Directional transducers for use in down hole communications

摘要

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.