# US 2014/0153368 A1 · Communication in pipes using acoustic modems that provide minimal obstruction to fluid flow > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153368 A1 - Document ID: US20140153368A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/913,044 - Filed: 2013-06-07 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-07 - Assignees: California Institute of Technology - Inventors: Yoseph Bar-Cohen; Eric D. Archer; Xiaoqi Bao; Stewart Sherrit - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153368A1 ## CPC - G10K 11/18: Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound (G10K11/02, G10K11/36 take precedence) - A61B 8/4483: {characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer} - E21B 47/14: using acoustic waves - E21B 47/18: through the well fluid {, e.g. mud pressure pulse telemetry} - G10K 11/34: using electrical steering of transducer arrays, e.g. beam steering {(constructional aspects B06B1/0607, B06B1/085)} - A61B 8/4488: {the transducer being a phased array} - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices are used to communicate data along a tubulation, such as a well. The phased array acoustic communication devices employ phased arrays of acoustic transducers, such as piezoelectric transducers, to direct acoustic energy in desired directions along the tubulation. The system is controlled by a computer-based controller. Information, including data and commands, is communicated using digital signaling. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation, comprising: a tubulation having a first end and at least a second end; a plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices, each of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices configured to send acoustic signals and to receive acoustic signals, a first one of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices situated proximate to said first end of said tubulation and having at least one input port for communication with a controller and having at least one output port for communication with said controller, and a second of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices situated at a distance from said first one of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices, said second of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices configured to communicate with and to receive instructions by way of said first of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices; and a controller configured to activate said one of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices by way of said input port, configured to receive a signal from said one of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices by way of said output port input terminal and configured to provide at a controller output port an electrical signal representative of an acoustic signal received by said one of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 1, wherein said tubulation is a bore of a well. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 2, wherein the transducer system does not occlude or obstruct said bore of said well. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices has a unique identifier used in communication between phased array acoustic communication devices. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices operates at an acoustic frequency different from the acoustic frequency of operation of all others of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 1, wherein the well is an oil well. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 1, wherein the well is a gas well. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a general purpose programmable computer and a—set of instructions recorded in a non-transitory manner on a machine-readable medium. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 8, wherein the set of instructions when operating on the general purpose programmable computer activates said one of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices by way of said input port. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 8, wherein the set of instructions when operating on the general purpose programmable computer controls the reception of a signal from said one of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices by way of said output port input terminal ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 8, wherein the set of instructions when operating on the general purpose programmable computer controls the provision at a controller output port of an electrical signal representative of an acoustic signal received by said one of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 1, further comprising a display. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 12, wherein the set of instructions when operating on the general purpose programmable computer controls the operation of the display. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 12, wherein the set of instructions when operating on the general purpose programmable computer controls the information that will be presented to a user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 1, further comprising an input device operable by a user. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 15, wherein the set of instructions when operating on the general purpose programmable computer controls the receipt of input from a user. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices is in tubular form. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices has an internal opening of at least said same cross section as said tubulation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The acoustic communication system for use in a tubulation of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of phased array acoustic communication devices is in communication with a sensor.