Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming a piezoelectric device including a piezoelectric membrane and a plurality of conductive layers. The method includes forming the plurality of conductive layers in the piezoelectric membrane, the plurality of conductive layers are vertically offset one another. A masking layer is formed over the piezoelectric membrane. An etch process is performed according to the masking layer to concurrently expose an upper surface of each conductive layer in the plurality of conductive layers. A plurality of conductive vias are formed over the upper surface of the plurality of conductive layers.

Systems and methods for converting consumer coins, cash, and/or other forms of value for use with mobile commerce platforms implemented on, for example, smart phones, PDAs, and other mobile devices. In one embodiment, a method for implementing a mobile commerce account on a mobile device includes receiving coins and/or other funds from a user at a consumer-operated kiosk. The method can further include counting the coins and/or other funds to determine a value, and then communicating at least a portion of the value from the kiosk to the hand-held mobile device for deposit in the mobile commerce account.

A barium titanate fiber is useful as a filler for a polymer composite piezoelectric body, a polymer composite piezoelectric body has high piezoelectric properties, and a piezoelectric element utilizes the polymer composite piezoelectric body. In the barium titanate fiber, the molar ratio of barium atoms to titanium atoms (Ba/Ti ratio) falls within the range of 1.01 to 1.04. The polymer composite piezoelectric body includes a resin composition containing the barium titanate fiber and a polymer. The piezoelectric element including an electrically conductive layer on one surface or both surfaces of the polymer composite piezoelectric body.

A vibration element includes: a base; a first arm continuous with the base; a second arm that is continuous with the base and is adjacent to the first arm; a first electrode disposed on the first arm, the second arm, and the base; a first piezoelectric layer that has a first polarity and that is disposed on the first electrode on the first arm; a second piezoelectric layer that has a second polarity different from the first polarity and that is disposed on the first electrode on the second arm; an insulating layer disposed on the first electrode on the base; and a second electrode disposed on the first piezoelectric layer, the second piezoelectric layer, and the insulating layer.

A power generation device manufacturing method and a power generation device are proposed. In one embodiment, the method includes (a) forming a halide perovskite active layer on a flexible substrate bent by a stress applied thereto and (b) releasing the stress applied to the substrate on which the halide perovskite active layer is formed, thereby unfolding the bent substrate. By applying a strain to the active layer of the power generation device and controlling the same, using the method described above, it is possible to improve the performance of the power generation device without changing the composition of the active layer or the configuration of the device.

A piezoelectric thin film 3 contains a metal oxide, the metal oxide contains bismuth, potassium, titanium, iron and element M, the element M is at least one of magnesium and nickel, at least a part of the metal oxide is a crystal having a perovskite structure, and a (001) plane, a (110) plane or a (111) plane of the crystal is oriented in a normal direction dn of the surface of the piezoelectric thin film 3.

A touch-sensitive assembly and method of making includes a first electrically conductive layer disposed on a first substrate and a second electrically conductive layer disposed on a second substrate. A piezoelectric film is disposed between the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer. The piezoelectric film includes a plurality of aligned piezoelectric particles disposed in a polymeric matrix and is characterized by a haze value of about 5% or less.

A semiconductor device comprising a passive magnetoelectric transducer structure adapted for generating a charge via mechanical stress caused by a magnetic field. The first transducer structure has a first terminal electrically connectable to the control terminal of an electrical switch, and having a second terminal electrically connectable to the first terminal of the electrical switch for providing a control signal for opening/closing the switch. The switch may be a FET. A passive magnetic switch using a magnetoelectric transducer structure. Use of a passive magnetoelectric transducer structure for opening or closing a switch without the need for an external power supply.

Proposed is a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric composite material. The method includes the steps: wet mixing the ceramic powder, the polymer binder, the plasticizer, and the solvent for 4 to 72 hours to produce the mixed slurry, in which the amount of the polymer binder in the mixed slurry is 3 to 10 parts by weight, the amount of the plasticizer is 0.1 to 3 parts by weight, and the amount of the solvent is 30 or more to less than 50 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the ceramic powder in the mixed slurry; introducing the mixed slurry into a tape casting process to produce a piezoelectric composite sheet; drying and molding the piezoelectric composite sheet in a roll-to-roll process to form a molded piezoelectric composite sheet; laminating and compressing piezoelectric composite sheets molded to produce piezoelectric composite sheet laminates; and cutting the piezoelectric composite sheet laminate into the desired shape and size.

Provided is an energy conversion film excellent in charge retention performance and suppressed in deterioration of piezoelectricity even if it is exposed to a high temperature environment and an energy conversion element and the like using the film. An energy conversion element comprising: an energy conversion film at least comprises a charged resin film consisting of a resin film at least containing a thermoplastic resin and a metal soap; and an electrode provided on at least one of the two surfaces of the energy conversion film.