Acoustic receiver
An acoustic receiver is provided for receiving acoustic signals from an acoustic communication channel. The acoustic receiver comprises a waveguide; and at least first and second sensors for sensing the acoustic signals, the sensors being in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The first and second sensors are acoustically coupled to the waveguide at respective first and second positions spaced from each other along a length of the waveguide. The length of the waveguide between the first and second positions follows a path that changes direction to thereby limit an extent of the waveguide.
1 . An acoustic receiver for receiving acoustic signals from an acoustic communication channel, the acoustic receiver comprising:
a waveguide; and
at least first and second sensors for sensing the acoustic signals, the sensors being in acoustic communication with the waveguide;
wherein the first and second sensors are acoustically coupled to the waveguide at respective first and second positions spaced from each other along a length of the waveguide, and wherein the length of the waveguide between the first and second positions follows a path that changes direction to thereby limit an extent of the waveguide, and
wherein the waveguide is acoustically coupled to a solid acoustic conductor, the solid acoustic conductor to provide at least part of the acoustic communication channel,
wherein the path followed by the waveguide between the first and second positions comprises a plurality of substantially parallel portions, wherein at least two of the substantially parallel portions are joined by a portion of the waveguide which follows the path that changes direction, or
wherein the path is a serpentine path.
2 . The acoustic receiver of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is curved to conform to a curvature of at least a curved portion of a cross-section of the acoustic conductor taken perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the acoustic communication channel.
3 . The acoustic receiver of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic communication channel is a downhole acoustic communication channel.
4 . The acoustic receiver of claim 1 wherein the solid acoustic conductor comprises a tubular member.
5 . A method of performing acoustic communication comprising receiving acoustic signals from an acoustic communication channel by way of the acoustic receiver of claim 1 .
6 . An assembly comprising:
the acoustic receiver of claim 1 ; and
a coupler for coupling the acoustic receiver to an acoustic conductor, the acoustic conductor to provide at least part of an acoustic communication channel.
7 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the coupler is configured to fixedly couple a first end of the waveguide to the acoustic conductor to thereby acoustically couple the first end of the waveguide to the acoustic conductor.
8 . The assembly of claim 7 further comprising a holder configured to hold a second end of the waveguide to thereby inhibit displacement of the second end of the waveguide with respect to the acoustic conductor while allowing the second end of the waveguide to vibrate in response to acoustic signals propagating on the waveguide.
9 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the holder is acoustically insulating to inhibit transmission of acoustic signals through the holder between the second end of the waveguide and the acoustic conductor.
10 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the acoustic receiver is a first acoustic receiver of the assembly, and wherein the assembly further comprises a second acoustic receiver, wherein the second acoustic receiver comprising:
a waveguide; and
at least first and second sensors for sensing the acoustic signals, the sensors being in acoustic communication with the waveguide;
wherein the first and second sensors are acoustically coupled to the waveguide at respective first and second positions spaced from each other along a length of the waveguide, and wherein the length of the waveguide between the first and second positions follows a path that changes direction to thereby limit an extent of the waveguide, and
wherein the waveguide is acoustically coupled to a solid acoustic conductor, the solid acoustic conductor to provide at least part of the acoustic communication channel,
wherein the path followed by the waveguide between the first and second positions comprises a plurality of substantially parallel portions, wherein at least two of the substantially parallel portions are joined by a portion of the waveguide which follows the path that changes direction, or
wherein the path is a serpentine path.
11 . The assembly claim 10 , wherein the coupler is a first coupler and the acoustic conductor is a first acoustic conductor, and wherein the second acoustic receiver is couplable to the first acoustic conductor or a second acoustic conductor of the acoustic communication channel by a second coupler.
12 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first acoustic conductor and the second acoustic conductor are offset from each other along a longitudinal axis of the acoustic communication channel.
13 . The assembly of claim 6 , further comprising circuitry to cause signals based on the acoustic signals received by the receiver(s) to be transmitted to one or more remote computing devices.
14 . The assembly of claim 6 , further comprising processing circuitry to obtain sensor data from sensors of the acoustic receiver(s), or data derived therefrom, and to select sensor data from one of the sensors, or data derived therefrom, based on at least one signal selection criterion or based on a comparison of the sensor data from the respective sensors, or data derived therefrom, and at least one signal selection criterion.
15 . The assembly of claim 6 , further comprising an acoustically insulating outer jacket configured with respect to the acoustic conductor to house the acoustic receiver between the outer jacket and the acoustic conductor.
16 . A system comprising:
one or more remote computing devices; and
an assembly according to claim 6 , the assembly comprising circuitry to cause signals based on acoustic signals received by the receiver(s) to be transmitted to the one or more remote computing device(s).
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more remote computing device is to receive sensor data from sensors of the receiver(s), or data derived therefrom, and to select sensor data from one of the sensors, or data derived therefrom, based on at least one selection criterion or a comparison of the sensor data from the respective sensors, or data derived therefrom, and at least one selection criterion.
18 . An assembly comprising:
an acoustic receiver for receiving acoustic signals from an acoustic communication channel, the acoustic receiver comprising: a waveguide; and at least first and second sensors for sensing the acoustic signals, the sensors being in acoustic communication with the waveguide; wherein the first and second sensors are acoustically coupled to the waveguide at respective first and second positions spaced from each other along a length of the waveguide, and wherein the length of the waveguide between the first and second positions follows a path that changes direction to thereby limit an extent of the waveguide;
a coupler for coupling the acoustic receiver to an acoustic conductor, the acoustic conductor to provide at least part of an acoustic communication channel, wherein the coupler is configured to fixedly couple a first end of the waveguide to the acoustic conductor to thereby acoustically couple the first end of the waveguide to the acoustic conductor; and
a holder configured to hold a second end of the waveguide to thereby inhibit displacement of the second end of the waveguide with respect to the acoustic conductor while allowing the second end of the waveguide to vibrate in response to acoustic signals propagating on the waveguide, wherein the holder is acoustically insulating to inhibit transmission of acoustic signals through the holder between the second end of the waveguide and the acoustic conductor.