Patents by Inventor William Allen Nance

William Allen Nance has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10901102
    Abstract: A near-field hydrophone is disclosed. The near-field hydrophone includes a housing, a piezoelectric element configured to produce an analog signal in response to an acoustic signal generated by the release of compressed air into water, an analog circuit coupled to the piezoelectric element, wherein the analog circuit is configured to receive the analog signal and to produce a conditioned analog signal, an analog-to-digital converter configured to receive the conditioned analog signal and to produce a digitized form of the conditioned analog signal, and a processor coupled to a memory circuit and to the analog-to-digital converter, wherein the processor is configured to control the operation of the analog-to-digital converter and to provide a digitized serial communication output corresponding to the digitized form of the conditioned analog signal. The piezoelectric element, the analog circuit, the analog-to-digital converter, the processor, and the memory circuit are located within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: TELEDYNE INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: William Allen Nance, Keith Kunz
  • Patent number: 9612348
    Abstract: A marine air gun generates an acoustic signal in water, for example, during a marine seismic survey. The marine air gun includes digital electronic circuitry. The digital electronic circuitry may control an actuator of the marine air gun, digitize and store data from sensors located on or near the marine air gun, send and/or receive digital communications, store and/or output electrical energy, and/or perform other functions. A marine seismic source system that includes multiple air gun clusters may have a separate digital communication link between a command center and each air gun cluster. Each communication link may provide power and digital communication between the command center and one of the air gun clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Teledyne Real Time Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Allen Nance, Daniel Eugene Hobson
  • Publication number: 20160299242
    Abstract: A near-field hydrophone is disclosed. The near-field hydrophone includes a housing, a piezoelectric element configured to produce an analog signal in response to an acoustic signal generated by the release of compressed air into water, an analog circuit coupled to the piezoelectric element, wherein the analog circuit is configured to receive the analog signal and to produce a conditioned analog signal, an analog-to-digital converter configured to receive the conditioned analog signal and to produce a digitized form of the conditioned analog signal, and a processor coupled to a memory circuit and to the analog-to-digital converter, wherein the processor is configured to control the operation of the analog-to-digital converter and to provide a digitized serial communication output corresponding to the digitized form of the conditioned analog signal. The piezoelectric element, the analog circuit, the analog-to-digital converter, the processor, and the memory circuit are located within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: William Allen Nance, Keith Kunz
  • Publication number: 20130301393
    Abstract: A marine air gun generates an acoustic signal in water, for example, during a marine seismic survey. The marine air gun includes digital electronic circuitry. The digital electronic circuitry may control an actuator of the marine air gun, digitize and store data from sensors located on or near the marine air gun, send and/or receive digital communications, store and/or output electrical energy, and/or perform other functions. A marine seismic source system that includes multiple air gun clusters may have a separate digital communication link between a command center and each air gun cluster. Each communication link may provide power and digital communication between the command center and one of the air gun clusters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: William Allen Nance, Daniel Eugene Hobson
  • Patent number: 8509033
    Abstract: A marine air gun generates an acoustic signal in water, for example, during a marine seismic survey. The marine air gun includes digital electronic circuitry. The digital electronic circuitry may control an actuator of the marine air gun, digitize and store data from sensors located on or near the marine air gun, send and/or receive digital communications, store and/or output electrical energy, and/or perform other functions. A marine seismic source system that includes multiple air gun clusters may have a separate digital communication link between a command center and each air gun cluster. Each communication link may provide power and digital communication between the command center and one of the air gun clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Real Time Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Allen Nance, Daniel Eugene Hobson
  • Publication number: 20130001007
    Abstract: A marine air gun generates an acoustic signal in water, for example, during a marine seismic survey. The marine air gun includes digital electronic circuitry. The digital electronic circuitry may control an actuator of the marine air gun, digitize and store data from sensors located on or near the marine air gun, send and/or receive digital communications, store and/or output electrical energy, and/or perform other functions. A marine seismic source system that includes multiple air gun clusters may have a separate digital communication link between a command center and each air gun cluster. Each communication link may provide power and digital communication between the command center and one of the air gun clusters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Real Time Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Allen Nance, Daniel Eugene Hobson
  • Patent number: 8279711
    Abstract: A marine air gun generates an acoustic signal in water, for example, during a marine seismic survey. The marine air gun includes digital electronic circuitry. The digital electronic circuitry may control an actuator of the marine air gun, digitize and store data from sensors located on or near the marine air gun, send and/or receive digital communications, store and/or output electrical energy, and/or perform other functions. A marine seismic source system that includes multiple air gun clusters may have a separate digital communication link between a command center and each air gun cluster. Each communication link may provide power and digital communication between the command center and one of the air gun clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Real Time Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Allen Nance, Daniel Eugene Hobson
  • Publication number: 20100302902
    Abstract: A marine air gun generates an acoustic signal in water, for example, during a marine seismic survey. The marine air gun includes digital electronic circuitry. The digital electronic circuitry may control an actuator of the marine air gun, digitize and store data from sensors located on or near the marine air gun, send and/or receive digital communications, store and/or output electrical energy, and/or perform other functions. A marine seismic source system that includes multiple air gun clusters may have a separate digital communication link between a command center and each air gun cluster. Each communication link may provide power and digital communication between the command center and one of the air gun clusters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Real Time Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Allen Nance, Daniel Eugene Hobson