High-resolution digital seismic and gravity sensor and method
AssigneeQuartz Seismic Sensors, Inc.
InventorsJerome M. Paros, Theo P. Schaad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A high-resolution digital seismic and gravity sensor includes an inertial mass connected to one or more force-sensitive resonators. The weight of the inertial mass is substantially unloaded with a spring arrangement when exposed to the force of the static gravity field. Seismic accelerations applied to the base of the seismic and gravity sensor, or changes in the gravitational field, generate loads that are transmitted to force-sensitive resonators so that changes in resonant frequency are related to the applied load. The changes in resonant frequency are thus a measure of the seismic accelerations and gravitational field variations.
Claims50
A seismic and gravity sensor, comprising:
- a base frame;
- an inertial mass;
- at least one spring directly connecting the mass to the base frame, the at least one spring exerting a force on the mass substantially matched to the weight of the mass;
- and
- at least one force-sensitive resonator having a first end portion connected to the base frame and a second end portion connected to the inertial mass to allow acceleration-induced forces applied to the mass to be applied to the force-sensitive resonator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.