Gradient Sensor Device Spatial Gradient Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Seismic surveying faces challenges in accurately measuring spatial gradients of translational data, which are crucial for noise attenuation and understanding subsurface structures, as existing sensors often require large arrays and are prone to noise and perturbations.
Innovation Solution
A compact gradient sensor device with a support structure and at least three particle motion sensors arranged to calculate spatial gradients, allowing for precise measurement of translational data in one direction and its gradient in a perpendicular direction, reducing noise and size through close sensor spacing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If large arrays of sensors are used to measure spatial gradients, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple particle motion sensors (at least three sensors) into a single integrated sensor device that functions as one measurement unit. This merging approach allows the device to measure spatial gradients in one direction while maintaining compact size, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity by integrating multiple sensing functions into a unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent measures translational data in a first direction (e.g., vertical) and calculates spatial gradients in a second direction (e.g., horizontal) perpendicular to the first. This dimensional approach allows gradient measurement without requiring sensor arrays extended in the gradient direction, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through mathematical gradient calculation from measurements taken in the orthogonal direction.
2Measurement precision
If sensor arrays are spaced far apart to capture spatial variations, then gradient calculation accuracy is improved, but the device size and area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent measures translational data along a first direction (e.g., vertical axis) and calculates spatial gradients along a second direction (e.g., horizontal axis) that is different from the measurement direction. This allows the sensors to be positioned close together in area while still capturing sufficient spatial variation for accurate gradient calculation, as the measurement direction provides the necessary spatial resolution without requiring large horizontal spacing.
3Volume of moving object
If multiple sensors are integrated into a compact unit, then device size is reduced, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates at least three particle motion sensors into a single compact sensor device, maintaining precise relative positioning among the sensors. This merging enables compact volume while preserving measurement precision through the coordinated operation of multiple sensors and mathematical gradient calculation, which extracts spatial gradient information from the combined sensor outputs without requiring large physical separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for mechanically spaced-apart sensor arrays with a computational approach, using mathematical gradient calculation to derive spatial gradient information from measurements taken by closely-spaced sensors. This substitution of mechanical spacing requirements with computational processing maintains measurement precision while enabling compact device integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A gradient sensor device includes a support structure providing a surface, and at least three particle motion sensors coupled with and/or arranged on the support structure to measure translational data in a first direction. The particle motion sensors have an arrangement that enables calculation of a spatial gradient of the translational data in a second direction different from the first direction.