller to read out from said converter the series of bits stored therein, in sequential order, the first group of M bits from the first terminal, the second group of M bits from the second terminal and so on until all N terminals have responded, said bits formed in a train of NM bits on said single pair of signal conductors; i. at the array controller, means to store these sequential bit signals transmitted by the array terminals on a speed-controlled magnetic recording disc means at first preselected spaced locations; j. means to repeat the transmission of the elastic wave signal and means to process each of the geophone signals as before, to produce a second train of bits, and means on command from said array controller to transmit to and to record on said disc said second train of bits in said first spaced locations; k. means to read out from said disc said first train of bits from said first locations and means to store said first train in second spaced positions on said disc; l. means to read out said first and second trains to form a train of first sum words and to store said first sum words in said second locations; and m. means responsive to computer means and said array controller means to read out said train of sum words in single trace-temporal order and to store same in computer memory.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
184 words
The method of carrying out geophysical seismic operations comprising: a. generating a first elastic wave signal in the earth; b. at a plurality of spaced locations distant from the point of application of said elastic wave signals detecting the elastic wave signals in the earth after transmission through the subsurface by a plurality of geophones to form a plurality of analog electrical signals representative of said detected elastic wave signals; c. processing the signals from said geophones by amplifying at constant gain, adding to said amplified signals amplitude controlled shifting functions to provide sum signals, and transmitting the sum signals to axis-crossing-coders; d. controlling said AXC to provide coded pulses representative of the instantaneous timing of said pulses with respect to the axis-crossing times of said sum signals, e. storing these coded pulses for a plurality of geophone channels; f. reading out said stored coded signals, in serial order, from each of said plurality of geophones, and transmitting them on a two conductor cable to a constant speed rotating magnetic disc means in selected spaced addresses on the multiple tracks of said disc means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
184 words
The method of carrying out geophysical seismic operations comprising: a. generating a first elastic wave signal in the earth; b. at a plurality of spaced locations distant from the point of application of said elastic wave signals detecting the elastic wave signals in the earth after transmission through the subsurface by a plurality of geophones to form a plurality of analog electrical signals representative of said detected elastic wave signals; c. processing the signals from said geophones by amplifying at constant gain, adding to said amplified signals amplitude controlled shifting functions to provide sum signals, and transmitting the sum signals to axis-crossing-coders; d. controlling said AXC to provide coded pulses representative of the instantaneous timing of said pulses with respect to the axis-crossing times of said sum signals, e. storing these coded pulses for a plurality of geophone channels; f. reading out said stored coded signals, in serial order, from each of said plurality of geophones, and transmitting them on a two conductor cable to a constant speed rotating magnetic disc means in selected spaced addresses on the multiple tracks of said disc means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as in claim 5 including computer means, and the steps, responsive to said computer means and said disc, of reading out said stored coded signals in single trace-temporal order; and storing said single trace-temporal order signals in a computer memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
218 words
In a seismic geophysical system including a source of elastic waves which can be repeated on command and a plurality of geophones spaced on the earth''s surface in a predetermined geometrical array adapted to receive the elastic waves propagated from said source after traveling through the subsurface, the improvement comprising: a. a plurality of N array terminals; b. each array terminal providing a plurality of M pairs of conductors of selected lengths, each pair connected to at least one geophone; c. each of the array terminals connected by cables in series from a recording truck to a first array terminal and from the first, to a second terminal and so on, so that all array terminals are in series connection, there being a plurality of ports or connection receptacles in each of the array terminals for the connection of the cable plugs; d. the cables to be composed of at least one pair of signal conductors, a plurality of control conductors, and a plurality oF power conductors; e. means inside of each array terminal, in response to a command from an array controller, to transmit a coded signal to the array controller which indicates which of the plurality of ports are connected to cables; f. in each array terminal a plurality of M similar data processing channels including:
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
218 words
In a seismic geophysical system including a source of elastic waves which can be repeated on command and a plurality of geophones spaced on the earth''s surface in a predetermined geometrical array adapted to receive the elastic waves propagated from said source after traveling through the subsurface, the improvement comprising: a. a plurality of N array terminals; b. each array terminal providing a plurality of M pairs of conductors of selected lengths, each pair connected to at least one geophone; c. each of the array terminals connected by cables in series from a recording truck to a first array terminal and from the first, to a second terminal and so on, so that all array terminals are in series connection, there being a plurality of ports or connection receptacles in each of the array terminals for the connection of the cable plugs; d. the cables to be composed of at least one pair of signal conductors, a plurality of control conductors, and a plurality oF power conductors; e. means inside of each array terminal, in response to a command from an array controller, to transmit a coded signal to the array controller which indicates which of the plurality of ports are connected to cables; f. in each array terminal a plurality of M similar data processing channels including:
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |