Abstract: A seismic data acquisition unit includes a housing, and disposed within the housing, communication circuitry, and circuitry configured to detect and digitize seismic signals. The communication circuitry includes a first transmitter plate, a second transmitter plate, a first receiver plate, a second receiver plate, and a driver. The first and second transmitter plates, and first and second receiver plates, are adjacent a wall of the housing. The driver is coupled to the first transmitter plate and the second transmitter plate. The receiver is coupled to the first receiver plate and the second receiver plate. The communication circuitry transmits digitized seismic signals via a first capacitor that includes the first transmitter plate, and a second capacitor that includes the second transmitter plate. The communication circuitry receives information via a third capacitor that includes the first receiver plate, and a fourth capacitor that includes the second receiver plate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention disclose devices, methods, and computer media for noise rejections in a remote sensing device, such as a LIDAR device. In an exemplary embodiment, a spatial filter includes an aperture dynamically created in synchronization with one or more directions in which emitted laser pulses from the LiDAR device are steered. Photons from all other directions except the one or more directions are blocked by the spatial filter. Reflected photons from the one or more directions pass through the spatial filter via the aperture, and are projected on one or more sets of photodetectors. Noises in the photons that pass through the spatial filter are further to be rejected based on one or more fixed temporal patterns identified in laser pulses emitted by the LiDAR device. The spatial filter can be implemented using an electrochromic display, an array of micromechanical (MEMS) mirrors, a liquid crystal display (LCD), or an electro-wetting display.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system and apparatus including a photonics chip mounted to a substrate, the photonics chip including one or more optical components and one or more electrical components and one or more integrated circuit (IC) chips mounted to the photonics chip to process an electrical signal generated by the one or more optical components and the one or more electrical components, wherein the one or more IC chips are physically separated from the substrate to reduce crosstalk on the LIDAR apparatus.

Abstract: Circuitry for ultrasound devices is described. A multilevel pulser is described, which can provide bipolar pulses of multiple levels. The multilevel pulser includes a pulsing circuit and pulser and feedback circuit. Symmetric switches are also described. The symmetric switches can be positioned as inputs to ultrasound receiving circuitry to block signals from the receiving circuitry.

Abstract: A high-frequency dynamic pressure transducer calibration system and method is provided. The method directs a source onto a diaphragm of a dynamic pressure transducer. An oscillating voltage at a target frequency (or range of frequencies) is generated. The oscillating voltage is coupled to an electrical connector of the dynamic pressure transducer. A deflection pattern of the diaphragm is recorded. The dynamic pressure transducer is calibrated by correlating magnitude of the deflection pattern with the oscillating voltage as a function of the target frequency (or range of frequencies).

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a first body that rotates a sensor component about an axis, and a second body coupled to the first body to form a separation gap. The separation gap extends radially inward from a gap inlet to a sealed barrier of the second body. The separation gap may be configured with a set of air guide structural features, to induce formation of eddies from air intake received through the gap inlet, as air from the air intake moves inward towards the sealed barrier.

Abstract: A head mounted display device and a positioning device thereof are provided. The positioning device includes a first sensor, a second sensor, a third sensor, a first hinge sensor, and a controller. The first sensor and the second sensor have a fixed relative location. The third sensor is disposed on a first flexible member of the head mounted display device. The first hinge sensor is disposed on a first connecting portion configured to connect a main body portion and the first flexible member, wherein the first hinge sensor is configured to sense a first movement state of the first flexible member. The controller is configured to calculate a first relative location information of the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor, and to calibrate the first relative location information according to the first movement state.

Abstract: A system includes a ground-based area, an electromagnetic (EM) interrogation device having an EM emitter that directs an EM beam at the ground-based area. The EM interrogation device includes a detector array that receives reflected EM radiation from the EM beam, and a controller having a ground movement description module that determines a movement profile of the ground-based area in response to the reflected EM radiation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for underwater acoustic communication are disclosed. A data packet frame structure in the communication transmission includes a preamble, a synchronization code, and a data code. A guard interval is disposed between the preamble and the synchronization code. This method utilizes the different impact response environments of linear frequency modulation signals in different frequency bands to obtain the mapping relationships corresponding to the characteristics of the impulse responses in the frequency band, and adopts the quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation method to convert four groups of LMF signals with different center frequencies and the same modulation frequency, representing different symbols for signal transmission, where the LFM carrier signal of each center frequency can represent two bits of binary information to improve transmission efficiency. The apparatus for underwater acoustic communication also has the above-mentioned technical effects.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing location-based functionality using acoustic location determination techniques are disclosed. For instance, acoustic signals can be received from one or more transmitting devices associated with a real-time locating system. A location of a mobile computing device can be determined based at least in part on the received acoustic signals. One or more actions to perform can be determined based at least in part on a control scheme associated with the real-time locating system and the determined location. The one or more actions can be performed.

Abstract: Sonar systems and related methods are provided. A sonar system includes a transducer array having a transverse axis and a longitudinal axis disposed perpendicularly thereto. A processor is operative to associate signals with a plurality of transducers in the transducer array so as to form a first acoustic beam, which propagates in a beam first direction and has a first beam width in a first transverse plane. The first transverse plane extends along the beam first direction and contains the transverse axis of the transducer array. A beam spreading device having a curved surface is positioned relative to the transducer array such that the first acoustic beam impinges on the curved surface. Following impingement on the curved surface, the first acoustic beam propagates in a beam second direction and has a second beam width in a second transverse plane. The second beam width is greater than the first beam width.

Abstract: A seismic marine vibrator (100) may comprises first plates (102) and second plates (104) arranged along a longitudinal axis (101), longitudinal and peripheral first (106) and second (108) elements respectively secured to the first (102) and second (104) plates, and an actuator (112) operable to reciprocate the first elements (106) relative to the second elements (108) along the longitudinal axis (101) so as to reciprocate the first plates (102) relative to the second plates (104). The seismic marine vibrator further comprises peripherally closed air-filled chambers (109) and peripherally open chambers (111), the volume of said open chambers (111) being varied when the first plates (102) are reciprocated so as to take in and expel water radially to generate an acoustic wave. This forms an improved seismic marine vibrator.

Abstract: Disclosed are a directional acoustic sensor, a method of adjusting directional characteristics using the directional acoustic sensor, and a method of attenuating an acoustic signal in a specific direction using the directional acoustic sensor. The directional acoustic sensor includes a plurality of resonance units arranged to have different directionalities and a signal processor configured to adjust directional characteristics by calculating at least one of a sum of and a difference between outputs of the resonance units. In this state, the signal processor attenuates an acoustic signal in a specific direction by using a plurality of directional characteristics obtained by calculating at least one of the sum of and the difference between the outputs of the resonance units at a certain ratio.

Abstract: Methods of oil and gas exploration that may include: obtaining wavefield data representing recordings from a propagating wavefield through a geophysical volume; obtaining at least one reference digital image of a portion or all of the geophysical volume generated from the recorded wavefield data, wherein the reference image may have a reference sampling ratio and a reference image quality value; selecting a holographic computational method of imaging the wavefield data; selecting a data subset from the wavefield data based on one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of field sampling, imaging sampling, and image quality; decimating the data subset, wherein the decimated data subset may represent a sampling ratio less than the reference sampling ratio; and generating a new digital image based on the selected holographic computational method of imaging, the data subset, and parameters corresponding to the data sub set.

Abstract: An object detection device includes: a transmission unit configured to transmit a transmission wave; a reception unit configured to receive a reception wave, which is the transmission wave reflected by and returned from an object, until a predetermined measurement time elapses after the transmission wave is transmitted; a detection unit configured to detect the object based on distance information based on the reception wave received by the reception unit; and a reception control unit configured to set the measurement time after the detection of the object to be shorter than the measurement time after a non-detection of the object.

Abstract: Flextensional transducers and methods of using flextensional transducers. The transducer includes a piezoelectric element and may include at least one endcap coupled with the piezoelectric element. The endcap may have an outer portion formed of a first material and an inner portion formed of a second material having a greater flexibility than the first material. The endcap may be coupled with an annular piezoelectric element near either its outer circumference or its inner circumference. The piezoelectric element may be a planar disk or have a curved bowl-shape. The transducer may be coupled with, and at least partially restrained by, a support structure. The transducer may also be configured to permit light to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A sonic conduit tracer includes a sonic transmitter, a sonic receiver and a spectrum analyzer. The transmitter may be configured to transmit an audio signal down an interior length of an empty conduit from a proximate end of the conduit for identification purposes. The receiver may be configured to receive an audio return signal. The spectrum analyzer may be configured to analyze the audio return signal to facilitate the determination of a location of a distant end of the conduit. The sonic conduit tracer may use the audio return signal to determine an estimated length of the conduit.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system including a tunable laser beam source that generates a modulated laser beam over a frequency modulation range; a spiral phase plate resonator (SPPR) device responsive to the modulated laser beam and providing a transmitted beam; and a mirror responsive to the transmitted beam and directing the transmitted beam at a certain angle therefrom depending on the frequency of the laser beam.

Abstract: A sensor system is disclosed. The sensor system may comprise a housing; an emitter, carried by the housing, that emits a beam comprising depth-data signals; a beam-distribution adjustment system; and a processor programmed to control the adjustment system by selectively changing an angular distribution of the depth-data signals emitted from the housing.

Abstract: An optical measuring device having a base for placing the measuring device and a targeting unit that is rotatable with respect to the base and defines a target axis for targeting a target object that is to be measured. The targeting unit has a first beam path for emitting optical measurement radiation in the direction of the target object that is to be measured. The targeting unit furthermore has a diffractive optical element (DOE), which is arranged or arrangeable in the beam path such that the optical measurement radiation is homogenized.