Apparatus for correcting the timing function in a nodal seismic data acquisition unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9465124-B2
Application number	US-90771310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2010
Priority date	Sep 21, 2007
Publication date	Oct 11, 2016
Grant date	Oct 11, 2016

Abstract

A wireless seismic data acquisition unit with a wireless receiver providing access to a common remote time reference shared by a plurality of wireless seismic data acquisition units in a seismic system. The receiver is capable of replicating local version of remote time epoch to which a seismic sensor analog-to-digital converter is synchronized. The receiver is capable of replicating local version of remote common time reference for the purpose of time stamping local node events. The receiver is capable of being placed in a low power, non-operational state over periods of time during which the seismic data acquisition unit continues to record seismic data, thus conserving unit battery power. The system implements a method to correct the local time clock based on intermittent access to the common remote time reference. The method corrects the local time clock via a voltage controlled oscillator to account for environmentally induced timing errors. The invention further provides for a more stable method of correcting drift in the local time clock.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A seismic data acquisition unit comprising:
a. a seismic sensor;
b. a sample clock to provide a clock signal for analog-to-digital conversion of an output of said seismic sensor;
c. an environmental sensor to provide environmental condition data concerning at least one local environmental condition;
d. an adjustable timing signal device to provide an adjustable timing signal for disciplining the sample clock, wherein the adjustable timing signal…

Assignees

• Ray Clifford H
• Fisseler Glenn D
• Guyton William
• Fairfield Ind Inc

Inventors

• Ray Clifford H
• Fisseler Glenn D
• Guyton William

Classifications

• G01C9/00

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01V1/00

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01V2200/12

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01V13/00 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01V1/24

  Physics · mapped topic