System for converting well logs from analogue-to-digital information

Claim 1

An analogue to digital converter for use with analogue data represented on a strip of paper by a curve having different optical characteristics from the paper upon which it is placed, said curve being placed on said paper in relation to a base parallel to the depth axis, the combination which comprises: a drum having elongated windows, each intersecting a plane perpendicular to the axis of said drum, there being a window for each curve being processed; drive means for simultaneously moving each said curve past said window and in a direction parallel to the axis of said drum; a scanning means for sequentially scanning corresponding levels of each of said analogue data and including a light beam generating means for generating a revolving light beam which sequentially passes each said window; means to detect when said light beam strikes a point indicative of the base of said log curve to emit an ''''on'''' pulse and means to detect when said light beam strikes said log curve to emit an ''''off'''' pulse; measuring means for determining a measure of the interval between said ''''on'''' signal and said ''''off'''' signal; and recording means to record the output of said measuring means.

Claim 8

An apparatus for transcribing analogue data to digital data which comprises in combination: a drum having a plurality of elongated windows perpendicular to the axis of the drum, all said windows being at the same level; a scanner shaft axially mounted within said drum, the upper end of said scanner shaft being hollow and extending exterior of said drum, the lower end portion of said scanner shaft being hollow and having a side opening; a light source positioned at the lower open end of said shaft; a mirror in said lower hollow portion of said shaft and adjacent said side opening to reflect light from said light source outwardly toward said window; a hollow scanning arm perpendicularly attached to said shaft so that the outer end thereof is at the same level as said windows, the hollow interior of said scanner arm opening into the upper hollow section of said shaft; a light pipe extending from the outer end of said scanner arm through the hollow portion thereof and through the upper hollow portion of said scanner shaft to the open end thereof; a shaft photocell supported by said drum just above, but not attached to, said scanner shaft so that said photocell receives light from said light pipe; a window photocell placed adjacent one end of each of said windows; a light shield carried at the outer end of said scanner arm, said light shield having a light passing slit for passing a light beam of the desired shape therethrough; drive means for driving said scanner shaft; means for driving a strip of paper on which the analogue data is recorded past the exterior of each said window; means mechanically coupling said drive means to said scanner shaft; a shaft encoder mechanically connected to said shaft and having an output which is a plurality of sharp pulses, the number generated being constant for a given increment of rotation of said scanner shaft; an electronic gate means connected to the output of said encoder; a counter means connected to the output of said gate means; a recorder connected to the output of said counter means; and circuit means connecting each said window photocell to said gate means, a pulse from each said window photocell to cause said gate means to pass said sharp pulses and said circuit means including means connected to said shaft photocell to cause said electronic gate to not pass said sharp pulses.

Claim 9

An apparatus for transcribing analogue data to digital data which comprises in combination: a drum having a plurality of elongated windows perpendicular to the axis of the drum, all said windows being at the same level; a scanner shaft axially mounted within said drum, the upper end of said scanner shaft being hollow and extending exterior of said drum, the lower end portion of said scanner shaft being hollow and having a side opening; a light source positioned at the lower open end of said shaft; a mirror in said lower hollow portion of said shaft and adjacent said side opening to reflect light from said light source outwardly toward said window; a hollow scanning arm perpendicularly attached to said shaft so that the outer end thereof is at the same level as said windows, the hollow interior of said scanner arm opening into the upper hollow section of said shaft; a light pipe extending from the outer end of said scanner arm through the hollow portion thereof and through the upper hollow portion of said scanner shaft to the open end thereof; a shaft photocell supported by said drum just above, but not attached to, said scanner shaft so that said photocell receives light from said light pipe; a window photocell placed adjacent one end of each of said windows; a light shield carried at the outer end of said scanner arm, said light shield having a light passing slit for passing a light beam of the desired shape therethrough; drive means for driving said scanner shaft; means for driving a strip of paper on which the analogue data is recorded past the exterior of each said window; means mechanically coupling said drive means to said scanner shaft; a shaft encoder mechanically connected to said shaft and having an output which is a plurality of sharp pulses, the number generated being constant for a given increment of rotation of said scanner shaft; an electronic gate means connected to the output of said encoder; a counter means connected to the output of said gate means; a recorder connected to the output of said counter means; and circuit means connecting each said window photocell to said gate means, a pulse from each said window photocell to cause said gate means to pass said sharp pulses and said circuit means including means connected to said shaft photocell to cause said electronic gate to not pass said sharp pulses.