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US4553133A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Serial floating point formatter

Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
•
Filing: 1982-09-14
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Granted: 1985-11-12
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Expires: 2002-09-14
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Abstract

Abstract A floating point formatter for changing fixed point serial digital data, such as that received by a seismic data acquisiton system, is disclosed wherein fixed point serial digital data is received and scaled to remove any bias added by preamplification. The scaled data is shifted a predetermined number of bits and a resulting exponent is calculated. The shifted data signal and corresponding exponent are combined and further scaled to permit stacking the data without exceeding the system capacity.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert D. Peterson
  • 👤 Wayne A. Penner

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 14:44
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03M; H03M7/00; H03M7/14; H03M7/24

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 113 words
In a system where seismic data is detected, then preamplified, a floating point formatter comprising: first means for receiving fixed point serial data from the preamplifier; scaling means connected to said first means for removing bias added by said preamplifier; second means for shifting said serial digital data a predetermined number of bits; third means for determining an exponent representing the number of bits said serial digital data has been shifted by said second means; combining means for combining said shifted serial digital data and said exponent to produce a floating point number; and prestacking means connected to said combining means for dividing said floating point number by powers of the number two.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 113 words
In a system where seismic data is detected, then preamplified, a floating point formatter comprising: first means for receiving fixed point serial data from the preamplifier; scaling means connected to said first means for removing bias added by said preamplifier; second means for shifting said serial digital data a predetermined number of bits; third means for determining an exponent representing the number of bits said serial digital data has been shifted by said second means; combining means for combining said shifted serial digital data and said exponent to produce a floating point number; and prestacking means connected to said combining means for dividing said floating point number by powers of the number two.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 41 words
The floating point formatter according to claim 1 including control means connected to said first means, said second means, said third means, and said combining means for controlling said shifting of said serial digital data and said determining of an exponent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
The floating point formatter according to claim 2 wherein said control means includes means for modifying said second means and said third means for changing said predetermined number and said exponent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
The floating point formatter according to claim 2 wherein said control means includes: means for receiving a status request; means for determining said status; and means for transmitting said status information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
The floating point formatter according to claim 2 wherein said control means controls said second means and said third means in a predetermined sequence.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 122 words
In a seismic data acquisition system wherein seismic data signals are received, converted to digital format, processed and fed to a central processing unit, a floating point formatter comprising: receiving means connected to the digital converter for receiving serial digital seismic data; shifting means connected to said receiving means for shifting said serial digital data a predetermined number of bits; exponent means connected to said shift means for determining an exponent representing the number of bits said serial digital data has been shifted by said shifting means; means for combining said shifted serial data and said exponent to produce a floating point number; and scale means connected to said means for combining for dividing said floating point number by a predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 122 words
In a seismic data acquisition system wherein seismic data signals are received, converted to digital format, processed and fed to a central processing unit, a floating point formatter comprising: receiving means connected to the digital converter for receiving serial digital seismic data; shifting means connected to said receiving means for shifting said serial digital data a predetermined number of bits; exponent means connected to said shift means for determining an exponent representing the number of bits said serial digital data has been shifted by said shifting means; means for combining said shifted serial data and said exponent to produce a floating point number; and scale means connected to said means for combining for dividing said floating point number by a predetermined value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
The formatter according to claim 6 also including control means for controlling said shifting means and said exponent means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 16 words
The formatter according to claim 7 wherein said control means includes means for changing said exponent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 15 words
The floating point formatter according to claim 7 also including: means for determining status information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 23 words
The formatter according to claim 7 wherein said control means is preprogrammed to select any one of a plurality of floating point formats.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
The formatter according to claim 7 wherein said receiving means includes means for selecting data from one of a plurality of sources.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 86 words
A method for converting serial fixed point digital data into floating point format comprising the steps of: receiving fixed point serial digital data; scaling said fixed point serial digital data to remove bias; shifting said serial digital data a predetermined number of bits; determining an exponent representing the number of bits said serial digital data has been shifted; combining said shifted serial digital data and said exponent to obtain a floating point number; and dividing said floating point number by a predetermined value to permit stacking.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 86 words
A method for converting serial fixed point digital data into floating point format comprising the steps of: receiving fixed point serial digital data; scaling said fixed point serial digital data to remove bias; shifting said serial digital data a predetermined number of bits; determining an exponent representing the number of bits said serial digital data has been shifted; combining said shifted serial digital data and said exponent to obtain a floating point number; and dividing said floating point number by a predetermined value to permit stacking.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method according to claim 12 also including the step of: controlling said shifting step and said determining step to modify said predetermined number and said exponent.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3626167A Cited
US3701976A Cited
US3961170A Cited
US3875344A Cited
US3930232A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-11-11 1989-05-13 1989-11-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-11-11 1993-05-13 1993-11-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-11-11 1997-05-13 1997-11-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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