Directional transducers for use in down hole communications

• US 20060098530A1
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Mallison, Edgar R., Stratton, Thomas G.
• Application Number:
  US10/975,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20060098530A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/81
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/14 using acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/18 through the well fluid , e.g. mud pressure pulse telemetry

Abstract

A communication device associated with a well has a transducer and a controller. The transducer is part of a first communication device and converts a signal between an electrical form and an acoustic form. The controller controls the transducer so that the transducer has a preferred directionality with respect to an acoustic signal transmitted between the first communication device and a second communication device. The transducer includes a plurality of electrical/acoustic converters, such as piezoelectric devices, and one or more of the electrical/acoustic converters are controlled so that the transducer has the preferred directionality.

Claims

1. A communication device associated with a well comprising:

a transducer arranged to convert an electrical signal to an acoustic signal; and

,

a controller coupled to the transducer, wherein the controller is arranged to control the transducer so as to steer the acoustic signal through the well toward a receiving device.

2. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the transducer includes a plurality of electrical/acoustic converters, and wherein the controller is arranged to control one or more of the electrical/acoustic converters so as to steer the acoustic signal toward the receiving device.

3. The communication device of claim 2 wherein the controller includes a memory that stores a combination of the electrical/acoustic converters that are used to steer the acoustic signal toward the receiving device, and wherein the controller controls the electrical/acoustic converters in accordance with the stored combination so as to steer the acoustic signal toward the receiving device.

4. The communication device of claim 2 wherein a position of each of the electrical/acoustic converters is controllable.

5. The communication device of claim 2 wherein a position of each of the electrical/acoustic converters is electrostatically controllable.

6. The communication device of claim 2 wherein the electrical/acoustic converters comprises corresponding piezoelectric devices.

7. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the controller includes a transmitter that supplies the electrical signal to the transducer.

8. The communication device of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor coupled to the controller.

9. The communication device of claim 1 further comprising at least one electromechanical device controlled by the controller.

10. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the transducer and controller have a down hole location, and wherein the receiving device has a surface location.

11. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the transducer and controller have a surface location, and wherein the receiving device has a down hole location.

12. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the transducer and controller have a down hole location, and wherein the receiving device has a down hole location.

13. A communication device associated with a well comprising:

a transducer arranged to receive an acoustic signal transmitted by a transmitting device and to convert the received acoustic signal to an electrical signal; and

,

a controller coupled to the transducer, wherein the controller is arranged to control the transducer so that the transducer has a preferred directional sensitivity to the received acoustic signal.

14. The communication device of claim 13 wherein the transducer includes a plurality of electrical/acoustic converters, and wherein the controller is arranged to control one or more of the electrical/acoustic converters so that the transducer has the preferred directional sensitivity to the received acoustic signal.

15. The communication device of claim 14 wherein the controller includes a memory that stores a combination of the electrical/acoustic converters that are used to provide the transducer with the preferred directional sensitivity to the received acoustic signal, and wherein the controller controls the electrical/acoustic converters in accordance with the stored combination so that the transducer has the preferred directional sensitivity to the received acoustic signal.

16. The communication device of claim 14 wherein a position of each of the electrical/acoustic converters is controllable.

17. The communication device of claim 14 wherein a position of each of the electrical/acoustic converters is electrostatically controllable.

18. The communication device of claim 14 wherein the electrical/acoustic converters comprises corresponding piezoelectric devices.

19. The communication device of claim 13 wherein the controller includes a receiver that processes the electrical signal from the transducer.

20. The communication device of claim 13 further comprising at least one sensor coupled to the controller.

21. The communication device of claim 13 further comprising at least one electromechanical device controlled by the controller.

22. The communication device of claim 13 wherein the transducer and controller have a down hole location, and wherein the transmitting device has a surface location.

23. The communication device of claim 13 wherein the transducer and controller have a surface location, and wherein the transmitting device has a down hole location.

24. The communication device of claim 13 wherein the transducer and controller have a down hole location, and wherein the transmitting device has a down hole location.

25. A communication method comprising:

converting a signal between an electrical form and an acoustic form, wherein the converting is performed by a transducer of a first communication device; and

,

controlling the transducer so that the transducer has a preferred directionality with respect to an acoustic signal transmitted between the first communication device and a second communication device.

26. The communication method of claim 25 wherein the transducer includes a plurality of electrical/acoustic converters, and wherein the communication method includes controlling one or more of the electrical/acoustic converters so as to realize the preferred directionality.

27. The communication method of claim 26 including storing a combination of the electrical/acoustic converters that are used to realize the preferred directionality, and controlling the electrical/acoustic converters in accordance with the stored combination so as to realize the preferred directionality.

28. The communication method of claim 26 wherein a position of each of the electrical/acoustic converters is controllable.

29. The communication method of claim 26 wherein a position of each of the electrical/acoustic converters is electrostatically controllable.

30. The communication method of claim 25 including providing sensor signals from a sensor.

31. The communication method of claim 25 comprising providing signals to at least one electromechanical device.

32. The communication method of claim 25 wherein the first communication device has a down hole location, and wherein the second communication device has a surface location.

33. The communication method of claim 25 wherein the first communication device has a surface location, and wherein the second communication device has a down hole location.

34. The communication method of claim 25 wherein the first communication device has a down hole location, and wherein the second communication device has a down hole location.