# US 6,853,604 B2 · Solid marine seismic cable > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,853,604 B2 - Document ID: US6853604B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/128,090 - Filed: 2002-04-23 - Published: 2003-10-23 - Granted: 2005-02-08 - Earliest claimed: 2002-04-23 - Assignees: Sercel - Inventors: James Spackman; Mike Maples; Gary Craig; Louis W. Erath; John Luscombe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6853604B2 ## CPC - G01V 1/16: Receiving elements for seismic signals; Arrangements or adaptations of receiving elements - G01V 1/201: {Constructional details of seismic cables, e.g. streamers (integrated optoseismic systems G01V1/226; line connectors in general H01R, transducer mountings in general G10K11/004)} - G01V 1/38: specially adapted for water-covered areas (G01V1/28 takes precedence) - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) ## Abstract A support structure for piezoelectric elements in a marine seismic cable is provided. The support structure comprises upper and lower cylindrical halves, each with channels formed therein. Two axial channels are adapted to retain three piezoelectric elements each. A third axial channel, positioned between the sensor element channels, is adapted to retain a flexible circuit. Transverse channels between the sensor element channels and the circuit channels accommodate extension from the flexible circuit. The piezoelectric elements are mounted within their respective channels with a resilient pad with adhesive on both sides. The piezoelectric elements are graded so that any group of three piezoelectric elements exhibits approximately the same sensitivity as any of the other three groups of piezoelectric elements on the support structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydrophone support in a marine seismic cable, the cable including a plurality of signal carrying conductors, the support comprising: a. upper and lower cylindrical support body halves; b. a plurality of piezoelectric elements, wherein each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is graded in respect of sensitivity, wherein piezoelectric elements are grouped together according to grade; c. a pair of elongated sensor element channels in each of the support body halves, each of the pair of sensor element channels adapted to retain a first subset of the plurality of piezoelectric elements; d. an access for electrically coupling the first subset of piezoelectric elements to a signal carrying conductor; and e. a mounting pad between each of the first subset of piezoelectric elements and its respective channel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The support of claim 1, wherein a first group of piezoelectric elements having a grade is mounted on the hydrophone support at a position 180° opposite a second group of piezoelectric elements having substantially the same grade. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The support of claim 1, further comprising an elongated circuit channel between the pair of sensor element channels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The support of claim 1, further comprising acoustically transparent potting material filling the pair of sensor element channels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The support of claim 3, further comprising acoustically transparent potting material filling the pair of sensor element channels and the circuit channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The support of claim 3, further comprising a flexible circuit in the circuit channel, the flexible circuit extending into the sensor element channels. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The support of claim 1, further comprising at least one polymeric ring between the support body halves and the conductors. ### Claim 8 A marine seismic cable comprising: a. a cable interior including a plurality of electrical conductors; b. a carrier body comprising: i. an upper half cylinder and a lower half cylinder coupled together around the cable interior; ii. a pair of elongated sensor element channels formed in each of the upper half cylinder and the lower half cylinder; iii. a plurality of piezoelectric sensor elements mounted in each sensor element channel, the piezoelectric sensor elements in each sensor element channel coupled together to form a group; iv. an elongated circuit channel between the sensor element channels; and V. a flexible circuit in the circuit channel and extending into each of the sensor element channels. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cable of claim 8, further comprising a potting material filling the sensor element channels and the circuit channel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The cable of claim 8, further comprising a noise isolation mounting pad on each of the piezoelectric elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The support of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is graded in respect of sensitivity, and wherein piezoelectric elements are grouped together according to grade and a first group of piezoelectric elements having a grade is mounted on the hydrophone support at a position 180° opposite a second group of piezoelectric elements having substantially the same grade. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The cable of claim 8, further comprising transverse channels between the circuit channel and the sensor element channels. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cable of claim 12, wherein the flexible circuit extends into the sensor element channels through the transverse channels. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The cable of claim 12, wherein the flexible circuit includes a plurality of prongs, each prong comprising a pair of tines, and the prongs extending into the sensor element channels. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The cable of claim 8, further comprising at least one polymeric ring between the carrier body and the cable interior. ### Claim 16 A hydrophone support in a marine seismic cable, the cable including a plurality of signal carrying conductors, the support comprising: a. upper and lower cylindrical support body halves; b. a plurality of piezoelectric elements; c. first and second elongated sensor element channels in the upper support body half, the first and second elongated sensor element channels adapted to retain first and second subsets of the plurality of piezoelectric elements; d. an access for electrically coupling the piezoelectric elements to a signal carrying conductor; and e. wherein each of the subsets of piezoelectric elements is graded in respect of sensitivity, and wherein piezoelectric elements are grouped together according to grade, and wherein subsets of piezoelectric elements having the same grade are mounted 180° opposite one another on their respective support body half. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cable of claim 16, further comprising a noise isolation mounting pad on each of the piezoelectric elements. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The cable of claim 16, further comprising a pair of polymeric rings between the support body halves and the conductors. ### Claim 19 A hydrophone support in a marine seismic cable, the cable including a plurality of signal carrying conductors, the support comprising: a. upper and lower cylindrical support body halves; b. a plurality of piezoelectric elements; c. a pair of elongated sensor element channels in each of the support body halves, each of the pair of sensor element channels adapted to retain a first subset of the plurality of piezoelectric elements; d. an access for electrically coupling the first subset of piezoelectric elements to a signal carrying conductor; e. a mounting pad between each of the first subset of piezoelectric elements and its respective channel; and f. an elongated circuit channel between the pair of sensor clement channels. ### Claim 20 A hydrophone support in a marine seismic cable, the cable including a plurality of signal carrying conductors, the support comprising: a. upper and lower cylindrical support body halves; b. a plurality of piezoelectric elements; c. a pair of elongated sensor element channels in each of the support body halves, each of the pair of sensor element channels adapted to retain a first subset of the plurality of piezoelectric′ elements; d. an access for electrically coupling the first subset of piezoelectric elements to a signal carrying conductor; and e. a mounting pad between each of the first subset of piezoelectric elements and its respective channel; and f. at least one polymeric ring between the support body halves and the conductors.