Seismic Sensor Node Clock Selection via Software Noise Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seismic data acquisition systems face challenges in minimizing noise and optimizing power consumption due to reliance on costly and inflexible electronic phase-locked clocks and expensive low-noise slave clocks, which increases complexity and risk of system failure.
Innovation Solution
The system employs software within each sensor node to test clock quality using a sigma-delta modulator with two different clock sources, selecting the clock with the best noise floor and optionally using phase-locking only when necessary to improve clock quality and reduce noise, thereby optimizing power consumption and clock quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electronic phase-locked clocks are used to synchronize seismic sensor nodes, then clock synchronization accuracy is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the clock synchronization function into segments: each sensor node has its own independent slave clock that operates autonomously, eliminating the need for a centralized master clock and complex phase-locked loop infrastructure. This segmentation reduces system complexity while maintaining synchronization through distributed time stamping.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single master clock that all nodes must synchronize to, each node copies the time synchronization function by maintaining its own slave clock. The clocks are synchronized not through complex phase-locking but through software-based time stamping and comparison mechanisms that replicate the synchronization function across all nodes.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If expensive low-noise slave clocks are employed to reduce noise, then noise reduction is achieved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces expensive low-noise slave clocks with standard, less expensive oscillator circuits in each sensor node. The noise performance is maintained not through expensive hardware but through software algorithms that process and filter the signals, effectively replacing costly hardware solutions with cheaper computational approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electronic phase-locked loop system with a software-based time synchronization mechanism. Instead of using expensive hardware to physically lock clocks together, the system uses software algorithms to compare time stamps and adjust synchronization, substituting electronic hardware complexity with software processing that achieves the same noise reduction goals.
3Measurement precision
If phase-locked loops are used to synchronize clocks, then clock quality is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous phase-locking that requires constant power, the system uses periodic time synchronization. Each sensor node periodically compares its local clock time with time stamps from seismic data and adjusts accordingly. This periodic action maintains clock quality while allowing nodes to enter low-power states between synchronization events.
Solution Approach 2:
Each sensor node independently manages its own clock synchronization without requiring external phase-locked loop control signals. The nodes self-synchronize by using the seismic data time stamps as reference, eliminating the need for continuous external power-intensive phase-locking infrastructure while maintaining adequate clock quality for the application.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for acquiring seismic data are described, one system comprising one or more seismic sources, a plurality of sensor modules each comprising a seismic sensor configured to sample analog seismic data, each module comprising a comparing unit comprising software; wherein the software in each module tests clock quality by running a sigma-delta modulator from two different clock sources in the node and compares a noise-floor of the modulator when using the different clocks.