Patent ID: 7668044

Claim:
A data offload and charger unit for simultaneously retrieving data from a plurality of seismic data acquisition units and recharging such seismic data acquisition units, the data offload and charger unit comprising: a frame defining a plurality of stations for holding the seismic data acquisition units; a host computer; an integrated power and communications port at each such station adapted to interface with a respective one of the seismic data acquisition units such that power may flow from the data offload and charger unit to the respective one of the seismic data acquisition units and data may flow from the respective one of the seismic data acquisition units to the host computer simultaneously and such that interfacing the respective one of the seismic data acquisition units with a respective one of the integrated power and communications ports activates a connection signal prompting the respective one of the seismic data acquisition units to switch from a first clock frequency to a second clock frequency, wherein: the first clock frequency is slower than the second clock frequency; the respective one of the seismic data acquisition units operates at the first clock frequency while being powered by at least one battery; and the respective one of the seismic data acquisition units operates at the second clock frequency while data is flowing to the host computer; and communications links between the host computer and each integrated power and communications port.