Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to calibrating sensors configured to measure both pressure and acceleration. In various embodiments, a system detects a first voltage produce by a first piezoelectric material in a hydrophone when the hydrophone is exposed to an acceleration and detects a second voltage produced by a second piezoelectric material in the hydrophone when the hydrophone is exposed to the acceleration. The system, in some embodiments, compares the first voltage and the second voltage. Based on the comparing of the first and second voltages, in some embodiments, the system determines a resistance for a variable resistor coupled to one of the first and second piezoelectric materials.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to sensors configured to measure acceleration and pressure. In various embodiments, an apparatus includes a first hydrophone sensor having a first piezoelectric material and a first housing structure and a second hydrophone sensor having a second piezoelectric material and a second housing structure. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a first pair of wires configured to provide a first differential voltage and a second pair of wires configured to provide a second differential voltage. The first pair of wires may be coupled to the first hydrophone sensor and the second pair of wires may be coupled to the second hydrophone sensor. In various embodiments, the apparatus is configured to determine, based on the first and second differential voltages, a pressure and an acceleration experienced by the first and second hydrophone sensors.

Abstract: A disclosed data acquisition system includes one or more streamers having multiple spaced apart sensor units. At least one sensor unit includes at least one digital sensor employing a quantized feedback loop to produce a digital output signal. A data recording system collects and stores data from the sensor units. The quantized feedback loop may be adapted to exert a quantized force on the sensing element. A described method for acquiring data includes deploying at least one streamer having multiple spaced apart sensor units, where at least a portion of the sensor units include a digital sensor employing a quantized feedback loop to produce a digital output signal. A stimulus event is triggered. Data is received from the sensor units and stored.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to sensors configured to measure acceleration and pressure. In various embodiments, an apparatus includes a first hydrophone sensor having a first piezoelectric material and a first housing structure and a second hydrophone sensor having a second piezoelectric material and a second housing structure. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a first pair of wires configured to provide a first differential voltage and a second pair of wires configured to provide a second differential voltage. The first pair of wires may be coupled to the first hydrophone sensor and the second pair of wires may be coupled to the second hydrophone sensor. In various embodiments, the apparatus is configured to determine, based on the first and second differential voltages, a pressure and an acceleration experienced by the first and second hydrophone sensors.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to calibrating sensors configured to measure both pressure and acceleration. In various embodiments, a system detects a first voltage produce by a first piezoelectric material in a hydrophone when the hydrophone is exposed to an acceleration and detects a second voltage produced by a second piezoelectric material in the hydrophone when the hydrophone is exposed to the acceleration. The system, in some embodiments, compares the first voltage and the second voltage. Based on the comparing of the first and second voltages, in some embodiments, the system determines a resistance for a variable resistor coupled to one of the first and second piezoelectric materials.

Abstract: A disclosed pressure-responsive sensor includes a flexible element contained within an enclosure and a membrane configured to exert an electrostatic force on the flexible element to cause the flexible element to respond to pressure variations on the membrane. A disclosed pressure-sensing method includes electrostatically coupling a membrane to a flexible element contained within an enclosure to transfer a pressure response of the membrane to the flexible element. Motion of the flexible element is converted into a pressure signal.

Abstract: A disclosed pressure-responsive sensor includes a flexible element contained within an enclosure and a membrane configured to exert an electrostatic force on the flexible element to cause the flexible element to respond to pressure variations on the membrane. A disclosed pressure-sensing method includes electrostatically coupling a membrane to a flexible element contained within an enclosure to transfer a pressure response of the membrane to the flexible element. Motion of the flexible element is converted into a pressure signal.

Abstract: A disclosed digital sensor includes a pair of piezoelectric sensors that respond to acceleration and pressure in opposite ways, a pair of digital transducer circuits each employing a quantized feedback path to obtain digital sensor signals for the piezoelectric sensors, and a combiner circuit that combines the digital sensor signals to produce a compensated digital output signal. The compensated digital output signal may be a pressure compensated acceleration signal, an acceleration compensated pressure signal, or both. Also disclosed is a signal detection method that includes configuring a pair of piezoelectric membranes in a piezoelectric sensor to respond to acceleration and pressure in opposite ways, and based on their responses, producing at least one of a digital pressure compensated acceleration signal and a digital acceleration compensated pressure signal. The digital signals may be produced in part by applying a quantized feedback signal to at least one of the piezoelectric membranes.

Abstract: A disclosed data acquisition system includes one or more streamers having multiple spaced apart sensor units. At least one sensor unit includes at least one digital sensor employing a quantized feedback loop to produce a digital output signal. A data recording system collects and stores data from the sensor units. The quantized feedback loop may be adapted to exert a quantized force on the sensing element. A described method for acquiring data includes deploying at least one streamer having multiple spaced apart sensor units, where at least a portion of the sensor units include a digital sensor employing a quantized feedback loop to produce a digital output signal. A stimulus event is triggered. Data is received from the sensor units and stored.

Abstract: A marine seismic surveying method recording with a first sensor a first signal indicative of pressure and with a second sensor a second signal indicative of motion, calculating a coupling mechanism filter for the second signal substantially correcting for the imperfect coupling of the second sensor, and applying a filter based on the coupling mechanism filter to at least one of the signals.