Inductive power for seismic sensor node

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10135290-B2
Application number	US-201715410306-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2017
Priority date	Jul 24, 2014
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods for inductively powering seismic sensor nodes are presented. An embodiment of an inductive battery includes a battery cell configured to store charge for use by an external device. The inductive battery may also include a first inductive element coupled to the battery cell, the first inductive element configured to receive current from the battery cell and emit a responsive magnetic field for powering an external device through inductance. In an embodiment the external device is a seismic sensor node.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A seismic node, comprising:
one or more electronic components;
an on-board inductive element coupled to the one or more electronic components; and
at least one inductive battery, wherein the inductive battery comprises one or more battery cells; and
a first inductive element coupled to the one or more battery cells and the on-board inductive element,

wherein the seismic node comprises a receptacle configured to receive the at least one inductive battery.

2. The node of claim 1 , wherein the inductive battery comprises a charge circuit.

3. The node of claim 2 , wherein the charge circuit comprises a second inductive element.

4. The node of claim 1 , wherein the inductive battery is detachable from the seismic node.

5. The node of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inductive battery comprises a plurality of inductive batteries, wherein the seismic node comprises a plurality of receptacles each configured to receive one of the plurality of inductive batteries.

6. The node of claim 1 , wherein the inductive battery is configured to transmit data with the node over the first inductive element.

7. The node of claim 1 , wherein the first inductive element is configured to provide power and data to the one or more electronic components.

8. The node of claim 1 , wherein the inductive battery comprises a data storage device.

9. The node of claim 1 , wherein the inductive battery comprises a second inductive element configured to exchange power and data with an external device.

10. The node of claim 1 , wherein the inductive battery is contained within a sealed housing that is removable from the node.

11. The node of claim 1 , wherein the inductive battery is configured to be charged subsea.

12. The node of claim 11 , wherein the charging is conducted by an ROV or AUV.

13. A seismic node, comprising
a first housing comprising one or more electronic components, wherein the first housing comprises an on-board inductive element coupled to the one or more electronic components;
a second housing comprising at least one inductive battery, wherein the second housing is detachable from the first housing.

14. The node of claim 13 , wherein the inductive battery comprises one or more battery cells and a first inductive element coupled to the one or more battery cells.

15. The node of claim 13 , wherein the first housing comprises a receptacle configured to receive the second housing.

16. The node of claim 13 , wherein the second housing is coupled to the first housing by a locking mechanism.

17. A method for powering a seismic node, comprising:
positioning an inductive battery with a first inductive element proximate to a seismic node;
generating a current through the first inductive element; and
powering the seismic node through the current generated through the first inductive element.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the positioning step comprises placing the inductive battery within a receptacle of the seismic node.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising replacing the inductive battery with a charged inductive battery at a subsea position.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising charging the inductive battery at a subsea position by an ROV or AUV.

21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising transmitting data between the inductive battery and the seismic node through the first inductive element.

22. The method of claim 17 , further comprising generating a current in an on-board inductive element coupled to one or more electronic components of the seismic node by the current generated through the first inductive element.

Assignees

• Seabed Geosolutions Bv

Inventors

• Isfeldt Bjarne

Classifications

• H02J7/44

  between battery management systems and power sources · CPC title

• H02J7/485 Primary

  with provisions for charging different types of batteries · CPC title

• G01V1/162

  Details · CPC title

• H01M10/46

  Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus (circuits for charging H02J7/00) · CPC title

• H01F38/14

  Inductive couplings {(for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10)} · CPC title