Abstract: The invention relates to fiber-reinforced composites acting as an actuator, as a sensor and/or as a generator and to a manufacturing process. It is the object of the invention to provide such fiber-reinforced composites which can be manufactured simply and reliably and which are securely fastened and exactly positioned as elements acting as actuators, generators and/or sensors. In a fiber-reinforced composite in accordance with the invention, at least one piezoelectric element is fixed and positioned by fibers or yarn within a fiber structure or by means of fibers or yarn to a fiber structure. Flexible, electrically conductive connections which can be contacted from outside the fiber-reinforced composite are led at and/or within the fiber structure to electric connector contacts of the at least one piezoelectric element. One or more piezoelectric elements, electrically conductive connections and the fiber structure are embedded in a matrix material.

Abstract: A pressure sensor has a multiplicity of piezoelectric converter elements which are arranged such that they are essentially parallel to a force-applying or pressure-applying direction. The converter elements can be arranged at a distance from one another by an insulating material and/or are at least partially embedded in the material. A support material having greater mechanical rigidity than the converter elements, in particular in the force-applying or pressure-applying direction, is assigned to at least a number of piezoelectric converter elements, or the piezoelectric converter element is applied, in the form of a layer, to a supporting body made from this support material and is electrically contact-connected, for example, by a bottom electrode, which is arranged between the converter element layer and the supporting body, and a cover electrode which is applied to an outer side of the converter element layer.

Abstract: A pressure sensor has a multiplicity of piezoelectric converter elements which are arranged such that they are essentially parallel to a force-applying or pressure-applying direction. These can be in the form of fibres, small rods, plates or the like, and may also be in the form of a thick or thin layer. When the converter elements are in the form of fibres, small rods or plates, they are arranged at a distance from one another by means of an insulating material and/or are at least partially embedded in said material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric transducer including piezoelectric fibers in a polymer matrix is described. The piezoelectric fibers or fiber segments are jacketed with a liquid polymer substance in such a way that a distribution of longitudinal axes of the fibers or fiber segments about a preferential direction occurs. The fibers are compacted among each other and the polymer substance is cured. The resulting composite structure is subsequently so processed that areas of the fibers or fiber segments are exposed along the preferential direction. Then electrical contacts are applied on at least one part of the exposed areas. The method permits the very simple and low-cost manufacture of electro-mechanical transducers made of piezoelectric fibers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electromechanical converter, a method of manufacturing same, as well as to a composite system including the electromechanical converter. The inventive electromechanical converter consists of at least one elongate fiber (1) made of a piezoelectric material. At least two electrodes (2) are provided at mutually spaced locations on the fiber (1) for subjecting the fiber to an electrical field. The electrodes (2) are in direct contact with the fiber (1) and enclose the fiber (1) partly or completely. The direct contact between the electrode and the fiber permits the optimum introduction of the electrical field into the fiber such that lower electrical potentials on the electrodes are sufficient for polarising the fiber. Another advantage resides in the aspect that the electrode is in direct contact with the fiber not only at one point but over part of the periphery of the fiber. This results in a further enhancement of the introduction of the electrical field.