Flexible microsphere coated piezoelectric acoustic sensor apparatus and method of use therefor
AssigneeSolid Seismic, LLC
InventorRichard E. Pearce
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Sensors used in mapping strata beneath a marine body are described, such as in a towed array. A first acoustic sensor uses a piezoelectric sensor mounted with a thin film separation layer of flexible microspheres on a rigid substrate. Additional non-acoustic sensors are optionally mounted on the rigid substrate for generation of output used to reduce noise observed by the acoustic sensors. A second sensor is a motion sensor including a conductive liquid in a chamber between a rigid tube and a piezoelectric motion film circumferentially wrapped about the tube. Combinations of acoustic, non-acoustic, and motion sensors co-located in rigid streamer housing sections are provided, which reduce noise associated with different sensor locations.
Claims22
An apparatus, comprising:
- an acoustic sensor, comprising:
- a rigid tube;
- an acoustic piezoelectric sensor, comprising:
- a flexible film polymer, comprising:
- an inner film surface and an outer film surface;
- a first conductive element contacting said outer film surface;
- and
- a second conductive element contacting said inner film surface;
- a plurality of flexible microspheres both proximate said second conductive element and radially inward of said second conductive element,
- said acoustic piezoelectric sensor circumferentially wrapped about said hollow rigid tube, wherein said microspheres proximately contact said rigid tube.
A method, comprising the steps of:
- providing an acoustic sensor, comprising:
- a rigid tube;
- an acoustic piezoelectric sensor, comprising:
- a flexible film polymer, comprising:
- an inner film surface and an outer film surface;
- a first conductive element contacting said outer film surface;
- and
- a second conductive element contacting said inner film surface;
- a plurality of flexible microspheres affixed to said second conductive element,
- said acoustic piezoelectric sensor circumferentially wrapped about said hollow rigid tube, wherein said microspheres proximately contact said rigid tube;
- and
- sensing pressure changes using said acoustic sensor, wherein said plurality of microspheres comprise a compressible gas chamber responsive to the pressure changes, said microspheres substantially immune to overburden pressure in a marine deployed hydrophone sensing apparatus.
A sensor, comprising:
- an acoustic sensor, comprising:
- a hollow element comprising an outer surface;
- a piezoelectric acoustic film polymer, comprising:
- an inner film surface and an outer film surface;
- and
- a plurality of flexible microspheres,
- said piezoelectric acoustic film polymer circumferentially wrapped about said hollow element, said microspheres affixed to at least one of:
- said outer convex surface of said hollow element;
- and
- said inner film surface.
An acoustic sensor comprising:
- a housing;
- a rigid substrate at least partially within said housing;
- a piezoelectric sensor film;
- compressible and flexible microspheres between said rigid substrate and said film;
- and
- substantially incompressible rigid microspheres within said housing, said rigid microspheres comprising a density less than water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.