Hybrid piezoelectric and magnetostrictive actuator
First Claim
1. An acoustic telemetry transducer comprising:
- a capacitive electromechanical transducer having an electrical connection and a mechanical connection, and an inductive electromechanical transducer having an electrical connection coupled to the capacitive electromechanical transducer electrical connection and having a mechanical connection coupled to the capacitive electromechanical transducer mechanical connection.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electromechanical transducer formed by an electrical and mechanical combination of a piezoelectric device and a magnetostrictive device. The two devices are electrically coupled so that their capacitive and inductive reactances approach a balance to provide an essentially resistive combined input at a selected frequency. Efficiency of circuits driving the transducer is improved. The devices are mechanically coupled so that the mechanical outputs add or reinforce each other. Two transducer pairs may be used in a two frequency telemetry system with each pair tuned to one of the frequencies for optimal reactance balancing and transduction efficiency.
49 Citations
67 Claims
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1. An acoustic telemetry transducer comprising:
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a capacitive electromechanical transducer having an electrical connection and a mechanical connection, and an inductive electromechanical transducer having an electrical connection coupled to the capacitive electromechanical transducer electrical connection and having a mechanical connection coupled to the capacitive electromechanical transducer mechanical connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electromechanical transducer for use in a borehole, comprising:
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a capacitive electromechanical transducer having an electrical connection and a mechanical connection, and an inductive electromechanical transducer having an electrical connection coupled to the capacitive electromechanical transducer electrical connection and having a mechanical connection coupled to the capacitive electromechanical transducer mechanical connection. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An electromechanical transducer for use in a borehole, comprising:
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a section of a tubular element adapted for use in a borehole, a coil surrounding the section of tubular element, a sleeve surrounding said coil coupled to the tubular element. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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24. A borehole telemetry system for transmitting signals from a first location in a borehole to a second location in the borehole, comprising:
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an acoustic transmission medium extending from the first location to the second location, a first capacitive electromechanical transducer having an electrical connection and having a mechanical connection coupled to the acoustic transmission medium, and a first inductive electromechanical transducer having an electrical connection coupled to the first capacitive electromechanical transducer electrical connection and having a mechanical connection coupled to the acoustic transmission medium near the first capacitive electromechanical transducer. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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43. A borehole telemetry system for transmitting signals from a first location in a borehole to a second location in the borehole, comprising:
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an acoustic transmission medium extending from the first location to the second location, and two transducer pairs, each pair comprising a first capacitive electromechanical transducer having an electrical connection and having a mechanical connection coupled to the acoustic transmission medium at the first location, and a first inductive electromechanical transducer having an electrical connection coupled to the first capacitive electromechanical transducer electrical connection and having a mechanical output coupled to the acoustic transmission medium at the first location. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. Apparatus for producing acoustic waves in a fluid in a borehole, comprising:
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a fluid filled chamber having at least one port, a piston movable in the chamber to move fluid through the port, an actuator coupled to the piston, wherein the actuator comprises, a capacitive electromechanical transducer having an electrical connection and having a mechanical connection coupled to the piston, and an inductive electromechanical transducer having an electrical connection coupled to the capacitive electromechanical transducer electrical connection and having a mechanical connection coupled to the piston. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A method for converting electrical energy into mechanical energy in a structure in a borehole, comprising:
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mechanically coupling a capacitive electromechanical transducer and an inductive electromechanical transducer to a structure in a borehole, coupling an electrical input of the capacitive electromechanical transducer to an electrical input of the inductive electromechanical transducer to form a single circuit, coupling electrical energy to the single circuit to simultaneously apply mechanical energy to the structure with the capacitive electromechanical transducer and the inductive electromechanical transducer. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60)
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61. A method for telemetering electrical signals as acoustic waves, comprising:
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mechanically coupling a first capacitive electromechanical transducer to a first inductive electromechanical transducer, coupling an electrical input of the capacitive electromechanical transducer to an electrical input of the inductive electromechanical transducer to form a first circuit, and coupling an electrical signal to the first circuit to produce acoustic waves from both the capacitive electromechanical transducer and the inductive electromechanical transducer. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64)
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65. A method for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy in a borehole, comprising:
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mechanically coupling a mechanical connection of a capacitive electromechanical transducer to a mechanical connection of an inductive electromechanical transducer in a borehole, coupling an electrical connection of the capacitive electromechanical transducer to an electrical connection of the inductive electromechanical transducer to form a single circuit, and applying mechanical energy to the mechanical connections of the capacitive electromechanical transducer and the inductive electromechanical transducer, whereby electrical energy is produced in the single circuit.
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66. A method for transmitting signals from a first location in a borehole to a second location in a borehole, comprising;
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coupling the mechanical connection of a first capacitive electromechanical transducer to an acoustic medium at a first point near said first location, coupling the mechanical connection of a first inductive electromechanical transducer to the acoustic medium at a second point near said first location, the second point being spaced from the first point by a distance related to a first frequency and the phase difference between acoustic signals produced at the mechanical connections of said first capacitive and inductive transducers, coupling the electrical connections of the first capacitive and inductive transducers together to form a first circuit, coupling the mechanical connection of a second capacitive electromechanical transducer to an acoustic medium at a third point said first location, coupling the mechanical connection of a second inductive electromechanical transducer to the acoustic medium at a fourth point near said first location, the fourth point being spaced from the third point by a distance related to a second frequency and the phase difference between acoustic signals produced at the mechanical connections of said second capacitive and inductive transducers, coupling the electrical connections of the second capacitive and inductive transducers together to form a second circuit. - View Dependent Claims (67)
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Specification