AU2008101021A4

AU2008101021A4 - Data Display System for a Core Orientation Device

Info

Publication number: AU2008101021A4
Application number: AU2008101021A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Nick KLEYN
Original assignee: RESERVOIR NOMINEES Pty Ltd
Current assignee: RESERVOIR NOMINEES Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-17
Filing date: 2008-10-17
Publication date: 2008-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 2016-10-17

Description

00 0 "Data Display System for a Core Orientation Device" S FIELD OF THE INVENTION S The invention relates to a data display system for a core orientation device. The system is particularly suited for core orientation devices where operational requirements restrict the ability to store measurement data.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an 00 oo understanding of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that the c discussion is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the material referred to 0 was published, known or part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction as at the priority date of the application.

Knowledge of the orientation of a core sample is important to determining the requirements of underground mine structures.

The common method for determining the orientation of a core sample is by reference to a marked plate or camera image. This system is labour intensive though, as the operator is required to view the plate or image as well as being required to monitor a timing apparatus (such as a synchronised stopwatch).

One method of automating this process is described in Australian Patent 2006100113 (Australian Mud Company Limited). However, this system suffers from significant drawbacks in that: The monitoring device is a down-hole system and therefore orientation information cannot be obtained until the core is retrieved; The operator is still required to monitor a timing apparatus so that orientation at particular times can be ascertained from the monitoring device once it is recovered; SThe orientation of the core is only obtained by inputting a reference time to the monitoring device thus requiring the monitoring device to store orientation data on a continuous basis. This increases manufacturing costs and, considering the 00 environment in which the monitoring device is used, increases the risk of device

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Ofailure; AND The device does not provide an immediate indication of the orientation of the core rather requiring the operator to physically manhandle the core in response to directions provided by the monitoring device until such time as an "oriented" signal is displayed. In a situation where the monitoring device is remote to the N core sample being oriented, or at a difficult viewing position relative thereto, this may increase the risk of injury to the operator (whether by maintaining the weight of the core sample for a longer period of time than necessary or by repetitive 00 stop-start manipulation of the core sample).

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a display unit for a core orientation device that allows an immediate indication of the general orientation of the core sample to be provided to an operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Throughout this document, unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, the terms "comprising", "consisting of", and the like, are to be construed as non-exhaustive, or in other words, as meaning "including, but not limited to".

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is a data display system for a core orientation device comprising: a processor in data communication with the core orientation device; and a display unit; where the processor is operable to display, by way of the display unit, an indication of the current orientation of the core orientation device and a set of prior indications of the orientation of the core orientation device.

In situations were raw measurement data is provided by the core orientation device, the processor processes such data to obtain a corresponding indication of the orientation of the core orientation device.

To facilitate ease of understanding and recording of current core orientation measurements by a user, the current orientation of the core orientation device may be 00 an averaged representation calculated by the processor based on measurement data

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0 from the core orientation device received over a predetermined time period.

c Preferably, the set of prior indications of the orientation of the core orientation device 0 also includes, for each indication of orientation of the core orientation device, an r'associated time representation. The associated time representation may be a time value as indicated by a real-time clock at the time when the prior indication of N orientation of the core orientation device was recorded. Alternatively, the associated time representation may be a value representative of the time period that has elapsed between a reference time and the time when the prior indication of orientation of the 0 core orientation device was recorded. In yet a further alternative, the associated time representation is a numeric value representative of the number of fixed time periods that have elapsed between a reference time and the time when the prior indication of orientation of the core orientation device was recorded.

Ideally, each indication of the orientation of the core orientation device in the set of prior indications of the orientation of the core orientation device is obtained on the pressing of an activation button. However, in an alternate configuration, each indication of the orientation of the core orientation device in the set of prior indications of the orientation of the core orientation device is obtained according to a schedule program executed by the processor.

0 In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is a pre-recorded medium having computer software stored thereon, the computer software, when executed by a suitable processor, operable to: display an indication of the current orientation of a core orientation device on a display unit; and display a set of prior indications of the orientation of the core orientation device on the display unit.

The computer software may be further operable on execution to process measurement data received from the core orientation device to obtain a corresponding indication of the orientation of the core orientation device. Alternatively, the computer software may be further operable on execution to process measurement data received from the core orientation device over a predetermined time period to obtain an averaged 00 representation of the current orientation of the core orientation device and display this

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0 averaged representation as the indication of the current orientation of the core

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orientation device on the display unit.

0 Preferably, the computer software is further operable on execution to display an r'associated time representation with each indication of orientation of the core orientation device displayed. This associated time representation may take the form of: 0* a time value obtained from a real-time clock at the time when the prior indication Cof orientation of the core orientation device was recorded; 00 a value representative of the time period that has elapsed between a reference N [0 time and the time when the prior indication of orientation of the core orientation device was recorded; OR a numeric value representative of the number of fixed time periods that have elapsed between a reference time and the time when the prior indication of orientation of the core orientation device was recorded.

Ideally, the computer software is further operable on execution to obtain an indication of the orientation of the core orientation device on receiving an activation signal and display the indication of the orientation of the core orientation device so obtained as the next indication of orientation of the core orientation device in the set of prior indications of the orientation of the core orientation device.

Alternatively, the computer software is further operable on execution to obtain an indication of the orientation of the core orientation device in accordance with a predetermined schedule and display each such indication obtained, in turn, as the next indication of orientation of the core orientation device in the set of prior indications of the orientation of the core orientation device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the components of a first aspect of the invention.

oo00 Figure 2 is a visual representation of a display unit according to the first aspect of the S invention.

o Figure 3 is a visual representation of a display unit according to a second aspect of the 0 invention.

Figure 4 is a visual representation of a display unit according to a third aspect of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION oo Specific embodiments of the present invention are now described in detail. The S terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention there is a data display system for a core orientation device 12. The data display system 10 is in data communication with a measurement system 14. The measurement system 14 forms part of the core orientation device 12. The measurement system 14 takes periodic core orientation measurements. In this embodiments, the core orientation measurements are taken at such intervals that an indication of core orientation can be obtained in near real-time.

The data display system 10 comprises a processor 16, a display unit 18, a plurality of activation buttons 20 and a real-time clock 22. The processor 16 receives measurement data from the measurement system 14. This measurement data is then converted into display information and communicated to the display unit 18.

The display unit 18 provides an interface to an operator as shown in Figure 2. The interface is divided into three panels 24a, 24b, 24c. In panel 24a, the current time, as recorded by the real-time clock 22, is displayed. Panel 24b is used to display information related to the measurement data as converted by the processor 16.

Panel 24c displays a set of paired times and measurement data as converted by the processor 16. In this embodiment, this set has a maximum of eight entries.

Activation button 20a is used as a start/stop/reset button. Activation button 20b is used as a data capture button. The role of the activation buttons 20, and their interaction with the panels 24 of the display unit 18, will now be described in the context of the following example.

-6oo An operator initialises the core orientation device 12. Initialisation starts the measurement system 14 taking core orientation measurements. At the same time, the (-i operator initialises the data display system 10 by pressing activation button Initialisation of the data display system 10 sees the processor 16 start processing measurement data received from the measurement system 14. The processed measurement data is then displayed in panel 24b. This processed measurement data c-I is updated periodically in such a manner that a displayed measurement is discernable before being updated.

00oo At any time during the operation of the core orientation device 12, the operator may C 10 press activation button 20b. Pressing activation button 20b results in the time, as c,-i indicated in panel 24a, and the core orientation measurement, as indicated in panel 24b, then being displayed as the first entry in the set displayed in panel 24c.

Subsequent presses of the activation button 20b sees a new pairing of time and core orientation measurement, as displayed at the time of pressing, being displayed in the next available entry in the set displayed in panel 24c.

When a full core has been obtained, the operator is able to turn off the core orientation device 12. At the same time, the operator presses activation button 20a to stop the current session of the data display system. Stopping the current session resets the measurement information displayed in panel 24b to an indicator suggestive that the core orientation device 12 is non-operational. However, no impact is made in respect of the information displayed in data panel 24c.

As the information displayed in data panel 24c is not affected by stopping of the current session, the operator is free to record the information displayed in that panel for their own purposes at their leisure. Once so recorded, the operator depresses activation button 20a for a predetermined period of time. This clears the information displayed in data panel 24c ready for the next operational session of the data display system In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, where like numerals reference like parts, there is a data display system (not shown). The data display system is identical in components to that described in the first embodiment, with the following exceptions.

-7o00 Panel 24a is operable to show time elapsed since activation button 20a was pressed

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0 rather than the current time as indicated by the real-time clock 22. In this instance, on

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pressing of the activation button 20a, the processor 16 queries the real-time clock 22 to O obtain an initiation time. Subsequently, the processor 16 queries the real-time clock 22 t 5 on a substantially continuous basis to obtain current time values. The processor 16 then calculates the difference between the current time value and the initiation time and displays this difference in panel 24a panel 24a acts in a manner similar to a 0 stopwatch).

In a similar manner, when activation button 20b is pressed, panel 24c is operable to 00

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display a pairing of the time elapsed since the initiation time and the core orientation measurement at that time in the next available entry in the set.

In accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, where like numerals reference like parts, there is a data display system (not shown). The data display system is identical in components to that described in the first embodiment excepting that activation button 20b is omitted.

In this embodiment, the processor 16 is in communication with an erasableprogrammable read-only memory ("EPROM"). The EPROM has object code stored therein to control the operation of the processor 16. In this respect, the object code controls the processor 16 to take core orientation measurements at predetermined ?0 interval commencing form the time of initiation of activation button 20a. Such core orientation measurements and the elapsed time representative of the interval are then displayed in panel 24c without need for the operator to do anything further. In this manner, this third embodiment implements a "Set and forget" operational doctrine.

It should be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the above invention is not limited to the embodiment described. In particular, the following modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention: Core orientation measurements need not be taken at intervals such that near real-time measurement is possible. Measurements may be taken at larger time intervals. Alternatively, the processor 16 may operate to obtain a set of near real-time core orientation measurements and average out such -8o00 measurements, the average core orientation measurement being operably displayed in panel 24b.

c* The measurement system 14 may provide pre-processed core orientation 0 measurements to the processor 16 instead of measurement data which must be subsequently processed by the processor 16.

SThe actual orientation and format of the display may vary according to

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Coperator preference or manufacturing constraints. This may include the Comission of one or more panels. In this situation, it is the display of the set of oo measurements that is important in the present context and the method of C 10 display therefore immaterial.

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In the third embodiment, the display may display nothing except the set of core orientation measurements.

In the third embodiment, the core orientation measurements need not be paired with a time indicator or paired with any other value. In such a situation, the position of the core orientation measurement within the set may provide the necessary indication of time elapsed for that measurement.

The set of core orientation measurements may hold a greater or lesser number of entries to the eight mentioned above.

The form that the core orientation measurements take may differ according to the measurement system that it relates to. For instance, in one variation the core measurement data may take the form of an English language direction, i.e. N. NW, etc. or may take the form of an angle variation from a preset mark, i.e. 300 Other notational formats as would be readily apparent to the person skilled in the art may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

SThe measurements displayed to the operator may be stored in a permanent memory or may simply be in transient storage until the system is reset or power is lost.

-9oo0 Furthermore, the features described in the above embodiments and the additional 0 0 features mentioned above may be combined to form yet additional embodiments that

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c, fall within the scope of the present invention.

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Claims

2. A data display system for a core orientation device according to claim 1, where the N processor receives measurement data from the core orientation device and [0 processes such data to obtain a corresponding indication of the orientation of the core orientation device.
3. A data display system for a core orientation device according to claim 1, where the current orientation of the core orientation device is an averaged representation calculated by the processor based on measurement data from the core orientation device received over a predetermined time period.
4. A data display system for a core orientation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, where the set of prior indications of the orientation of the core orientation device also includes, for each indication of orientation of the core orientation device, an associated time representation.
5. A data display system for a core orientation device according to claim 4, where the associated time representation is the time value indicated by a real-time clock at the time when the prior indication of orientation of the core orientation device was recorded.
6. A data display system for a core orientation device according to claim 4, where the associated time representation is a value representative of the time period that has elapsed between a reference time and the time when the prior indication of orientation of the core orientation device was recorded.
7. A data display system for a core orientation device according to claim 4, where the associated time representation is a numeric value representative of the number of -11- 00 fixed time periods that have elapsed between a reference time and the time when 0 Othe prior indication of orientation of the core orientation device was recorded. O 8. A data display system for a core orientation device according to any preceding 0 claim, where each indication of the orientation of the core orientation device in the set of prior indications of the orientation of the core orientation device is obtained on the pressing of an activation button. 0 9. A data display system for a core orientation device according to any one of claims 1 Oto 7, where each indication of the orientation of the core orientation device in the set 00 of prior indications of the orientation of the core orientation device is obtained 0 0 L0 according to a schedule program executed by the processor. pre-recorded medium having computer software stored thereon, the computer software, when executed by a suitable processor, operable to: display an indication of the current orientation of a core orientation device on a display unit; and display a set of prior indications of the orientation of the core orientation device on the display unit.
11.A pre-recorded medium according to claim 10, where the computer software is further operable on execution to process measurement data received from the core orientation device to obtain a corresponding indication of the orientation of the core orientation device.
12.A pre-recorded medium according to claim 10, where the computer software is further operable on execution to process measurement data received from the core orientation device over a predetermined time period to obtain an averaged representation of the current orientation of the core orientation device and display this averaged representation as the indication of the current orientation of the core orientation device on the display unit.
13.A pre-recorded medium according to any one of claims 10 to 12, where the computer software is further operable on execution to display an associated time representation with each indication of orientation of the core orientation device displayed. -12- oo 14.A pre-recorded medium according to claim 13, where the associated time representation is the time value obtained from a real-time clock at the time when the prior indication of orientation of the core orientation device was recorded. pre-recorded medium according to claim 13, where the associated time representation is a value representative of the time period that has elapsed between a reference time and the time when the prior indication of orientation of the core C orientation device was recorded.
16.A pre-recorded medium according to claim 13, where the associated time 00oo representation is a numeric value representative of the number of fixed time periods 0 10 that have elapsed between a reference time and the time when the prior indication of orientation of the core orientation device was recorded.
17.A pre-recorded medium according to any one of claims 10 to 16, where the computer software is further operable on execution to obtain an indication of the orientation of the core orientation device on receiving an activation signal and display the indication of the orientation of the core orientation device so obtained as the next indication of orientation of the core orientation device in the set of prior indications of the orientation of the core orientation device.
18.A pre-recorded medium according to any one of claims 10 to 16, where the computer software is further operable on execution to obtain an indication of the orientation of the core orientation device in accordance with a pre-determined schedule and display each such indication obtained, in turn, as the next indication of orientation of the core orientation device in the set of prior indications of the orientation of the core orientation device.