Patent ID: 7629727

Claim:
A device, comprising: a central cylinder having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end and defining a longitudinal axis, the central cylinder being adapted to support one or more piezoelectric elements; at least one piezoelectric fiber wound around the central cylinder according to a helical pattern; at least one positive electrode in electrical communication with the at least one piezoelectric fiber, and adapted to impose a positive electric field on the piezoelectric fiber, the applied electric field causing a structural change in the at least one piezoelectric fiber; at least one positive terminal strip in electrical communication with the at least one positive electrode; at least one output diode electrically separating the at least one positive electrode from the at least one positive terminal strip, and permitting a current to flow from the positive electrode to the positive terminal strip; at least one input diode electrically separating the at least one positive electrode from the at least one positive terminal strip, and permitting a current to flow from the terminal strip to the positive electrode; at least one negative electrode in electrical communication with the at least one piezoelectric fiber, and adapted to impose a negative electric field on the piezoelectric fiber, the applied electric field causing a structural change in the at least one piezoelectric fiber; at least one negative terminal strip in electrical communication with the at least one negative electrode; at least one output diode electrically separating the at least one negative electrode from the at least one negative terminal strip, and permitting a current to flow from the negative electrode to the negative terminal strip; at least one input diode electrically separating the at least one negative electrode from the at least one negative terminal strip, and permitting a current to flow from the terminal strip to the negative electrode; and a nonconductive layer disposed over the at least one piezoelectric fiber and the electrodes, the nonconductive layer electrically isolating the underlying elements from the surrounding environment.