METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACOUSTICAL POWER TRANSFER AND COMMUNICATION

摘要

Systems and methods for transmitting power and information using acoustic energy are provided. The systems have particular application for powering and communication with electronics through drilling and pipe systems. An acoustic fiber having a core region radially surrounded by a cladding region is used to transmit acoustic power and signals between paired transducers. Pairs of acoustic wedges are provided for sending energy and information through a substrate. Each wedge has an angled transducer which can be used to produce angled longitudinal waves which, upon reaching a substrate interface, produce shear waves in the substrate. The shear waves propagate down the substrate and are received by a second acoustic wedge. The shear waves in the substrate transition back to longitudinal waves on reaching the second acoustic wedge, and they are converted back into electrical signals by a second transducer.