Seismic Data Processing Apparatus (Patent No: 841216)

Inventor: Smith, George W.

Location: Calgary

Comments: N/A

Description: THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Apparatus for optically processing seismic data, comprising:
a source of monochromatic light having coherent diverging rays;
a first positive lens positioned to intercept light from said source;
means positioned between said source and said lens for holding a seismogram comprising a plurality of variable light transmissivity traces in the path of diverging light rays passing directly from said source to said lens through said seismogram;
light stop means positioned in the Fourier transform plane of said lens on the opposite side of said lens from said source for blocking selected light rays impinging on said Fourier transform plane of said lens; and
display means positioned on the opposite side of said light stop means from said lens for displaying light waves passed by said light stop means.

2. The combination of claim 1 further including:
image splitter means positioned between said light stop means and said display means for splitting light passed by said light stop means into first and second paths, said first path 5 including said display means;
a second positive lens positioned in said second path to intercept light from said image splitter means and second display means positioned in the Fourier transform plane of said second positive lens for displaying light impinging thereon.

3. The combination of claim 2 further including:
first cylindrical lens means positioned between said first positive lens and said light stop means; and second cylindrical lens means positioned between said image splitter means and said first display means.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein each of said first and second display means comprises a television camera and a television display means connected to said camera to display images detected by said camera.

5. A method of optically filtering a seismogram comprising a plurality of parallel variable light transmissivity traces, said method comprising:
passing monochromatic light through said seismogram to a positive lens;
splitting light from said lens into two paths at a location on the far side of the Fourier transform plane of said lens from said lens;
intercepting light in one of said paths with a second positive lens;
displaying light in the other of said paths;
displaying light impinging on the Fourier transform plane of said second lens; and
selectively blocking light rays in the Fourier transform plane of said first lens.

6. Apparatus for optically analyzing complex data recorded on a light transmissive recording medium comprising: means including a source of monochromatic coherent light, a sup· port for said recording medium, and positive lens means for producing a frequency diffraction pattern of said complex data in the Fourier transform plane of said lens;
light stop means positioned in the Fourier transform plane of said lens on the opposite side of said lens from said source for blocking selected light rays impinging on said Fourier transform plane of said lens;
first display means positioned on the opposite side of said light stop means from said lens for displaying light waves passed by said light stop means;
image splitter means positioned between said light stop means and said display means for splitting light passed by said light stop means into first and second paths;
said first path including said first display means;
a second positive lens positioned to enter passed light from said image splitter means in said second path; and
second display means positioned in the Fourier transform plane of said second positive lens for displaying light impinging thereon.

7. The combination of claim 6 further including:
first cylindrical lens means positioned between said first positive lens and said light stop means; and
second cylindrical lens means positioned between said image splitter means and said first display means.