2) United States Patent (10) Patent No: US 8,509,033 B2 Nance et al. (45) Date of Patent: Aug. 13, 2013 ($8) DIGITAL AIRGUN 4034630 71977 Chemin detest A isn ated aieses A SIote Hse (95) senor: Wat Alen Nace, redriist, Gaia A Hoa Esa (US); Daniel Eugene Hobson, 4219097 A 81980 Harrison etal Kerville, 1X US) ’3ipb0e A Stony Thome » hertne tenet {Bio A STR amon al (73). Assignee: Real Tine Systems, In. a Fredericksburg. TX (US) (Continued) FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS (*) Note: Subjecto ay disclaimer, thetermf this cy enon Patent is extended or ajosted under 33. FR Hoes oie USC. 154) by Oasys (Continua) (21) Appl. Nos 1611498 OTHIER PUBLICATIONS Soiftion f asa elnratn Seach Rotate (22), Filed: ‘Sep. 12, 2012 ‘Written Opinion of the International Search Authority for Interma- a eae ee tn Appleton PCTUSIDIOU36423 ale Feb 23,201 8 pies) {US20130001007 St Jan. 3, 2013, Related US. Application Data (62) Division of application No, 12/789,276, filed on May 27, 2010, ow Pat, No. 8,279,711 (60) Provisional application No. 61/217,204, filed on May 28,2008, (5) mech Gowv W137 (2) US.c. cee usec (58) Field of Classification Search usec 367d See application file for complete search history. (2006.01) GOIV 1137 (2013.01) ‘367/144 (66) References Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS. 4388039 A !L9TL_Chelmink eta. 402780 A GI977 Allen (Continved) Primary Examiner —Isam Alsomii “Assistant Examiner —James Hulka (14) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Bish & Richardson PC, on) ABSTRACT A marine ai gun generates an acoustic signal in water, for example, during. a marine seismic survey. The marine air gun includes digital electronic circuitry. The digital electronic circuitry may control an actuator ofthe marine ar gu, digi- tize and stor data from sensors located on oe nea the marine sir gun, send andor receive digital communications, store andor output electrical energy, andor perform other func- tions. marine seismic source system that includes multiple si gun clusters may have a separate digital communication link between acommand center andeachairgunclustr. Fach communication link may provide power and digital commu- nication between the command center and one ofthe se gun clusters. 17 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets(56) US 8,509,033 B2 Page 2 References Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS. 4.280201 A 424082 A Awe A 424699 A A206 A aang A 6490997 BL ‘os70920 BD 6.612396 BL ‘o7eRI8 BD SSTRSTL BD 7.268099 BD 721,527 B2 7389280 BD 7879391 B2 TSI89S3 BD TN BE 200200172004 AL ‘2003012178 AL 01980 111980 121980 Vissi S981 511984 71986 7203 Bays Chatninsk (Cheliinkt “Thomson etal Chtininht (Clink (Chink icant arson htm Chink Ot Chink Chl Haron Harison Harson Mayzes Chatinink ands Ghetmink isrson Je Mecalle Patel a Chin ta. Clayton et a (Clayton ta Teen Toppers eta. “alee Soet eta gna eal Nance eal sonia Mell et Stakncir 2004003270 AL 22004 Clapton a aoa 02282 11008 Tale 06'0021609 AL 22006 Jensen Dons.oos0614 AL 32006 Hoppers et 2007 0000718 AL 12007 Sawano eta MOOLISTST AL $2007 Soe ca. dn07 0183627 AL 72007 ‘Toles al 0070263489 AL 112007 Vaage moos 0175100 AL 72008 Hegnn ea doow 0208191 AL 82008 Coste a FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS ca 23040442008 ® 2000216713, 82000, Wo wWoos07080 92003 WO wormn1aT9 122007 ‘OTHER PUBLICATIONS. “ior, Advanced in-sea source controller and borhold seismic QC, £2006 Schlumberger. 2 pages. Real Tie Spans, “Longshot Seismic Source Conroe” avai- shen the ftenat (Wold Wide Web on about O15, 20082 aes) RealTime Systems “BigSho Seismic Source Cool” salable ‘onthe nema (World Wie Web ono abot Oct-15, 20082 pages) RealTime Systems, “HotShot Seismic Soure Syachronize ava shen the [terme (Wold Wide Web on about Oc. 15,208 (2 rs) Real Time Stems, “BSHYD BipShot Hyuropbone Digits” svailableon the Interne (World Wide We on or about Ot. 15, 2008 page) Real Time Systems, “GCS Link Sesmie Source Remote Ratio Link" availble on the Internet (Word Wide We) ono about May 28,2007 (L pope) Nolitction Concerning Transmit of International Preliminary Report on Patel or Interatoma Application PCT'US20101 (04423 mailed Dec. 82011 (13 pes * cited by examinerUS. Patent Aug. 13, 2013 Sheet 1 of 18 US 8,509,033 B2 102: 100~ 114 120: 18 120 120: 120 120: 120 120: 120:US 8,509,033 B2 Sheet 2 of 18 Aug. 13, 2013 US. Patent ork owe emadtd ozLz. onl ole wen ozLzUS. Patent Aug. 13, 2013 Sheet 3 of 18 US 8,509,033 B2 305 308: 304 310 305a 305b Ou z 313a 315 314b 34a 316 saa | fC 316 oO 322a oS FIG. 3A