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US3714576A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Seismic radio telemetry system

Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
•
Filing: 1971-04-01
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Granted: 1973-01-30
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Expires: 1991-04-01
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Abstract

Abstract The output signal of a stepped gain amplifier is transmitted through a communications link (e.g., a radio link) by modulating a clock signal and varying a characteristic of the signal upon each gain change of the amplifier. The modulated clock signal is detected to produce an output signal indicative of the amplified output signal, and the variation in the characteristic is also detected to produce a signal indicative of gain changes. Preferably, a half cycle of the clock is eliminated upon each gain change to produce the gain change indication. A positive half cycle is eliminated for a gain variation in one sense and a negative half cycle is eliminated upon a gain change in the other sense.

Inventors

  • 👤 R Kirby
  • 👤 B Propst

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 01:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/24; G01V1/245; G01V1/22; G01V1/223

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 174 words
A method of transmitting over a communications link the output data signal of a variable gain amplifier having a plurality of discrete gain steps and adapted to automatically change gain when the output of the output data signal thereof varies outside of predetermined limits, and to produce an output indication indicative of each gain change, comprising: producing an electrical clock signal; eliminating one half cycle of said clock signal upon each change in gain of said amplifier; modulating the amplitude of said clock signal in accordance with variations in amplitude of said data signal; transmitting the modulated clock signal from one terminal to the other of a radio frequency communications link; at said other terminal of said communications link, detecting missing half cycles of said modulated clock signal and producing first electrical signals indicative of the time relationship thereof; at said other terminal of said communications link, demodulating said modulated clock signal to produce a second electrical signal indicative of the amplitude thereof; and concomitantly producing records of the first and second electrical signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 174 words
A method of transmitting over a communications link the output data signal of a variable gain amplifier having a plurality of discrete gain steps and adapted to automatically change gain when the output of the output data signal thereof varies outside of predetermined limits, and to produce an output indication indicative of each gain change, comprising: producing an electrical clock signal; eliminating one half cycle of said clock signal upon each change in gain of said amplifier; modulating the amplitude of said clock signal in accordance with variations in amplitude of said data signal; transmitting the modulated clock signal from one terminal to the other of a radio frequency communications link; at said other terminal of said communications link, detecting missing half cycles of said modulated clock signal and producing first electrical signals indicative of the time relationship thereof; at said other terminal of said communications link, demodulating said modulated clock signal to produce a second electrical signal indicative of the amplitude thereof; and concomitantly producing records of the first and second electrical signals.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 174 words
A method of transmitting over a communications link the output data signal of a variable gain amplifier having a plurality of discrete gain steps and adapted to automatically change gain when the output of the output data signal thereof varies outside of predetermined limits, and to produce an output indication indicative of each gain change, comprising: producing an electrical clock signal; eliminating one half cycle of said clock signal upon each change in gain of said amplifier; modulating the amplitude of said clock signal in accordance with variations in amplitude of said data signal; transmitting the modulated clock signal from one terminal to the other of a radio frequency communications link; at said other terminal of said communications link, detecting missing half cycles of said modulated clock signal and producing first electrical signals indicative of the time relationship thereof; at said other terminal of said communications link, demodulating said modulated clock signal to produce a second electrical signal indicative of the amplitude thereof; and concomitantly producing records of the first and second electrical signals.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 174 words
A method of transmitting over a communications link the output data signal of a variable gain amplifier having a plurality of discrete gain steps and adapted to automatically change gain when the output of the output data signal thereof varies outside of predetermined limits, and to produce an output indication indicative of each gain change, comprising: producing an electrical clock signal; eliminating one half cycle of said clock signal upon each change in gain of said amplifier; modulating the amplitude of said clock signal in accordance with variations in amplitude of said data signal; transmitting the modulated clock signal from one terminal to the other of a radio frequency communications link; at said other terminal of said communications link, detecting missing half cycles of said modulated clock signal and producing first electrical signals indicative of the time relationship thereof; at said other terminal of said communications link, demodulating said modulated clock signal to produce a second electrical signal indicative of the amplitude thereof; and concomitantly producing records of the first and second electrical signals.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1778077A Cited
US2776365A Cited
US3320364A Cited
US3325778A Cited
US3377559A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-01-30 1976-07-31 1977-01-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-01-30 1980-07-31 1981-01-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-01-30 1984-07-31 1985-01-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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