Seismic sensor array with electrical-to optical transformers
AssigneeGeosensor Corporation
InventorsJohn L. Maida, Jr., John Luscombe, Gary J. Craig, Louis W. Erath
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Abstract
A seismic sensor array includes a means for passive electrical to optical energy transformation and transmission. This transformation is used remotely with traditional sensor arrays, which may include hydrophones, geophones, or a combination of them. The transformation means is used to develop an optical signal in a fiber which then conveys the seismic signals to a recording center or data accumulator. The transformation means preferably comprises a stack of piezoelectric elements capped on each end by a rounded crown to accommodate an optical fiber wound around the stack and the crowns.
Claims16
An electrical to optical transformer comprising:
- a. a stack of piezoelectric disks, the stack describing a diameter;
- b. an upper crown on the top of the stack and a lower crown on the bottom of the stack each of the upper and lower crowns defining a smoothly curving convex surface;
- c. an optical fiber wound a plurality of times around the stack and the upper and lower crowns;
- and
- d. electrical input leads coupled to spaced apart disks of the stack.
A seismic sensor array comprising:
- a. a sensor string including a plurality of seismic sensors;
- b. an optical fiber;
- and
- c. a node coupling the string to the fiber for varying the optical path length of the fiber in response to a seismic signal detected by the sensors, wherein the node comprises a eletrical to optical transformer comprising:
- i. a stack of piezoelectric disks, the stack describing a diameter;
- ii. an upper crown on the top of the stack and a lower crown on the bottom of the stack;
- iii. an optical fiber wound a plurality of times around the stack and the upper and lower crowns;
- and
- iv. electrical input leads coupling the sensor string to spaced apart disks of the stack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.