Abstract: A multi-axis acceleration sensor comprises a frame, a central mass disposed within the frame, and a plurality of transducers mechanically coupled between the frame and the central mass. At least a first set of the transducers are arranged between the frame and the central mass in a manner configured to measure translational and rotational motion with respect to a first predefined axis.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a model for detection of seismic events. In this regard, one or more processors may receive from one or more stations located along an underwater optical route, one or more time series of polarization states of a detected light signal during a time period. The one or more processors may transform the one or more time series of polarization states into one or more spectrums in a frequency domain. Seismic activity data for the time period may be received by the one or more processors, where the seismic activity data include one or more seismic events detected in a region at least partially overlapping the underwater optical route. The one or more processors then generate a model for detecting seismic events based on the one or more spectrums and the seismic activity data.

Abstract: Sensors used in mapping strata beneath a marine body are described, such as used in a flexible towed array. A first sensor is a motion sensor including a conductive liquid in a chamber between a rigid tube and a piezoelectric motion film circumferentially wrapped about the tube. A second sensor is a traditional acoustic sensor or a novel acoustic sensor using a piezoelectric sensor mounted with a thin film separation layer of flexible microspheres on a rigid substrate. Additional non-acoustic sensors are optionally mounted on the rigid substrate for generation of output used to reduce noise observed by the acoustic sensors. Combinations of acoustic, non-acoustic, and motion sensors co-located in rigid streamer housing sections are provided.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a plurality of receiving elements that receive an ultrasonic wave, convert the ultrasonic wave into an electric signal, and output a receiving signal; a first detecting amplifier that detects noise and outputs a noise signal; a second detecting amplifier that amplifies the noise signal and outputs an amplified noise signal; a subtraction amplifier that receives the receiving signal and the amplified noise signal and subtracts the amplified noise signal from the receiving signal; and a plurality of circuit substrates that each include the second detecting amplifier and subtraction amplifier.

Abstract: An ultrasonic wave sensor includes an oscillating plate including a plurality of oscillators, a wall portion provided on the oscillating plate and surrounding the oscillator, and a piezoelectric element provided on each of the plurality of oscillators. In the oscillating plate, a plurality of piezoelectric elements are electrically connected in plan view as viewed from a thickness direction, and a first area where an input and an output of a drive signal to the piezoelectric element are possible and a second area which is provided on an outer side of the first area and where the piezoelectric element is electrically insulated from the piezoelectric element disposed in the first area are included. In the second area, a distance between the adjacent oscillators is reduced as separated from the first area.

Abstract: The method and system disclosed herein allow pressure profile data to be collected remotely from multiple autonomous sensors without entering the blast radius. The system obtains a GPS synchronized time value for detonation and obtains subsequent synchronized pressure data sets overtime from multiple independently functioning remote and correlates that data from each transducer with the initial detonation event.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasound probe that includes an array of CMUT (capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer) cells. Each cell includes a substrate carrying a first electrode of an electrode arrangement. The substrate is spatially separated from a flexible membrane by a gap. The flexible membrane includes a second electrode of the electrode arrangement. The ultrasound probe also includes an acoustic window over the array of CMUT cells. The ultrasound probe further includes a data storage element accessible to an external control module of the ultrasound probe. The data storage element stores configuration information for configuring an operation of the array of CMUT cells in pre-collapse or collapse mode with the external control module to optimize the effective bandwidth of the array. Also disclosed is a calibration method of the ultrasound probe, an ultrasound system and a method of operating the ultrasound system.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system (102) includes a transducer array (108) with a two-dimensional array of rows (110) of transducer elements (114). The transducer elements of each row extend along a long axis (116). The rows are parallel to each other. The transducer array includes a non-rectangular set of active transducer elements. The ultrasound imaging system further includes transmit circuitry (118) that actuates the transducer elements to transmit an ultrasound signal. The ultrasound imaging system further includes receive circuitry (120) that receives echoes produced in response to an interaction between the ultrasound signal and a structure and received by the transducer elements. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a beamformer that processes the echoes and generates one or more scan lines indicative of the structure.

Abstract: A method, system and a marine node for recording seismic waves underwater. The node includes a first module configured to house a seismic sensor; bottom and top plates attached to the first module; a second module removably attached to the first module and configured to slide between the bottom and top plates the second module including a first battery and a data storage device; and a third module removably attached to the first module and configured to slide between the bottom and top plates, the third module including a second battery.

Abstract: Provided is a measuring method for measuring laser scanning velocity for a laser beam machining apparatus. The laser beam machining apparatus includes a mirror, and is configured to process a work by irradiating laser. The laser is irradiated by operating the mirror. The measuring method includes measuring processing sound of the work by the laser using the laser beam machining apparatus. Further, the measuring method includes calculating scanning velocity of the laser by analyzing a frequency of the measured processing sound using the laser beam machining apparatus.

Abstract: A tracking device for use in obtaining information for controlling an execution of a game program by a processor for enabling an interactive game to be played by a user and related apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic device having a curved bottom capable of a rolling motion is disclosed, and includes a housing which forms an outer appearance; at least one sensor which is accommodated in the housing and configured to acquire movement data corresponding to the rolling motion; and at least one processor which is accommodated in the housing and configured to perform at least one function corresponding to the movement data.

Abstract: Electrical biasing of ultrasonic transducers of an ultrasound device is described. The ultrasonic transducers may be capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs). The ultrasonic transducers may be grouped together, with the different groups receiving different bias voltages. The bias voltages for the various groups of ultrasonic transducers may be selected to account for differences between the groups.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a one- or two-dimensional array of micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) elements positioned below, beside, with, on, or above a backplane of a visual display. The backplane may be a thin-film transistor (TFT) backplane. The array of PMUT elements may be a piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) array or a capacitive micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) array. The PMUT array may be configurable to operate in modes corresponding to multiple frequency ranges. When operating in the low-frequency mode, the apparatus may be capable of gesture detection. A high-frequency mode may include a fingerprint sensor mode or a stylus detection mode.

Abstract: A sound transmitting apparatus, a sound receiving apparatus and a method for transferring data from the sound transmitting apparatus to the sound receiving apparatus using a sound signal are provided. In the method, a plurality of basic tones and control tones are defined by using a plurality of sound frequencies within a sound frequency range, in which each basic tone corresponds a character and each control tone corresponds an order of the basic tones. A plurality of characters in the data to be transferred are transformed into corresponding basic tones and the corresponding control tone is determined according to the order of the characters. The basic tones and the control tone are transmitted to the sound receiving apparatus. The sound receiving apparatus transforms the received basic tones into the characters and determines the order of the characters according to the received control tone, so as to recover the data.

Abstract: Methods, structures, devices and systems are disclosed for implementing optical seismometers that detect seismic information based on optical interferometry. In one aspect, a device includes a first retroreflector attached to a mass of a seismometer, a second retroreflector attached to a member of a frame of the seismometer, the frame structured to suspend the mass, and optical components attached to the member of the frame and configured with the first and second retroreflectors to form an interferometer, in which a change in position of the mass is identified by detecting by a change in an optical path of a light beam generated by a light energy source transmitted to the interferometer.

Abstract: A method of installing a sensor in a borehole drilled through underground formations, wherein the borehole is drilled with a hollow drill string formed from a series of pipe sections connected end-to-end, a drill bit being positioned at one end of the drill string and having a closure member that provides an opening between the borehole and the inside of the drill string, the method comprising: drilling the borehole to a predetermined; partially withdrawing the drill string from the borehole so that the drill bit is positioned above the predetermined depth; lowering a sensor inside the drill string by means of a cable; operating the closure so that the sensor can pass out of the drill string into the borehole; and progressively withdrawing the drill string and drill bit from the borehole over the cable so as to leave the sensor in the borehole.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a housing having a peripheral side wall and a base surface, i.e., it is configured as essentially pot-shaped. The base surface is configured as a diaphragm. A transducer element, which is configured as a piezoelectric element, for example, and is used for generating and detecting ultrasonic oscillations, is situated on the base surface. At least one mass element is situated on the base surface so that the resistance of the mass element against an oscillation of the diaphragm increases with rising oscillation frequency.

Abstract: Optical range finders are configured to transmit optical bursts toward a target and detect a corresponding received burst. DC offset in the received burst due to square law detection can be offset based on a difference between high pass and low pass filtered portions of the received burst. Edge records associated with bursts can be obtained, and correlated with a reference signal or waveform to obtain a range estimate.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes detecting vibration in a drivetrain of the vehicle with a fore/aft accelerometer during a launch event. An operating regime of the vehicle is identified concurrently with the detected vibration when the detected vibration is outside a predefined allowable range. A control strategy of the drivetrain is adjusted to define a revised control strategy to avoid the identified operating regime. The revised control strategy is applied to control the drivetrain to mitigate vibration in the drivetrain.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus related to an ultrasonic receiver for detecting ultrasonic energy received at a first surface of the ultrasonic receiver. The ultrasonic receiver includes an array of pixel circuits disposed on a substrate, each pixel circuit in the array including at least one thin film transistor (TFT) element and having a pixel input electrode electrically coupled to the pixel circuit. The ultrasonic receiver is fabricated by forming a piezoelectric layer so as to be in electrical contact with the pixel input electrodes. Forming the piezoelectric layer includes coating a solution containing a polymer onto the array of pixel circuits, crystallizing the polymer to form a crystallized polymer layer and poling the crystallized polymer layer.

Abstract: Systems, methods, articles of manufacture and apparatus are disclosed to calculate distance from audio sources. An example method disclosed herein includes transmitting a first radio frequency (RF) signal to prompt a reference audio collecting device to begin collecting audio samples at a first time, initiating a dwell period in response to the first RF signal to reduce battery consumption of a portable audio collecting device by preventing the portable audio collecting device from collecting the audio samples at the first time, and when the dwell period expires, prompting the portable audio collecting device to collect the audio samples at a second time.

Abstract: A marine seismic exploration method and system comprised of continuous recording, self-contained ocean bottom pods characterized by low profile casings. An external bumper is provided to promote ocean bottom coupling and prevent fishing net entrapment. Pods are tethered together with flexible, non-rigid, non-conducting cable used to control pod deployment. Pods are deployed and retrieved from a boat deck configured to have a storage system and a handling system to attach pods to cable on-the-fly. The storage system is a juke box configuration of slots wherein individual pods are randomly stored in the slots to permit data extraction, charging, testing and synchronizing without opening the pods. A pod may include an inertial navigation system to determine ocean floor location and a rubidium clock for timing. The system includes mathematical gimballing. The cable may include shear couplings designed to automatically shear apart if a certain level of cable tension is reached.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound transducer device comprising at least one cMUT cell (30) for transmitting and/or receiving ultrasound waves, the cMUT cell (30) comprising a cell membrane (30a) and a cavity (30b) underneath the cell membrane. The device further comprises a substrate (10) having a first side (10a) and a second side (10b), the at least one cMUT cell (30) arranged on the first side (10a) of the substrate (10). The substrate (10) comprises a substrate base layer (12) and a plurality of adjacent trenches (17a) extending into the substrate (10) in a direction orthogonal to the substratesides (10a, 10b), wherein spacers (12a) are each formed between adjacent trenches (17a). The substrate (10) further comprises a connecting cavity (17b) which connects the trenches (17a) and which extends in a direction parallel to the substrate sides (10a, 10b), the trenches (17a) and the connecting cavity (17b) together forming a substrate cavity (17) in the substrate (10).

Abstract: An electromechanical transducer according to an embodiment of the present invention is capable of selectively performing a transmitting and receiving operation by using elements of different shapes. The electromechanical transducer has a plurality of cells, each of which has a vibrating film including two electrodes provided with a gap therebetween, two driving and detecting units, a potential difference setter, and a switch. Each of the driving and detecting units implements a transmitting and/or a receiving function. A first or second element includes first or second electrodes which are electrically connected and further connected to the common first or second driving and detecting unit, respectively. The potential difference setter sets a predetermined potential difference between the reference potentials of the first and second driving and detecting units, respectively, and the switch switches between the first and second driving and detecting units to perform the transmitting and receiving operation.

Abstract: To implement a single-chip ultrasonic imaging solution, on-chip signal processing may be employed in the receive signal path to reduce data bandwidth and a high-speed serial data module may be used to move data for all received channels off-chip as digital data stream. The digitization of received signals on-chip allows advanced digital signal processing to be performed on-chip, and thus permits the full integration of an entire ultrasonic imaging system on a single semiconductor substrate. Various novel waveform generation techniques, transducer configuration and biasing methodologies, etc., are likewise disclosed. HIFU methods may additionally or alternatively be employed as a component of the “ultrasound-on-a-chip” solution disclosed herein.

Abstract: In one aspect, reduced power consumption and/or circuit area of a discrete time analog signal processing module is achieved in an approach that makes use of entirely, or largely, passive charge sharing circuitry, which may include configurable (e.g., after fabrication, at runtime) multiplicative scaling stages that do not require active devices in the signal path. In some examples, multiplicative coefficients are represented digitally, and are transformed to configure the reconfigurable circuitry to achieve a linear relationship between a desired coefficient and a degree of charge transfer. In some examples, multiple successive charge sharing phases are used to achieve a desired multiplicative effect that provides a large dynamic range of coefficients without requiring a commensurate range of sizes of capacitive elements. The scaling circuits can be combined to form configurable time domain or frequency domain filters.

Abstract: An explosion-proof system for generating acoustic energy. An exemplary embodiment of the system includes a main housing defining an open housing space and an opening. A cover structure is configured for removable attachment to the main housing structure to cover the opening and provide an explosion-proof housing structure. The cover structure includes an integral head mass. An acoustic energy emitting assembly includes the head mass, and an excitation assembly disposed within the explosion-proof housing structure. An electronic circuit is disposed within the explosion-proof housing structure to generate a drive signal for driving the excitation assembly to cause the acoustic energy emitting assembly to resonate and generate acoustic energy. In one embodiment the acoustic energy is a beam of ultrasonic energy useful for testing ultrasonic gas detectors. A method is also described for testing ultrasonic gas leak detectors using an ultrasonic source.

Abstract: A condenser microphone includes a substrate having a cavity, first and second spacers defining an opening, a diaphragm having a rectangular shape positioned inside of the opening, and a plate having a rectangular shape positioned just above the diaphragm. Plate joint portions integrally interconnected with two sides of the plate are directly attached onto the second spacer. Supports, which are attached onto the second spacer across the opening and project inwardly of the opening, are connected to the prescribed portions of the diaphragm via third spacers relatively to the other two sides of the plate. The center portion of the diaphragm can be designed in a multilayered structure, and the peripheral portion can be bent outwardly. In addition, both ends of the diaphragm are fixed in position, while free ends of the diaphragm vibrate due to sound waves.

Abstract: An underwater seismic system for reducing noise due to ghost reflections or motion through the water from seismic signals. The system includes two motion sensors. One sensor has a first response and is sensitive to platform-motion-induced noise as well as to acoustic waves. The other sensor has a different construction that isolates it from the acoustic waves so that its response is mainly to motion noise. The outputs of the two sensor responses are combined to remove the effects of motion noise. When further combined with a hydrophone signal, noise due to ghost reflections is reduced.

Abstract: As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus and/or method involves a plurality of transducer elements that convert energy waves conveyed via a multi-directional radiation pattern into electrical charge. A power-accumulation circuit accumulates electrical charges from each of the plurality of transducer elements, with each of the transducer elements being arranged at different respective off-axis angles relative to an axis at which the energy is being conveyed. The power-accumulation circuit accumulates energy from each of the individual energy-transduction areas, such that energy received at different respective off-axis angles contributes to the accumulation of electrical charge.

Abstract: Disclosed is detecting changes in pressure in a medium, with an optical fiber having a core diameter at an immersion surface contact of the fiber of less than 10 ?m; a layer of material deposited on said end of the fiber, the material being of a thickness of from about 2 nm to about 10 nm. Also disclosed is detecting pressure waves in a medium comprising: contacting the medium with a fiber optic, the fiber integrated with a light source and a detector, the fiber optic having a diameter of less than 10 ?m at an immersion surface contact of the fiber; providing a thin layer of material on the immersion surface contact, wherein said thin layer of material is of a thickness in a range of from about 2 nm to about 10 nm; and detecting Fresnel back reflections from the immersion end of the fiber.

Abstract: An ultrasonic communication system comprising an enclosure, a first module and a second module is described. The enclosure has an internal surface, an external surface, and defines at least one metal channel. The first module comprises an ultrasonic transceiver disposed within the enclosure. The first module is positioned on the internal surface of the enclosure and is capable of transmitting and/or receiving modulated ultrasonic waves via the metal channel. The second module is positioned on the external surface of the enclosure and is adapted to transmit and/or receive modulated ultrasonic waves from the first module via the metal channel.

Abstract: In a conventional device, light is irradiated from positions on a rotation axis of a detector, so that there may be unevenness of light irradiation intensity in a subject. The acoustic wave acquisition apparatus of the present invention includes a light source that generates light and a detector including a plurality of elements that receive an acoustic wave generated from inside a subject when the subject is irradiated with the light. The acoustic wave acquisition apparatus further includes a rotation driving unit that rotates the detector and a plurality of light irradiation portions that irradiate the subject with the light from the light source. The plurality of light irradiation portions are provided at least at positions other than a rotation axis of the detector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for monitoring seismic events, the device including a self-contained structure adapted for being disposed within a wellbore and independently monitoring and recording seismic events, a seismic sensor, a memory device in communication with the seismic sensor for receiving seismic data from the seismic sensor in response to the seismic events, a power source to allow for independent operation of the device, and a processor for processing the data. Also disclosed is a method for using the device.

Abstract: A sensor device (100) is adapted to be installed at a land-air interface. The sensor device (100) comprises a fluid-filled housing (101) and a sensor arrangement (102, 103) supported within the housing (101) and coupled directly to the fluid so as to detect movement thereof. A seismic sensor installation comprises a sensor device (100) installed at a land-air boundary, wherein the sensor device comprises a fluid-filled housing (101) and a sensor arrangement (102, 103) supported within the housing (101) and coupled directly to the fluid as to detect movement thereof.

Abstract: Employed is an object information acquiring apparatus including an irradiation unit irradiating an object with light; a detection unit including a plurality of elements each obtaining an acoustic wave generated from the object and converting the acoustic wave into a detection signal; a detection unit moving mechanism moving the detection unit to the object relatively; an adding unit selecting, from detection signals converted from acoustic waves obtained by the plurality of elements at respective positions as the detection unit is moved, detection signals converted from acoustic waves obtained from an identical position on the object, and adding together these detection signals to output a resultant summed signal; an initial sound pressure computing unit computing an initial sound pressure of a region of interest from the summed signal; a light quantity computing unit computing a quantity of light of the region of interest.

Abstract: Embodiments of a directional acoustic sensor or acoustic velocity microphone are disclosed that include a sensor frame structure, a support means, and a buoyant object. The buoyant object is suspended in the sensor frame structure using the support means. The buoyant object has a feature size smaller than a wavelength of the highest frequency of an acoustic wave in air. The buoyant object receives three-dimensional movement of the air excited by the acoustic wave. The three-dimensional movement that the buoyant object receives is detected using a detection means. A particle velocity of the acoustic wave is derived from the three-dimensional movement of the buoyant object using the detection means. The detection means can be an optical detection means, an electromagnetic detection means, or an electrostatic detection means. An acoustic image of the acoustic wave can be determined by distributing two or more directional acoustic sensors a multi-dimensional array.

Abstract: A self-contained, wireless seismic data acquisition unit having a cylindrically shaped case with smooth side walls along the length of the case. A retaining ring around the circumference is used to secure the cylindrical upper portion of the case to the cylindrical lower portion of the case. Interleaved fingers on the upper portion of the case and the lower portion of the case prevent the upper portion and the lower portion from rotating relative to one another. Ruggedized external electrical contacts are physically decoupled from rigid attachment to the internal electrical components of the unit utilizing electrical pins that “float” relative to the external case and the internal circuit board on which the pins are carried. The seismic sensors in the unit, such as geophones, and the antennae for the unit are located along the major axis of the cylindrically shaped case to improve fidelity and timing functions.

Abstract: A vibration sensor system for contacting the surface of a solid medium for detecting horizontally polarized shear waves and compressional waves. At least two contact points interface between a vibration sensor array and the solid medium to provide uninterrupted contact with the medium during detection of dynamic motions in the medium. A single vibration sensor is mounted on at least two adjacent contact points to convert detected dynamic motions to corresponding electrical signals. The single vibration sensor mounted on the two adjacent contact points forms a sub-array. The vibration sensor system has at least two sub-arrays. A conditioning and combining member treats sensor electrical signals from at least two sub-arrays to form a composite output signal for the system.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an earthquake detection and alarming apparatus, comprising: a transparent object (46) having a concave surface on the top thereof; a rollable object (34) placed on the concave surface; an apiary of light projectors (30) placed above the concave surface; an apiary of light receivers (38) correspondingly to the apiary of light projectors, the apiary of light receivers being placed below the concave surface; and circuitry for determining: (a) vibrating frequency and amplitude of the rollable object with reference to the concave surface from sensing of the receivers (38); and (b) deducing therefrom the arrival of primary waves.

Abstract: A seismic transducing device is provided herein. The device includes a container defining a chamber filled with a medium having a controllable seismic impedance; and a seismic transducer disposed in the medium and affixed to the container; wherein at least a portion of the container, being a membrane, is controllable in terms of tension level over the membrane; wherein the seismic transducer is configured, in a transmitter configuration, to convert electrical signals exhibiting a specified pattern, into seismic waves associated with the specified pattern, and wherein the seismic transducer is configured, in a receiver configuration, to convert reflected seismic waves into electrical associated with the reflected seismic waves.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a condenser microphone includes forming a diaphragm module using microelectromechanical system (MEMS) techniques. The diaphragm module includes a diaphragm that is deformable by energy of sound waves, and a diaphragm spacer that extends from one side of the diaphragm and controls a tension of the diaphragm. The method further includes providing a backplate with vent holes, aligning the vent holes of the backplate with a central region of the diaphragm, and connecting the backplate to the diaphragm spacer to construct a transducer unit. The diaphragm spacer, the diaphragm and the backplate cooperate to form an air chamber in fluid communication with an environment external to the condenser microphone. The backplate and the diaphragm cooperate to form a condenser. The method further includes enclosing the transducer unit in a housing that includes a shell and a circuit board to form the condenser microphone.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for acquiring seismic data using a seabed seismic data cable positioned on a seabed are described, including correcting for the effect of one or more sensor non-linear motions, which improves accuracy of seismic data. One or multiple non-linear movements of the sensor may be corrected for. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A signal generator generates an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier, which increases the power of the signal using power from a power source. The amplified signal is fed to a sender transducer to generate ultrasonic waves that can be focused and sent to a receiver. The receiver transducer converts the ultrasonic waves back into electrical energy and stores it in an energy storage device, such as a battery, or uses the electrical energy to power a device. In this way, a device can be remotely charged or powered without having to be tethered to an electrical outlet.

Abstract: Methods and instrumentation for detecting and representing at least one geologic formation in front of an operating drill-bit using the vibration noise generated by the operating drill-bit as a source, comprising at least one receive array comprising more than one receive vibration sensor elements, said at least one receive array are located in one or both of i) at least one receive well, and ii) submerged in water for sub-sea operation, and beam forming at least one receive signal from the signals from said more than one receive elements of said at least one receive array, and forming at least one reference signal representing the vibrations of the operating drill-bit, and correlating said at least one receive signal with said at least one reference signal with different correlation lags, and forming a seismic representation of the at least one geologic formation in front of the drill-bit through said correlating.

Abstract: A marine seismic exploration method and system comprised of continuous recording, self-contained ocean bottom pods characterized by low profile casings, An external bumper is provided to promote ocean bottom coupling and prevent fishing net entrapment. Pods are tethered together with flexible, non-rigid, non-conducting cable used to control pod deployment. Pods are deployed and retrieved from a boat deck configured to have a storage system and a handling system to attach pods to cable on-the-fly. The storage system is a juke box configuration of slots wherein individual pods are randomly stored in the slots to permit data extraction, charging, testing and synchronizing without opening the pods. A pod may include an inertial navigation system to determine ocean floor location and a rubidium clock for timing. The system includes mathematical gimballing. The cable may include shear couplings designed to automatically shear apart if a certain level of cable tension is reached.

Abstract: A seismic sensor module includes sensing elements arranged in a plurality of axes to detect seismic signals in a plurality of respective directions, and a processor to receive data from the sensing elements and to determine inclinations of the axes with respect to a particular orientation. The determined inclinations are used to combine the data received from the sensing elements to derive tilt-corrected seismic data for the particular orientation.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus and method for deploying a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensors (5) joined together by connection cables (6) in one or more “chains”, and connected to an input/output device (8). An input/output connection unit (7, 15) is provided on a carrier (10), and the sensors are held on or in deployment devices (14a-14e) mounted to the carrier with their connection cables (6) connected to the input/output connection unit (7, 15). The input/output device (8) may also be mounted to the carrier, and connected to the connection unit (7, 15). The carrier (10), sensors, and input/output device (8) may be delivered as a single package to the area where the sensor array is to be deployed. The sensors are then moved from the carrier to their final positions. The deployment devices (14a-14e) may be detached from the carrier and moved sequentially to the sensor positions, and a sensor may be removed from the deployment device at each sensor position.

Abstract: A seismic exploration method and unit comprised of continuous recording, self-contained wireless seismometer units or pods. The self-contained unit may include a tilt meter, a compass and a mechanically gimbaled clock platform. Upon retrieval, seismic data recorded by the unit can be extracted and the unit can be charged, tested, re-synchronized, and operation can be re-initiated without the need to open the unit's case. The unit may include an additional geophone to mechanically vibrate the unit to gauge the degree of coupling between the unit and the earth. The unit may correct seismic data for the effects of crystal aging arising from the clock. Deployment location of the unit may be determined tracking linear and angular acceleration from an initial position. The unit may utilize multiple geophones angularly oriented to one another in order to redundantly measure seismic activity in a particular plane.