Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system and method for accelerating a mass using a pressure produced by a detonation, where the mass is accelerated over a movement range using a detonation of a pressure wave generator that produces a pressure within a coupling component that is applied to a piston having a surface area that produces a resultant force, where the acceleration of the mass determines the resulting force. The resulting force may be directed vertically and perpendicular to a target media to conduct an acoustic wave into the target media. The system may be configured to direct the resulting force horizontally and parallel to a target media to conduct a plane shear wave into the target media. Two systems may be configured to direct two resulting forces horizontally and parallel to a target media to conduct a spherical shear wave into a target media, where the two resulting forces are directed in opposite directions and separated by some distance.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system and method for accelerating a mass using a pressure produced by a detonation, where the mass is accelerated over a movement range using a detonation of a pressure wave generator that produces a pressure within a coupling component that is applied to a piston having a surface area that produces a resultant force, where the acceleration of the mass determines the resulting force. The resulting force may be directed vertically and perpendicular to a target media to conduct an acoustic wave into the target media. The system may be configured to direct the resulting force horizontally and parallel to a target media to conduct a plane shear wave into the target media. Two systems may be configured to direct two resulting forces horizontally and parallel to a target media to conduct a spherical shear wave into a target media, where the two resulting forces are directed in opposite directions and separated by some distance.

Abstract: An improved seismic impulse acquisition system involves an array of seismic sources comprising direct detonation overpressure wave generators that are geographically scattered, an array of echo detectors configured to detect said seismic impulses imparted by each seismic source of said array of seismic sources, a data recorder, said array of echo detectors being connected to said data recorder, a control system, and a network that connect the array of seismic sources and the array of echo detectors to said control system. Each seismic source imparts seismic impulses into a target media in accordance with a respective code sequence of a plurality of code sequences, wherein the location of each seismic source and each echo detector at a given time is known relative to an established coordinate system. The various coded sequences of seismic pulses are used to process the data received by the data recorder from the array of echo detectors.

Abstract: An improved seismic exploration system and method involves an overpressure wave generator for generating an overpressure wave and a coupling component for converting a pressure of said generated overpressure wave into a force that produces a conducted acoustic wave in a target media. The coupling component includes a coupling chamber, a push plate assembly including a top plate, piston rod, and an earth plate, a movement constraining vessel including a stabilizing component for constraining movement of the push plate assembly and a sealing component for substantially sealing the coupling component, and a stop component for preventing the movement constraining vessel from striking the earth plate.

Abstract: An improved system for coupling a generated overpressure wave to a target media includes a coupling chamber and an interface between the coupling chamber and a target media. Pressure produced in the coupling chamber by a generated overpressure wave is applied to the interface thereby converting the pressure in the coupling chamber into a force that produces a conducted acoustic wave in the target media.

Abstract: An improved seismic exploration system and method involves an overpressure wave generator for generating an overpressure wave and a coupling component for converting a pressure of said generated overpressure wave into a force that produces a conducted acoustic wave in a target media. The coupling component includes a coupling chamber, a push plate assembly including a top plate, piston rod, and an earth plate, a movement constraining vessel including a stabilizing component for constraining movement of the push plate assembly and a sealing component for substantially sealing the coupling component, and a stop component for preventing the movement constraining vessel from striking the earth plate.

Abstract: A distributed trunked radio frequency (RF) switching network (multisite switch) distributes audio routing control information and digitized audio signals to communications interface modules (nodes) throughout the multisite switch, thus avoiding a centralized mixing matrix, increasing fault tolerance and providing low routing request latency time. Each audio source, (for example, RF repeater transmitter, dispatch console microphone) is preassigned an audio channel on a time division multiplexed (TDM) digitized "audio network" or bus within the switch. The audio sources continually provide digitized audio signals to all other nodes within the switch over the assigned TDM bus channels. Audio routing is performed at the audio destinations (for example, interface modules/nodes associated with RF repeater receivers, dispatch console speakers) by selectively "listening" to active TDM network channels.

Abstract: A multisite network switch for a series of RF digital trunked radio transceivers and dispatcher consoles. Each transceiver covers a certain site area. The switch establishes audio communications between different sites and various dispatcher consoles. The multisite switch has a distributed architecture in which each node of the switch is supported by a microprocessor controlled card. Each node interfaces with a site, dispatcher console, system manager or other system component.

Abstract: A distributed trunked radio frequency (RF) switching network (switch) distributes audio routing control and processing throughout the switch, thus avoiding a centralized mixing matrix, increasing fault tolerance and providing low routing request latency time. Each audio source (e.g., RF repeater transmitter, dispatch console microphone) is preassigned an audio channel on a time division multiplexed (TDM) digitized audio network or bus. The audio sources continually broadcast digitized audio signals to all other nodes over the TDM network. Audio routing is performed at the audio destinations (e.g., nodes associated with RF repeater receivers, dispatch console speakers) by selectively "listening" to active TDM network channels. In the preferred embodiment, audio is routed unidirectionally on an "as needed" basis (e.g., in response to radio transceiver "keys" and "unkeys"), and audio routing pathways may change dynamically during an on-going call.

Abstract: A dispatching console system (20) for handling communications transmissions includes a main processor (50) and a co-processor (52). The main processor (50) receives external console control commands which specify a desired settable (i.e., connect/disconnect) relationship between audio devices in communication with the console and issues main processor commands to the co-processor (52). The co-processor (52) controls a switching circuit (72) in an audio tower (24). The switching circuit (72) is a matrix of cross-point switches (220) which connects and disconnects selected communication devices. In addition to the main processor commands, desired settable relationships between audio devices can also be mandated by device activation input signals which are applied through the audio tower (24) to the co-processor (52).

Abstract: A multisite network switch for a series of RF digital trunked radio transceivers and dispatcher consoles. Each transceiver covers a certain site area. The switch establishes audio communications between different sites and various dispatcher consoles. The multisite switch has a distributed architecture in which each node of the switch is supported by a microprocessor controlled card. The nodes are connected by audio buses and a dedicated message bus. The messages on the message bus allow the nodes to communicate control information regarding the status of slots on the audio bus, the members in groups, the location of radio units, call types and a host of other information needed to operate the switch.

Abstract: A multisite network switch for a series of RF digital trunked radio transceivers and dispatcher consoles. The switch establishes audio communications between different sites and various dispatcher consoles. The multisite switch has a distributed architecture in which each node of the switch is supported by a microprocessor controlled card. This card has a communications controller that routes messages between the internal switch bus, an outside port and an interface processor that controls the audio slots in the switch. The communications controller receives control messages from the switch bus, but discards redundant slot status messages by checking a slot status bit map stored in a memory unit on the card.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) signal transmission system is interconnected by a multisite switch that routes command and audio transmission signals between the RF systems. The multisite switch has a distributed architecture of nodes wherein each node is coupled to one of the RF systems, such as a site controller or dispatcher console. Each of the switch nodes has a common architecture in which a single controller board operates a plurality of audio boards. In addition, the controller board has two principal processors that communicate with each other via a dual-port RAM.

Abstract: A communication link for a dispatcher console to a multisite network of RF digitally trunked radio site transceivers and other dispatcher consoles. The communication link provides the dispatcher console direct access to a wide area RF network. A multisite central switch establishes audio and control communications between the different sites and various dispatcher consoles. The dispatcher consoles have audio and control links to the multisite switch. The multisite switch has a distributed architecture in which a switch node interfaces with the dispatcher console. A control communication protocol provides a standard format for message packets between the multisite switch and dispatcher console.