Patent ID: 7660206

Claim:
An ocean bottom seismic station, comprising: a base member having a center portion and a flexible tapered end portion to couple with a strength element of a cable within an ocean bottom seismic cable array, the tapered end being provided with through-voids to increase the flexibility and whereby the center portion provides a generally stiffer area than the tapered end portion; a housing disposed on the base member, the housing defining a cavity therein for enclosing at least one sensor on the base member; and a cover coupled to a first side of the base member to define a first interior volume between the cover and the base member for storing an excess length of an uncut first optical cable of the seismic cable, wherein the housing is coupled to a second side of the base member opposite from the first side to define a second interior volume between the housing and the base member, wherein an aperture through the base member enables sealed passage between the first and second interior volumes of a second optical cable of the seismic cable for connection of the second optical cable to the sensor components and wherein central flexible guides extending from the center portion and along the flexible tapered end of the base member provide a protected passage for an optical waveguide member of the cable.