Patent ID: 8258975

Claim:
A communication system for communicating signals within a hydrocarbon well, the system comprising: at least one first communication device located in a first portion of a wellbore of the well, the first communication device comprising at least one of a signal transmitter and a signal transceiver; and at least one second communication device located in a second portion of the wellbore, the second communication device comprising at least one of a signal receiver and a signal transceiver, wherein at least one of the first and second communication devices is associated with an activation system for a downhole device located in the wellbore, wherein the first communication device further comprises: a connector linking the first communication device to surface located equipment; a housing; a flexible membrane; an actuator comprising one of piezo-electric wafers or a magnetostrictive material; and a coupler device, wherein the coupler device transfers oscillations from the actuator to the membrane by a coupling liquid or by an engagement sub connected to the actuator and a shaft attached to the membrane, wherein the sub lockingly engages the shaft in a signaling mode and slidably engages the shaft in a non-signaling mode, wherein the flexible membrane is configured to transfer oscillations to a wellbore fluid and thereby to a receiver in the second communication device located at a lower position in the wellbore, wherein the coupler device comprises a piston device having a piston shaft connected to the actuator and a piston engaging the coupling fluid to act on the membrane via the coupling fluid, the piston comprising a micro-orifice extending through the piston to enable controlled deflection of the membrane.