Alternating Piezoelectric Streamer Array for Cross-Feed Noise Rejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Marine towed streamers experience significant cross-feed noise due to asymmetrical parasitic capacitances between piezoelectric sensor electrodes and nearby conductors, disrupting the ability of differential preamplifiers to reject common mode signals.
Innovation Solution
Constructing linear arrays of piezoelectric sensors with alternating sensor units of different polar orientations to achieve symmetrical mutual parasitic capacitances, reducing cross-feed noise by ensuring equal surface areas for positive and negative electrodes, thereby maintaining effective common mode rejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If piezoelectric sensors are used in marine towed streamers, then seismic data acquisition capability is improved, but asymmetrical parasitic capacitances cause cross-feed noise that disrupts common mode signal rejection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry principle by intentionally creating symmetrical parasitic capacitance configurations through alternating sensor polarity arrangements. This counterintuitive application of the asymmetry principle (creating symmetry to eliminate harmful asymmetry) resolves the cross-feed noise problem caused by asymmetrical parasitic capacitances between piezoelectric sensor electrodes and nearby conductors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of parasitic capacitances into a beneficial configuration. By arranging sensors with alternating polarities, the previously harmful asymmetrical parasitic capacitances are transformed into symmetrical configurations that cancel each other out, thereby eliminating cross-feed noise and improving common mode rejection.
2Measurement precision
If differential preamplifiers are used to reject common mode signals, then signal quality is improved, but asymmetrical parasitic capacitances prevent effective common mode rejection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the contradiction by creating symmetrical parasitic capacitance configurations through alternating sensor polarity arrangements. This symmetry ensures that both inputs to the differential preamplifier experience identical parasitic effects, enabling effective common mode rejection while maintaining signal quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The alternating polarity sensor arrangement creates a feedback mechanism where the parasitic capacitance effects on one sensor are compensated by the opposing polarity sensor, ensuring that common mode signals are equally affected and can be rejected by the differential preamplifier.
3Productivity
If linear arrays of piezoelectric sensors are constructed, then seismic surveying capability is improved, but cross-feed noise from asymmetrical parasitic capacitances increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the linear sensor array into alternating polarity segments. This segmentation strategy creates localized symmetrical configurations that cancel parasitic capacitance effects, allowing the extended array to maintain high seismic surveying capability while minimizing cross-feed noise generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by ensuring that each local segment of the sensor array has alternating polarities arranged to create symmetrical parasitic capacitance configurations. This local optimization ensures that cross-feed noise is minimized at each segment while maintaining overall array productivity for seismic surveying.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modified sensor array design significantly reduces cross-feed noise, enhancing the performance of differential preamplifiers and improving the quality of seismic data acquisition by minimizing common mode signal interference.
Implementation Method 1
a first signal is generated by a first form of a sensor unit within a sensor array of the marine streamer, and a second signal is generated by a second form of the sensor unit within the sensor array
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment disclosed relates to an array of sensors for towed marine streamers. The array may include a first plurality of transducers of a first form configured to have a first polarity in electrical response to a change in an environmental condition and a second plurality of transducers of a second form coupled to the first plurality of transducers and configured to have a second polarity, opposite of the first polarity, in electrical response to the change in the environmental condition. The first plurality may be equal to the second plurality. The first plurality of transducers may be coupled to the second plurality of transducers in a linearly alternating fashion. The array may be coupled to a amplifier. The array may be included along a length of at least a portion of a marine streamer. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a method of acquiring sensor signals in a marine streamer being towed by a vessel during a seismic marine survey. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.