Seismology

Taurus

Designed to interface with almost any sensor, the Taurus offers industry leading performance and versatility in a field portable seismograph. This lightweight, hand-held instrument can record continuous data for over 800 days operating at a mere 750mw.

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Summary

Designed to interface with almost any sensor, the Taurus offers industry-leading performance and versatility in a field portable seismograph.

This lightweight, hand-held instrument can record continuous data for over 800 days operating at a mere 750mw. Consisting of a high-resolution 24-bit ADC, a precision GPS clock, and removable internal storage capabilities of up to 64G, the Taurus combines all the attributes of a stand-alone recorder with the benefits of internet and wireless communications.

User interface is simplified through an integrated colour graphics display and a five-button keypad providing instant access to real-time or recorded data. MiniSEED files are recorded directly to FAT32 formatted removable media (Compact Flash), allowing users to seamlessly transfer files to a PC or laptop for immediate analysis.

The Taurus simplifies field deployments by eliminating the need for auxiliary peripherals such as laptops and breakout boxes. Applications:

• Broadband seismic studies
• Emergency networks
• Strong Motion Studies
• Aftershock studies
• Seismic networking via internet
• Controlled source recording
• Vibration Monitoring
• Infrasound data acquisition
• Local site storage in Libra VSAT Networks

Benefits/Advantages

• Excellent data quality with 24-bit resolution and precise GPS timing
• Hand-held, all-in-one seismograph capable of interfacing with any modern broadband or short period sensor with a single cable
• Suitable for long-term deployments with >800 day recording capacity
• Efficient, low-power design requires only 750mw while acquiring 3 channels at 100 sps. Taurus can operate remotely on a 10Ah battery and 18W solar panel
• Convenient data retrieval using internal, yet accessible, hot-swap media (FAT 32 compact flash)
• Real-time data streaming capability for network applications via UDP/IP multicast and http over 10/100 Base-T Ethernet or the serial data port (SLIP) as well as dial-up or wireless internet connections
• Integrated display provides access to various acquisition, monitoring, configuration and instrument status web pages.
• Easily interpreted web page display format provides onboard and remote access to real-time and historic data, GPS status, instrument configuration, and field procedures
• Data output provided in industry standard formats, including miniSEED, sorted miniSEED, ASCII, SEISAN and SEG-Y

Specifications

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

SENSOR INPUTS
Channels	3 standard, field upgradeable to 6 or 9 with addition of external Trident digitizers
Sampling	Simultaneous
Input voltage range	40 V peak-to-peak differential (at gain 0.4)
Nominal sensitivity	1 count/micro-volt (gain 1)
Hardware gain selection	Software configurable 0.4, 1, 2, 4, 8
Software gain	User configurable 0.001 to 100
High pass filter	User configurable in mHz
DIGITIZER PERFORMANCE
Type	Proprietary high order sigma-delta
Digital filter	140dB attenuation at output Nyquist
Filter type	Linear phase (consult factory for other options)
Dynamic range	>140dB @ 100sps (max sine wave above shorted input)
Sample rates Subsample Decimation  Factors	10, 20, 40, 50, 80, 100, 120, 200, 250, 500 sps 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 120, 200, 250
SENSOR SUPPORT
Sensor types	Broadband active and short period passive
Control lines	3; typically used for Cal enable, mass center and mass lock/unlock Logic level configurable; High: 5V, 12V,open drain. Low: 0, open drain
Sensor power	Supply power pass-through to sensor (9-36 VDC). Protected against short circuit. Sensor power can be switched on/off from user interface.
INSTRUMENT STATE OF HEALTH
Taurus records continuous SOH:	> GPS state-of health > Instrument temperature > Seismometer mass position > Signal clip indication bit > Calibration enabled bit for each channel
User accessible SOH	4 external SOH channels (12-bit)
Configuration	Complete configuration audit trail
Communications	Complete audit trail with cumulative good/bad packet counts
Log file	All software
INTERNAL DATA STORAGE
Media options	1. Dual Removable Compact Flash: > EXT3 format (Store Files) > FAT32 format (miniSEED Files) 2. Removable CF and 1.8" ATA disk drive
RECORDING
Capacity	>800 days continuous recording, 3-channels @100sps
Recording modes	Continuous; write once or ringbuffer (overwrites oldest data) Continuous with STA/LTA trigger flags
File system	Ext3 (Linux) Drivers provided for Windows XP Compact flash readable on standard USB flash card reader
Format	Nanometrics Store and MiniSEED
Data retrieval	Media exchange: Compact flash are field swappable. Flash readable on standard flash card readers
Download interfaces	Ethernet 10/100 Base-T
REAL-TIME DATA COMMUNICATIONS
Interfaces	Ethernet 10/100 Base-T
Protocols	UDP/IP unicast/multicast HTTP (POST and GET) RS-232 serial with IP drivers
INTEGRATED USER INTERFACE
LCD display	240x320 color graphics display with backlight
Interface	Web browser with five button navigation
LED	System status tri-color LED, Ethernet Communications LED, Media status LED.
LCD display	240x320 color graphics display with backlight
CONFIGURATION
Taurus is configurable locally via the color LCD display and onboard browser or remotely using any web browser connected to the unit. Multiple unit configuration is achieved using an optional group configuration web server. Consult factory for further information.
SOFTWARE
Operating system	Linux
Applications software	Nanometrics Next Generation NAQS Server with web interface
CONNECTORS
Sensor connector	26-pin mil circular. Primary data channels, sensor control lines, protected/switchable sensor power, digital serial sensor management interface
Serial/USB	19-pin mil circular
Serial port 1	Rx, Tx, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, CD, RI
Serial port 2	Rx, Tx, RTS, CTS (data collection from serial devices)
GPS	TNC, active antenna connection (3.3 V)
Ethernet	4-pin mil circular, 10/100 Base-T
User SOH	7-pin mil circular, 4 analog SOH inputs, SOH ref., 3.3V @10mA power
NMXBus	4-pin mil circular, NMXbus data and power
Power	3-pin mil circular, 9-36 VDC
USB	USB Master/slave accessible behind media door
POWER
Supply Voltage	9-36 VDC
Power system	Protected electronic resettable fuse design with configurable low voltage disconnect and restart, reverse battery and short circuit protection
Ultra low power mode	650 mW @ 12Volts. 3-channel continuous recording @100sps, <100 usec timing precision, Compact flash recording
Low power mode	1.1 Watt @ 12Volts; 3-channel continuous recording @100sps, continuous serial data acquisition (external geodetic GPS or equivalent), <100 usec timing precision, internal disk or Compact flash recording.
Communications mode	1.5 Watt typical; 3-channel continuous recording @100sps, <100 usec timing precision, real-time Ethernet or serial communications
Configuration mode	<3.5 Watts. All systems operational including color graphics display.
Low voltage disconnect	Software configurable
ENVIRONMENTAL
Operating Temperature	-20C to +60C base unit using Compact Flash storage +5C to +55C base unit using 1.8" ATA disk storage
Storage Temperature	-40C to +70C
Humidity	100%
Length	264mm
Width	147mm
Depth	60mm
Weight	1.8 Kg