Bypass Circuit for Ocean Bottom Cable Station Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Seismic exploration systems face downtime and increased costs due to station failures in ocean bottom cables, where defective modules cannot be easily bypassed, disrupting data and power transmission.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for bypassing geophysical information stations in seismic communication cables, utilizing a bypass circuit and switching circuit to reroute electrical power, commands, and data around failed stations, maintaining system functionality through bi-directional communication and self-bypass capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a geophysical information station is defective or fails in an ocean bottom cable system, then the system experiences downtime and increased costs, but the defective module cannot be easily bypassed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary bypass preparation by pre-configuring bypass circuits and switching mechanisms at each geophysical information station. These bypass paths are prepared in advance but remain inactive during normal operation, allowing immediate activation when a station fails without requiring complex field repairs or system shutdowns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces switching circuits as intermediary components that can redirect signals and power around defective stations. These switching mechanisms act as mediators between the failed station and the rest of the system, enabling continuous operation by routing communications through alternative paths without direct intervention in the defective module.
2Productivity
If seismic exploration systems use ocean bottom cables with multiple stations, then data collection capability is improved, but the complexity of detecting and bypassing failed stations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where each geophysical information station continuously monitors the operational status of adjacent stations and automatically generates bypass commands when failures are detected. This distributed feedback system enables autonomous detection and response to station failures, reducing the complexity of manual detection and bypass procedures in large-scale cable systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service bypass functionality where defective stations automatically trigger bypass circuits through built-in detection mechanisms. Each station is equipped with self-diagnostic capabilities that activate bypass paths without external intervention, allowing the system to maintain productivity while simplifying the detection and response process for multiple stations.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for collecting geophysical information may include a geophysical information station disposed along a seismic communication cable. A bypass circuit responsive to a command signal is in communication with a switching circuit that is operable to route electrical power, commands, data or a combination to bypass the geophysical information station in response to the command signal. An exemplary method for bypassing a geophysical information station in a geophysical information collection system includes sending a command signal to a bypass circuit and activating one or more switching circuits using the bypass circuit to route electrical power, commands, data or a combination to bypass the geophysical information station in response to the command signal.