`
`International Bureau
`WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`
`
`
`
`
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`
`(51) International Patent Classification 6 =
`(11) International Publication Number:
`WO 98/28636
`G01V 1/38
`
`
`
`(43) International Publication Date: 2 July 1998 (02.07.98)
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`PCT/GB97/03507
`
`
` (22) International Filing Date:
`19 December 1997 (19.12.97)
`
`
`
`
`
` (30) Priority Data:
`
`
`96264429
`20 December 1996 (20.12.96)
`GB
`
`
`(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): GECO AS
`
`
`
`[NO/NO]; Schlumberger House, Solbraveien 23, N—1370
`
`
`Asker (N0).
`
`
`
`(72) Inventor; and
`(75) Inventor/Applicant (for US only): BI’I'I‘LESTON, Simon,
`
`
`Hastings [GB/NO]; Bjomsvikveien 27, N~1312 Slependen
`(NO).
`
`
` (74) Agent: STOOLE, Brian, David; Geco—Pl‘akla Technical
`
`Services Inc., Schlumberger House, Buckingham Gate,
`Gatwick, West Sussex R116 ONZ (GB).
`
`(81) Designated States: AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR,
`BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GE, GH,
`HU, IL, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS,
`LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL,
`PT, R0, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT,
`UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZW, ARIPO patent (GH, GM,
`KE, LS, MW, SD, 82, UG, ZW), Eurasian patent (AM, AZ,
`BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, ‘l‘J, TM), European patent (AT, BE,
`CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT. LU, MC, NL,
`PT, SE), OAPI patent (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN,
`ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
`
`Published
`With international search report.
`
`
`
`(54) Title: CONTROL DEVICES FOR CONTROLLING THE POSITION OF A MARINE SEISMIC STREAMER
`
`
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`POWER PROVIDED
`ALONG STREAMER
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`16
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`
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`‘ 30
`END CONNECTOR 26
`20
`14a
`manna—mflz-‘fii:
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`10
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`/
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`3
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`22
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`14b
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`12
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`1a
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`\14
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`
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`24
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`
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`.__\2_B___
`24
`QUICK RELEASE
`
`ATTACHMENT
`
`
` (57) Abstract
`
`A control device (10) (or "bird") for controlling the position of a marine seismic streamer is provided with an elongate, partly flexible,
`
`body (12) which is designed to be connected electrically and mechanically in series with the streamer (14). In its preferred form, the bird
`
`
`has two opposed wings (24), which are independently controllable in order to control the streamers lateral position, as well as its depth.
`
`
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`1
`
`ION 1004
`
`1
`
`ION 1004
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT.
`
`
`
`SI
`SK
`SN
`82
`TD
`TG
`TJ
`TM
`TR
`T'1‘
`UA
`UG
`US
`U7.
`VN
`YU
`ZW
`
`Slovenia
`Slovakia
`Senegal
`Swaziland
`Chad
`Togo
`Tajikistan
`Turkmenistan
`Turkey
`Trinidad and Tobago
`Ukraine
`Uganda
`United States of America
`Uzbekistan
`Viet Nam
`Yugoslavia
`Zimbabwe
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`ES
`Fl
`FR
`GA
`GB
`GE
`GH
`GN
`GR
`HU
`IE
`IL
`15
`IT
`JP
`KE
`KG
`KP
`
`LS
`LT
`LU
`LV
`MC
`MD
`MG
`MK
`
`"
`
`AL
`Spain
`Albania
`Lesotho
`AM
`Finland
`Annenia
`Lithuania
`AT
`France
`Austria
`Luxembourg
`AU
`Gabon
`Australia
`Latvia
`AZ
`United Kingdom
`Azerbaijan
`Monaco
`BA
`Georgia
`Bosnia and Herzegovina
`Republic of Moldova
`BB
`Ghana
`Barbados
`Madagascar
`BE
`Guinea
`Belgium
`The former Yugoslav
`BF
`Greece
`Burkina Fttso
`Republic of Macedonia
`BG
`ML
`Hungary
`Bulgaria
`Mali
`3.]
`MN
`Ireland
`Benin
`Mongolia
`BR
`MR
`Israel
`Brazil
`Mauritania
`BY
`MW
`Iceland
`Belarus
`Malawi
`CA
`MX
`Italy
`Canada
`Mexico
`CF
`NE
`Japan
`Central African Republic
`Niger
`CG
`NL
`Kenya
`Congo
`Netherlands
`CII
`N0
`Kyrgyzstan
`Switzerland
`Norway
`CI
`NZ
`Democratic People's
`Cote d‘Ivoire
`New Zealand
`CM
`PL
`Republic of Korea
`Cameroon
`Poland
`CN
`PT
`Republic of Korea
`KR
`China
`Portugal
`CU
`R0
`Kazakstan
`KZ
`Cuba
`Romania
`CZ
`RU
`Saint Lucia
`LC
`Czech Republic
`Russian Federation
`DE
`Germany
`LI
`Liechtenstein
`SD
`Sudan
`DK
`Denmark
`LK
`Sri Lanka
`SE
`Sweden
`EE
`Estonia
`LR
`Liberia
`56
`Singapore
`
`
`2
`
`
`
`WO 98/28636
`
`PCT/GB97/03507
`
`CONTROL DEVICES FOR CONTROLLING THE POSITION
`
`OF A MARINE SEISMIC STREAMER
`
`This invention relates to control devices for controlling the position of a marine seismic
`streamer.
`
`A marine seismic streamer is an elongate cable-like structure, typically up to several
`
`thousand metres long, which contains arrays of hydrophones and associated electronic
`
`equipment along its length, and which is used in marine seismic surveying. In order to perform
`
`a 3D marine seismic survey, a plurality of such streamers are towed at about 5 knots behind a
`
`seismic survey vessel, which also tows one or more seismic sources,
`
`typically air guns,
`
`Acoustic signals produced by the seismic sources are directed down through the water into the
`
`earth beneath, where they are reflected from the various strata. The reflected signals are
`
`received by the hydrophones, and then digitised and processed to build up a representation of
`
`the earth strata in the area being surveyed.
`
`The streamers are typically towed at a constant depth of about ten metres, in order to
`
`facilitate the removal of undesired “ghost” reflections from the surface of the water. To keep
`
`the streamers at this constant depth, control devices known as “birds”, attached to each
`
`streamer at intervals of 200 to 300 metres, are used.
`
`Current designs of birds are battery-powered, and comprise a relatively heavy body
`
`which is suspended beneath the streamer, and which has a pair of laterally projecting wings
`
`(hence the name “bird”), one on each side. The combination of streamer and birds is arranged
`
`to be neutrally buoyant, and the angle of attack of both wings is adjusted in unison from time
`
`to time to control the depth of the streamer.
`
`Birds in accordance with these current designs suffer from a number of disadvantages.
`
`Because they are battery-powered, the batteries can run out before the survey is completed,
`
`necessitating either retrieval of the streamer for battery replacement, or deployment of a work
`
`boat to replace the battery in the water. The former operation is very time consuming, while
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`3
`
`3
`
`
`
`WO 98/28636
`
`PCT/GB97/03507
`
`the latter can be hazardous, Further, because the birds hang beneath the streamer,
`
`they
`
`produce considerable noise as they are towed through the water, which noise interferes with
`
`the reflected signals detected by the hydrophones in the streamers. The hanging of the birds
`
`from the streamers also means that the birds need to be detached each time the streamer is
`
`retrieved and re—attached each time it is re-dcployed, which is again rather time consuming.
`
`During the seismic survey, the streamers are intended to remain straight, parallel to each
`
`other and equally spaced. However, after deploying the streamers, it is typically necessary for
`
`the vessel to cruise in a straight line for at least three streamer lengths before the streamer
`
`distribution approximates to this ideal arrangement and the survey can begin. This increases
`
`the time taken to carry out the survey, and therefore increases the cost of the survey. But
`
`because of sea currents, the streamers frequently fail to accurately follow the path of the
`
`seismic survey vessel, sometimes deviating from this path by an angle, known as the feathering
`
`angle, of up to 10°. This can adversely affect the coverage of the survey, frequently requiring
`
`that certain parts of the survey be repeated.
`
`In really bad circumstances, the streamers can
`
`actually become entangled, which though rare, causes great damage and considerable financial
`
`loss. Current designs of birds can do nothing to alleviate any of these lateral streamer
`
`positioning problems.
`
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide novel streamer control
`
`devices which alleviate at least some of the disadvantages of the current designs, and/or which
`
`possess more functionality than the current designs,
`
`According to the present invention, there is provided a control device for controlling the
`
`position of a marine seismic streamer, the device comprising a body mechanically connected in
`
`series between two adjacent sections of the streamer,
`
`sensor means in the body for
`
`determining its angular position in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the
`
`streamer, two opposed control surfaces projecting outwardly from the body, each control
`
`surface being rotatable about an axis which in use extends transversely of the streamer, and
`
`control means responsive to control signals and the sensor means for independently adjusting
`
`the respective angular positions of said two control surfaces so as to control the lateral
`
`position of the streamer as Well as its depth.
`
`-2-
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`4
`
`
`
`WO 98/28636
`
`PCT/GB97/D3507
`
`In a preferred embodiment of the invention, for use with a multi-section streamer which
`
`includes an electric power line, the control means is at least partly electrical and arranged in
`
`use to receive electric power from said electric power line.
`
`When the streamer also includes a control line, the control means is preferably arranged
`
`in use to receive control signals from the control line.
`
`The control means preferably includes at least one electrical motor, and may also include
`
`means for sensing the respective angular positions of the two control surfaces.
`
`Conveniently, said two control surfaces rotate about a common axis.
`
`Advantageously, each of the two control surfaces comprises a respective wing-like
`
`member which is swept back with respect to the direction of tow of the streamer.
`
`Preferably, said control surfaces are releasably secured to the body, which may be
`
`adapted to be non-rotatably coupled to the streamer.
`
`The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the
`
`accompanying drawings, of which:
`
`Figure l
`
`is a somewhat schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of a
`
`streamer control device in accordance with the present invention;
`
`Figure 2 is a simple schematic of a control system forming part of the streamer control
`
`device of Figure l; and
`
`Figures 3 to 5 illustrate the operation of the streamer control device of Figure 1.
`
`The streamer control device, or “bird”, of Figure 1
`
`is indicated generally at 10, and
`
`comprises an elongate streamlined body 12 adapted to be mechanically and electrically
`
`connected in series in a multi—section marine seismic streamer 14 of the kind which is towed by
`
`-3-
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`5
`
`
`
`WO 98/28636
`
`.
`
`PCT/GB97/03507
`
`a seismic survey vessel and which is used, in conjunction with a seismic source also towed by
`the vessel, to conduct seismic surveys, as briefly described hereinbefore. To pennit such
`
`connection, each end of the body 12 is provided with a respective mechanical and electrical
`
`connector 16, 18, these connectors being complementary to, and designed to interconnect
`
`with, streamer end connectors 20, 22 respectively which are normally used to join together
`
`adjacent sections 14a and 14b of the streamer 14.
`
`The bird 10 is provided with two opposed control surfaces, or wings, 24,
`
`typically
`
`moulded from a fibre-reinforced plastics material, which project horizontally outwardly from
`
`the body 12 and which are independently rotatable about a common axis extending
`
`substantially perpendicularly through the longitudinal axis of the body. Rotation of the wings
`
`24 is effected under the control of a control system 26 sealingly housed within the body 12.
`
`The wings 24 are generally ogival (ie rounded) and swept back with respect to the direction of
`
`tow of the streamer 14 (which direction is indicated by the arrow 28), in order to reduce the
`
`possibility of debris becoming hooked on them, To facilitate their rapid removal and re—
`
`attachment, the wings 24 are secured to body 12 by a quick-release attachment 30‘
`
`As mentioned hereinbefore, the streamer 14 includes hydrophones distributed along its
`
`length;
`
`it also includes control and conversion circuitry for converting the outputs of the
`
`hydrophones into digital data signals,
`
`longitudinally extending control and data lines for
`
`conducting control and data signals to and from the control and conversion circuitry, and
`
`electrical power supply lines for supplying electrical power fiom the vessel to the circuitry.
`
`All these lines are coupled together from the streamer section 14a to the streamer section 14b
`
`via respective corresponding lines 32 which extend through the body 12 of the bird 10
`
`between the connectors 16, 18. Additionally, the control system 26 is connected to receive
`
`control signals and electric power from respective ones of the lines 32.
`
`The greater part of the length of the body 12 of the bird 10 is flexible, the only rigid
`
`parts being the connectors 20, 22, and a short central section which houses the control system
`
`26 and from which the wings 24 project. This central section, which is made of aluminium or
`titanium and has holes passing longitudinally therethrough for the passage of Kevlar or other
`
`stress members which bear’the longitudinal loads on the body 12,
`
`is kept as short as possible,
`
`-4-
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`6
`
`
`
`WO 98128636
`
`PCT/GB97/03507
`
`typically around 40 cm, so that once the wings 24 have been detached from the body 12, the
`
`streamer 14 can be wound onto and unwound from the large drum used for storing the
`
`streamer, with the body 12 still connected in the streamer. The quick-release attachment 30
`
`permits the removal and attachment of the wings 24 to be at least partly automated as the
`
`streamer 14 is reeled in and out during the survey.
`
`The reason for providing the elongate flexible parts of the body 12 is to provide enough
`
`length for the inclusion of one or more hydrophones or hydrophone groups, should this be
`
`necessary to preserve a desired uniform hydrophone spacing along the length of streamer 14.
`
`If no hydrophones need to be included, the flexible parts of the body 12 can be omitted
`
`altogether, along with the aforementioned stress members.
`
`The control system 26 is schematically illustrated in Figure 2, and comprises a
`
`microprocessor-based control circuit 34 having respective inputs 35 to 39 to receive control
`
`signals representative of desired depth, actual depth, desired lateral position, actual lateral
`
`position and roll angle of the bird 10 (ie the angular position of the body 12 in a plane
`
`perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the streamer 14). The desired depth signal can be
`
`either a fixed signal corresponding to the aforementioned 10 metres, or an adjustable signal,
`
`while the actual depth signal is typically produced by a depth sensor 40 mounted in or on the
`
`bird 10. The lateral position signals are typically derived from a position determining system
`
`of the kind described in our US Patent No 4,992,990 or our lntemational Patent Application
`
`No WO9621163. The roll angle signal is produced by an inclinometer 42 mounted within the
`
`bird 10.
`
`The control circuit 34 has two control outputs 44, 46, connected to control respective
`
`electrical stepper motors 48, 50, each of which is drivingly connected to a respective one of
`
`the wings 24. The stepper motors 48, 50 have respective outputs at which they produce
`
`signals representative of their respective current angular positions (and therefore of the current
`
`angular positions of the wings 24), which outputs are connected to respective control inputs
`
`52, S4 of the control circuit 34.
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`7
`
`
`
`WO 98/28636
`
`PCT/GB97/03507
`
`In operation,
`
`the control circuit 34 receives between its inputs 35 and 36 a signal
`
`indicative of the difference between the actual and desired depths of the bird 10, and receives
`
`between its inputs 37 and 38 a signal indicative of the difference between the actual and
`
`desired lateral positions of the bird 10. These two difference signals are used by the control
`
`circuit 34 to calculate the roll angle of the bird to and the respective angular positions of the
`
`Wings 24 which together Will produce the necessary combination of vertical force (upwardly
`
`or downwardly) and lateral force (left or right) required to move the bird 10 to the desired
`
`depth and lateral position,
`
`The control circuit 34 then adjusts each of the wings 24
`
`independently by means of the stepper motors 48, 50, so as to start to achieve the calculated
`
`bird roll angle and wing angular positions.
`
`Figures 3 to 5 illustrate the operation of the bird 10 in the case where the streamer 14 is
`
`slightly heavy (slightly negative buoyancy), and the bird 10 thus needs to produce lifi to
`
`maintain the streamer at the desired depth. This lift is produced by the flow of the water over
`
`the wings 24 of the bird 10, resulting from the 5 knot towing speed of the streamer 14 through
`
`the water, and can be changed by changing the angle of attack of the wings with respect to the
`
`flow. The magnitude of the lift required for the situation envisaged by Figure 3 is indicated by
`
`the length of the arrows 60.
`
`If the streamer 14 now needs to be moved laterally to the right (as viewed in Figures 3 to
`
`5), the angular position of the left wing 24 of the bird 10 is first adjusted to increase its lift,
`
`while the angular position of the right wing is adjusted to decrease its liit, as represented by
`
`the length of the arrows 64 in Figure 4, thus causing the bird 10 to roll clockwise from the
`
`position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4. This clockwise roll continues
`
`until the bird 10 reaches the steady state condition shown in Figure 5, where it can be seen that
`
`the vertical component of the lift produced by the wings 24, indicated by the arrows 66,
`
`is
`
`equal to the lift represented by the arrows 60 of Figure 3 required to maintain the streamer 14
`
`at the desired depth, while the much larger horizontal component, represented by the arrows
`
`68, moves the streamer 14 to the right.
`
`While adjusting the angular positions of the wings 24 of the bird 10, the control circuit
`
`34 continuously receives signals representative of the actual angular positions of the wings
`
`-6-
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`8
`
`
`
`WO 98/28636
`
`‘
`
`PCT/GB97/03507
`
`from the stepper motors 48, 50, as well as a signal representative of the actual roll angle of the
`
`bird from the inclinometer 42, to enable it to determine when the calculated wing angular
`
`positions and bird roll angle have been reached. And as the aforementioned difference signals
`
`at
`
`the inputs 35 to 38 of the control circuit 34 reduce,
`
`the control circuit repeatedly
`
`recalculates the progressively changing values of the roll angle of the bird 10 and the angular
`
`positions of the wings 24 required for the bird and streamer reach the desired depth and lateral
`
`position, until the bird and streamer actually reach the desired depth and lateral position.
`
`The body of the bird 10 does not rotate with respect to the streamer 14, and thus twists
`
`the streamer as it rolls. The streamer 14 resists this twisting motion, so acting as a kind of
`
`torsion spring which tends to return the bird 10 to its normal position (ie with the wings 24
`
`extending horizontally). However,
`
`this spring returning action,
`
`though beneficial,
`
`is not
`
`essential, and the bird 10 can if desired be designed to rotate to a certain extent with respect to
`
`the axis of the streamer 14.
`
`It will be appreciated that the bird 10 has several important advantages with respect to
`
`prior art birds. lts in-line connection in the streamer 14 not only reduces the noise it generates
`
`as the streamer is towed through the water, but also enables it to derive power and control
`
`signals via the streamer and so obviates the need for batteries (although they may still be
`
`provided if desired for back-up purposes). But most importantly, it enables the horizontal or
`
`lateral position of the streamer 14 to be controlled, and not just its depth,
`
`Another significant advantage of the bird 10 is that by virtue of the shortness of the stiff
`
`parts of the respective body 12 and the easily detachable wings 24, it does not need to be
`
`removed from the streamer 14 during winding and unwinding. This saves a considerable
`
`amount of time when carrying out the seismic survey.
`
`Many modifications can be made to the bird 10. For example, the wings 24 can be
`
`staggered slightly along the length of the body 12, in order to provide slightly more room for
`
`their respective drive trains, Additionally,
`
`the electric motors 48, 50 can be replaced by
`
`hydraulic actuators.
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`9
`
`
`
`WO 98/28636
`
`'
`
`PCT/GB97/03507
`
`CLAIMS
`
`1.
`
`A control device for controlling the position of a marine seismic streamer, the device
`
`comprising a body mechanically connected in series between two adjacent sections of the
`
`streamer,
`
`sensor means
`
`in the body for determining its angular position in a plane
`
`perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the streamer, two opposed control surfaces projecting
`
`outwardly from the body, each control surface being rotatable about an axis which in use
`
`extends transversely of the streamer, and control means responsive to control signals and the
`
`sensor means for independently adjusting the respective angular positions of said two control
`
`surfaces so as to control the lateral position of the streamer as well as its depth.
`
`2.
`
`A control device as claimed in claim 1, for use with a multi-section streamer which
`
`includes an electric power line, wherein the control means is at least partly electrical and
`
`arranged in use to receive electric power from said electric power line.
`
`3,
`
`A control device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, for use with a streamer which also
`
`includes a control line, wherein the control means is arranged in use to receive control signals
`
`from the control line.
`
`4.
`
`A control device as claimed in any one of claims 1
`
`to 3, wherein said two control
`
`surfaces are releasably secured to the body.
`
`5.
`
`A control device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the body is adapted to be wound onto a
`
`streamer drum while still connected in the streamer.
`
`6.
`
`A control device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the body is at least partly flexible.
`
`7,
`
`A control device as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the body is of approximately
`
`the same diameter as the streamer.
`
`8.
`
`A control device as claimed in anyflpreceding claim, wherein said control means includes
`
`at least one electrical motor.
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`10
`
`10
`
`
`
`WO 98128636
`
`PCT/GB97103507
`
`9.
`
`A control device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control means includes
`
`means for sensing the angular position of each of the two control surfaces.
`
`10. A control device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the two control surfaces
`
`rotate about a common axis
`
`11. A control device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each of the two control
`
`surfaces comprises a respective wing-like member which is swept back with respect to the
`
`direction of tow of the streamer.
`
`12. A control device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body is adapted to be
`
`non—rotatably coupled in the streamer.
`
`13. A control device for controlling the position of a streamer, the device being substantially
`
`as herein described with respect of Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`11
`
`11
`
`
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`
`
`woorw0n_.xm.
`
`WO 98128636
`
`PCT/GB97/03507
`
`1/2
`
`91.
`
`mm
`
`Nm
`
`or
`
`vr/
`
`w_.
`
`Nw
`
`mm
`
`mm
`
`mm
`
`we
`
`wm
`
`VN
`
`mam
`
`/
`
`ow
`
`or
`
`V0
`
`exam
`
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`
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`
`«N
`
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`
`
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`
`
`mw2<mmhm020:3
`
`3NF
`
`VN
`
`dam
`
`om
`
`om
`
`or
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 25)
`
`12
`
`12
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`
`
`woorw0n_.xm.
`
`WO 98/28636
`
`PCT/GB97/03507
`
`2/2
`
`Dm<0mm<kw
`
`07:3
`
`«N
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`
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`
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`
`
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`4<mmbcjDwmuwmo
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`
`EmkmEOZJOE
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`13
`
`13
`
`
`
`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
`
`or
`A.
`SUBJECT MATTEFI
`CLASSIFICATION
`IPC 6
`G01V1/38
`
`lnte
`
`.ional Application No
`
`PCT/GB 97/03507
`
`According to International Patent CiasoitioationilPC) or to both national classification and iPC
`a. FIELDS SEARCHED
`Minimum documentation searched (classilication system followed byclassillcetion symbols)
`IPC 6
`GOlV
`
`Documentation searched other then minimumdocumentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fields searched
`
`Electronic data base consulted during the international search (name of data base and, where practical, search terms used)
`
`Relevant to claim No,
`
`1—3,7,8,
`10,11
`
`5
`
`C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`Category ‘1
`Citation of document, With indication, where appropriate, oi the relevant passages
`
`we 97 30361 A (THOMSON CSF ;BERTHEAS JEAN
`(FR); MORESCD GILLES (FR); SUPPA VITO ()
`21 August 1997
`see abstract
`line 19 — page 6,
`see page 5,
`line 17 - line 32
`see page 7,
`see claims 1,2,10
`see figures 1,15
`
`line 19
`
`US 5 619 474 A (KUCHE HANS-WALTER) 8 April
`1997
`see abstract
`see figure 1
`
`US 3 774 570 A (PEARSON R) 27 November
`1973
`see abstract
`see figures 1,2,8
`
`Further documents are listed in the continuation of box C.
`
`Patent family members are listed in annex
`
`° Spoolal categories of Cited documents :
`
`"A“ document defining the general state of the art which is not
`considered to be 01 particular relevance
`
`"E" earlier documentbut published on or alter the international
`filing date
`"l.“ document which may throw doubts on priority ciaimls) or
`which is cited to establish the publicationdate of another
`mam” or other special reason (as Spec'fied)
`_
`.
`"0“ document referring to an oral disclosure use, exhibition or
`other means
`"P“ document published prior to the international filing date but
`later than the priority date claimed
`Dale of the actual completion oftheinternational search
`
`_
`.
`"T" later document published ntlertne International filing date
`or priority date and not In conflict With the application but
`cited to understand the principle or theory underlying the
`invention
`”X" document or particular relevance the claimed invention
`cannot be considered novel or cannot be considered to
`involve an inventive step when the document is taken alone
`"Y" document of particular relevance; the claimed Invention
`cannot be considered to involve an inventive step when the
`document is combined with one or more other such docw
`ments, such combination being obvious to a person skilled
`in the an,
`"&" document member of the same patent iamlly
`Date of mailing of the international search report
`
`
`
`‘
`
`2 April 1998
`Name and mailing address of the ISA
`European Patent Office. PB, 5818 Patentlaan 2
`NL - 2280 HV Ftisziik
`Tel, (+31-70) 340—2040. Tx. 31 651 e 0 nl,
`Fu:nmam3mome
`p
`Form PCT/lSA/Zto (second sheet) (July 1992)
`
`15/04/1998
`Authorized olticel
`
`I
`
`H
`
`.
`de Hearing, Ph.
`
`page 1 of 2
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`14
`
`14
`
`
`
`US 5 443 027 A (OWSLEY NORMAN L
`August 1995
`see co1umn 2, 11ne 16 - 11ne 19
`
`ET AL) 22
`
`5
`
`EP 0 193 215 A (LAITRAM CORP) 3 September
`1986
`
`US 4 745 583 A (MOTAL GARY N) 17 May 1988
`see abstract
`
`1
`
`
`
`
`
`INTERNAJHONAL SEARCH REPORT
`
`
` Inn
`.ional Application No
`
`
`PCT/GB 97/03507
`C,(C0ntinuation) DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`
`
`Category ‘
`Citation of documem. with indicationwhere appropriate, at the relevant passageé
`Relevam to claim No.
`
`
`
`>><'
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Form PCT/Ismw (continuation of second sheet) (July 1992)
`
`page 2 of 2
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`15
`
`15
`
`
`
`INTERNATHDNAL SEARCH REPORT
`Information on patent lamliy members
`
`Int»
`
`,ional Applicaflun No
`
`
`
`
`Patent document
`cited in search report
`
`Publication
`data
`
`Patent family
`member(s)
`
`PCT/GB 97/03507
`Publication
`date
`
`NO 9730361
`
`US 5619474
`
`A
`
`A
`
`21-08-97
`
`08-04~97
`
`-
`
`US 3774570
`
`A
`
`27-11~73
`
`FR
`AU
`
`NO
`AU
`EP
`wo
`
`CA
`DE
`FR
`GB
`NL
`
`2744870 A
`1883297 A
`
`941801 A
`2539095 A
`0759177 A
`9531735 A
`
`950574 A
`2223798 A
`2169016 A
`1345462 A
`7206690 A,B,
`
`US 5443027
`
`EP 0193215
`
`A
`
`A
`
`22-08—95
`
`NONE
`
`03~09w86
`
`4711194 A
`US
`1260772 A
`CA
`3682517 A
`DE
`1838695 C
`JP
`JP 61167322 A
`
`14-08—97
`02-09-97
`
`14—11*95
`05*12-95
`26-02-97
`23~11~95
`
`02*07—74
`06-09~73
`07-09-73
`30-01-74
`27-07-73
`
`08-12-87
`26-09~89
`02-01-92
`25-04~94
`29-07—86
`
`
`
`
`
`Form PCT/l8A/210 (patent family armax) (July 1992)
`
`Ex. PGS 1004
`
`16
`
`
`
`
`
`16
`
`