Remote seismometer controller

Claim 2

In an improved method of seismic prospecting in which seismic waves generated by a source located at or near the surface of the earth are detected by a plurality of seismometers positioned at separated locations along the surface of the earth, said seismometers each producing an electrical signal corresponding to the ground motion at its particular location, said seismometer electrical signals being separately amplified and reproducibly recorded, including the steps of: producing at a control location a coded pulse train having a programmed sequence of binary signals chosen to effect predetermined seismometer control functions; transmitting said coded pulse train from said control location to a plurality of decoder units at said seismometer locations; and decoding said coded pulse train in said seismometer decoder units to activate seismometer control circuits in accord with said programmed sequence, the specific improvement comprising: a. changing said sequence of binary signals in accordance with a predetermined time variable program to produce a plurality of time varying coded pulse trains at predetermined time intervals; b. repeating said transmitting and decoding steps at said predetermined time intervals for each of said plurality of time varying coded pulse trains to provide time varying seismometer control functions in accordance with said predetermined time variable programs; and c. stopping said time varying coded pulse trains when a predetermined recording time period has elapsed, said recording time period being at least as long as the time required for seismic waves to travel from said seismic source to the deepest acoustical interface of interest and back to said seismometer furthest removed from said seismic source.

Claim 3

In an improved method of seismic prospecting in which seismic waves are generated by a seismic source at or near the surface of the earth, said seismic waves being detected by a seismic spread consisting of a plurality of siesmometer groups positioned at separated locations along the surface of the earth each said group being formed from a plurality of adjacent individual seismometers spaced in a pattern on the surface of the earth, each of said individual seismometers producing an elecrical signal corresponding to the ground motion at its surface location, said individual seismometer electrical signals being combined at group interconnection points to form a plurality of group electrical signals, separately amplifying and reproducibly recording each of said group electrical signals, including the steps of: producing at a control location a plurality of group address code blocks each having a unique binary code corresponding to one of a plurality of group decoder units; arranging said group address code blocks in a sequence to form a coded pulse train; transmitting Before said seismic source is initiated said coded pulse train from said control location to said plurality of group decoder units; and decoding said group address code blocks within said group decoder units located at said group interconnection points such that when an individual group decoder receives its corresponding unique binary code a group activation circuit is energized, electrically connecting said group to an amplifying and recording apparatus thereby causing that group to become part of said seismic spread, and further including the steps of: producing at said control location a source initiation pulse train having a unique source code corresponding to a source decoder unit; transmitting said source initiation pulse train from said control location to said decoder unit located at said seismic source position following said coded pulse train transmitting step; and decoding said source initiation pulsed train within said source decoder unit such that when said unique source initiation pulse train is received a source initiation circuit is closed thereby causing seismic waves to be generated, the specific improvement comprising: a. changing said source initiation pulse train at predetermined time intervals in accordance with a predetermined source control program for the purpose of providing time varying control of seismic sources which use elongated input signals; b. repeating said source initiation pulse train transmitting and decoding steps for the purpose of executing seismic source control functions in response to said predetermined source control program; and c. stopping said source initiation pulse train after a predetermined elongated signal duration time has elapsed.

Claim 4

In an improved method of seismic prospecting in which seismic waves are generated by a seismic source at or near the surface of the earth, said seismic waves being detected by a seismic spread consisting of a plurality of siesmometer groups positioned at separated locations along the surface of the earth each said group being formed from a plurality of adjacent individual seismometers spaced in a pattern on the surface of the earth, each of said individual seismometers producing an elecrical signal corresponding to the ground motion at its surface location, said individual seismometer electrical signals being combined at group interconnection points to form a plurality of group electrical signals, separately amplifying and reproducibly recording each of said group electrical signals, including the steps of: producing at a control location a plurality of group address code blocks each having a unique binary code corresponding to one of a plurality of group decoder units; arranging said group address code blocks in a sequence to form a coded pulse train; transmitting Before said seismic source is initiated said coded pulse train from said control location to said plurality of group decoder units; and decoding said group address code blocks within said group decoder units located at said group interconnection points such that when an individual group decoder receives its corresponding unique binary code a group activation circuit is energized, electrically connecting said group to an amplifying and recording apparatus thereby causing that group to become part of said seismic spread, and further including the steps of: producing at said control location a source initiation pulse train having a unique source code corresponding to a source decoder unit; transmitting said source initiation pulse train from said control location to said decoder unit located at said seismic source position following said coded pulse train transmitting step; and decoding said source initiation pulsed train within said source decoder unit such that when said unique source initiation pulse train is received a source initiation circuit is closed thereby causing seismic waves to be generated, the specific improvement comprising: a. changing said source initiation pulse train at predetermined time intervals in accordance with a predetermined source control program for the purpose of providing time varying control of seismic sources which use elongated input signals; b. repeating said source initiation pulse train transmitting and decoding steps for the purpose of executing seismic source control functions in response to said predetermined source control program; and c. stopping said source initiation pulse train after a predetermined elongated signal duration time has elapsed.

Claim 5

In an improved method of seismic prospecting in which seismic waves are generated by a seismic source at or near the surface of the earth, said seismic waves being detected by a seismic spread consisting of a plurality of seismometer groups positioned at separated locations along the surface of the earth each said group being formed from a plurality of adjacent individual seismometers spaced in a pattern on the surface of the earth, each of said individual seismometers producing an electrical signal corresponding to the ground motion at its surface location, said individual seismometer electrical signals being combined at group interconnection points to form a plurality of group electrical signals, separately amplifying and reproducibly recording each of said group electrical signals, including the step of: producing at a control location a plurality of group address code blocks each having a unique binary code corresponding to one of a plurality of group decoder units; arranging said group address code blocks in a sequence to form a coded pulse train; transmitting before said seismic source is initiated said coded pulse train from said control location to said plurality of group decoder units; and decoding said group address code blocks within said group decoder units located at said group interconnection points such that when an individual group decoder receives its corresponding unique binary code a group activation circuit is energized, electrically connecting said group to an amplifying and recording apparatus thereby causing that group to become part of said seismic spread, and further including the steps of: producing at said control location a source initiation pulse train having a unique source code corresponding to a source decoder unit; transmitting said source initiation pulse train from said control location to said decoder unit located at said seismic source position following said coded pulse train transmitting step; and decoding said source initiation pulse train within said source decoder unit such that when said unique source initiation pulse train is received a source initiation circuit is closed thereby causing seismic waves to be generated, the specific improvement comprising: a. producing at said control location a plurality of time varying group functioN code blocks for the purpose of controlling at at least one auxiliary function circuit within said group decoder units located at said group interconnection points; b. adding said group function code blocks to said group address code blocks to form said coded pulse train such that each of said group address code blocks is followed by its corresponding group function code block; c. transmitting said coded pulse train from said control location to said group intersection point after said transmission of said source initiation pulse train; d. decoding said group address and group function code blocks at each of said group interconnection points such that auxiliary group function circuits are activated within each of said group decoders when said group function code blocks are received; e. repeating steps (a) through (d) above at predetermined time intervals following said transmission of said source initiation pulse train for the purpose of providing time variable group activation and function control during the period seismic waves are being recorded; and f. stopping said coded pulse trains after a predetermined total recording time interval has elapsed, said total recording time interval being at least as long as the time required for seismic waves to travel from said source position to the deepest acoustical interface of interest and back to said seismometer positioned farthest from said source.

Claim 6

In an improved method of seismic prospecting in which seismic waves are generated by a seismic source at or near the surface of the earth, said seismic waves being detected by a seismic spread consisting of a plurality of seismometer groups positioned at separated locations along the surface of the earth each said group being formed from a plurality of adjacent individual seismometers spaced in a pattern on the surface of the earth, each of said individual seismometers producing an electrical signal corresponding to the ground motion at its surface location, said individual seismometer electrical signals being combined at group interconnection points to form a plurality of group electrical signals, separately amplifying and reproducibly recording each of said group electrical signals, including the step of: producing at a control location a plurality of group address code blocks each having a unique binary code corresponding to one of a plurality of group decoder units; arranging said group address code blocks in a sequence to form a coded pulse train; transmitting before said seismic source is initiated said coded pulse train from said control location to said plurality of group decoder units; and decoding said group address code blocks within said group decoder units located at said group interconnection points such that when an individual group decoder receives its corresponding unique binary code a group activation circuit is energized, electrically connecting said group to an amplifying and recording apparatus thereby causing that group to become part of said seismic spread, and further including the steps of: producing at said control location a source initiation pulse train having a unique source code corresponding to a source decoder unit; transmitting said source initiation pulse train from said control location to said decoder unit located at said seismic source position following said coded pulse train transmitting step; and decoding said source initiation pulse train within said source decoder unit such that when said unique source initiation pulse train is received a source initiation circuit is closed thereby causing seismic waves to be generated, the specific improvement comprising: a. producing at said control location a plurality of time varying group functioN code blocks for the purpose of controlling at at least one auxiliary function circuit within said group decoder units located at said group interconnection points; b. adding said group function code blocks to said group address code blocks to form said coded pulse train such that each of said group address code blocks is followed by its corresponding group function code block; c. transmitting said coded pulse train from said control location to said group intersection point after said transmission of said source initiation pulse train; d. decoding said group address and group function code blocks at each of said group interconnection points such that auxiliary group function circuits are activated within each of said group decoders when said group function code blocks are received; e. repeating steps (a) through (d) above at predetermined time intervals following said transmission of said source initiation pulse train for the purpose of providing time variable group activation and function control during the period seismic waves are being recorded; and f. stopping said coded pulse trains after a predetermined total recording time interval has elapsed, said total recording time interval being at least as long as the time required for seismic waves to travel from said source position to the deepest acoustical interface of interest and back to said seismometer positioned farthest from said source.

Claim 7

A seismic prospecting method as recited in claim 3 further comprising: a. producing at said control location a plurality of individual seismometer code blocks each having a unique binary address code segment corresponding to an individual seismometer decoder unit located at each of said individual seismometer positions; b. forming said group address code blocks, said group function code blocks and said individual seismometer code blocks into said decoded pulse trains such that each group address code block being followed by said group function code block is then followed by said plurality of individual seismometer code blocks corresponding to said individual seismometers located within that group; c. transmitting said pulse train from said control location through said activated group decoder units to said individual seismometer decoder units; d. decoding said unique binary address code segments of said individual seismometer code blocks within each of said individual seismometer decoder units such that individual seismometer activations circuits are closed upon receipt of such unique binary address code segments corresponding to that individual seismometer; and e. repeating steps (a) through (d) at said predetermined time intervals corresponding to said coded pulse train repetition rate for the purpose of activating and deactivating predetermined individual seismometers within each group during said total recording time interval.

Claim 8

A seismic prospecting method as recited in claim 4 further comprising: a. producing at said control location a plurality of time varying individual seismometer function code segments for the purpose of controlling as a function of time at least one auxiliary function circuit within each of said individual seismometer decoder units; b. combining said individual seismometer function code segments with said individual seismometer address code segments to form said seismometer code blocks; c. decoding said unique binary seismometer function code segments of said seismometer code blocks in said individual seismometer decoding units located adjacent to said individual seismometers such that auxiliary individual seismometer function circuits are activated upon receipt of said seismometer function code segments; and d. repeating steps (a) through (c) above at said predetermined coded pulse train repetition rate for the purpose of providing time varying seismometer control function during said total recording time interval.

Claim 9

In an improved seismic prospecting system of the type having a seismic wave source on or near the surface of the earth, a plurality of seismometers positioned along the surface of the earth for detecting said seismic waves after reflection from subsurface acoustical interfaces, each of said seismometers producing an electrical signal corresponding to the seismic wave motion at its particular position, means for combining said electrical signals from adjacent seismometers at group intersection points for the purpose of producing a plurality of group electrical signals, a plurality of amplifiers and reproducible recorders for separately amplifying and recording each of said group electrical signals, an electrical signal transmission means connecting said seismometers and said amplifiers and reproducible recorders, including means for producing at a control location a coded pulse train having a program sequence of binary signals for the purpose of producing predetermined control functions at said seismic wave source, said group intersection points and said seismometer locations; means for decoding said coded pulse train at said source, group and seismometer positions for the purpose of executing said predetermined control functions; and means for control signal transmission connecting said coded pulse train producing means and said decoding means for the purpose of transmitting said coded pulse trains from said control location to said source, group and seismometer positions, the specific improvement comprising: a. means for changing said program sequence of binary signals at predetermined time intervals during the period seismic waves are being detected by said seismometers for the purpose of producing time variable control functions at said source group and seismometer positions; and b. means for repeating said coded pulse trains at said predetermined time intervals from the time said seismic wave source initiates seismic waves until the time has elapsed for seismic waves to travel from said seismic wave source to the deepest acoustical interface of interest and back to said seismometer farthest distance from said seismic wave source.

Claim 10

In an improved seismic prospecting system of the type having a seismic wave source on or near the surface of the earth, a plurality of seismometers positioned along the surface of the earth for detecting said seismic waves after reflection from subsurface acoustical interfaces, each of said seismometers producing an electrical signal corresponding to the seismic wave motion at its particular position, means for combining said electrical signals from adjacent seismometers at group intersection points for the purpose of producing a plurality of group electrical signals, a plurality of amplifiers and reproducible recorders for separately amplifying and recording each of said group electrical signals, an electrical signal transmission means connecting said seismometers and said amplifiers and reproducible recorders, including means for producing at a control location a coded pulse train having a program sequence of binary signals for the purpose of producing predetermined control functions at said seismic wave source, said group intersection points and said seismometer locations; means for decoding said coded pulse train at said source, group and seismometer positions for the purpose of executing said predetermined control functions; and means for control signal transmission connecting said coded pulse train producing means and said decoding means for the purpose of transmitting said coded pulse trains from said control location to said source, group and seismometer positions, the specific improvement comprising: a. means for changing said program sequence of binary signals at predetermined time intervals during the period seismic waves are being detected by said seismometers for the purpose of producing time variable control functions at said source group and seismometer positions; and b. means for repeating said coded pulse trains at said predetermined time intervals from the time said seismic wave source initiates seismic waves until the time has elapsed for seismic waves to travel from said seismic wave source to the deepest acoustical interface of interest and back to said seismometer farthest distance from said seismic wave source.