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.

The structure of a mother piezoelectric element allows a polarization process to be performed on the mother body before the individual piezoelectric elements are cut from the mother piezoelectric element. The mother piezoelectric element includes a plurality of first internal electrodes which are provided on at least one first surface and a plurality of second internal electrodes which are provided on at least one second surface. Each of the first and second internal electrodes is led out to any of first to fourth side surfaces of a mother piezoelectric body. The plurality of first internal electrodes are electrically connected to each other on a first surface and the plurality of second internal electrodes are electrical connected to each other on a second surface. All the first internal electrodes in the mother piezoelectric body are electrically connected to each other, and all the second internal electrodes in the mother piezoelectric body are electrically connected to each other.

Provided are an electroacoustic transduction film capable of reproducing a sound with a sufficient sound volume at a high conversion efficiency, a manufacturing method thereof, an electroacoustic transducer, a flexible display, a vocal cord microphone, and a sensor for a musical instrument. The electroacoustic transduction film includes: a polymer composite piezoelectric body in which piezoelectric body particles are dispersed in a viscoelastic matrix formed of a polymer material having viscoelasticity at a normal temperature; two thin film electrodes laminated on both surfaces of the polymer composite piezoelectric body; and two protective layers respectively laminated on the two thin film electrodes, in which an intensity ratio α.sub.1=(002) plane peak intensity/((002) plane peak intensity+(200) plane peak intensity) between a (002) plane peak intensity and a (200) plane peak intensity derived from the piezoelectric body particles in a case where the polymer composite piezoelectric body is evaluated by an X-ray diffraction method is more than or equal to 0.6 and less than 1.

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.

Provided is a method for producing a piezoelectric element in which a piezoelectric body substrate piece is subjected to polarization treatment and a piezoelectric element is produced. The method includes a first step in which the piezoelectric body substrate piece is held on a flat plate-shaped slightly adhesive sheet and a second step in which voltage is applied to the piezoelectric body substrate piece held on the slightly adhesive sheet and the piezoelectric body substrate piece is subjected to polarization treatment.

A piezoelectric transformer and a method for producing a piezoelectric transformer are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes manufacturing a main body having an input region having electrodes and a first piezoelectric material being alternately stacked one on top of the other. An output region includes a second piezoelectric material. The first piezoelectric material is polarized and a removable contact is fitted to an output-side end side of the main body, which end side faces away from the input region. A first electrical potential is applied to the removable contact for polarizing the second piezoelectric material.

An object of the present invention is to improve the piezoelectricity of a PVT having the VDF ratio of 82 to 90% represented by a copolymer, in which copolymerization of vinylidene fluoride VDF and trifluoroethylene TrFe is 85 versus 15 (this is written as PVT85/15, and which is excellent in resistance to deformation, and heat resistance, etc. And therefore, it is also to obtain a piezoelectric film having piezoelectricity exceeding a PVT of less than 82 mol % of VDF represented by a PVT75/25, which conventionally shows the highest piezoelectricity, and a method of producing the same. A piezoelectric film is made of a mixture of two kinds (for example, a first copolymer is PVT85/15 and a second copolymer is PVT75/25) having different polymerization ratios of vinylidene fluoride VDF and trifluoroethylene TrFE.

Provided are a polymer composite piezoelectric body in which the conversion efficiency between electricity and sound is increased and thus the sound pressure level is improved, an electroacoustic transduction film, and an electroacoustic transducer. The polymer composite piezoelectric body includes a viscoelastic matrix formed of a polymer material having a cyanoethyl group, piezoelectric body particles which are dispersed in the viscoelastic matrix and have an average particle diameter of more than or equal to 2.5 μm, and dielectric particles dispersed in the viscoelastic matrix, in which the dielectric particles are formed of a material different from that of the piezoelectric body particles and have an average particle diameter of less than or equal to 0.5 μm and a relative permittivity of more than or equal to 80.

To perform poling treatment in a simple procedure by dry process. A magnetic field poling device includes a first holding part configured to hold a film-to-be-poled (2); a second holding part configured to hold a magnet generating a magnetic field B to the film-to-be-poled (2); and a moving mechanism configured to move the first holding part or the second holding part in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field B.

The present invention relates to a piezoelectric fiber having excellent flexibility, the piezoelectric fiber employs a conductive fiber member as an inner electrode, on which a piezoelectric polymer layer, an outer electrode and a coating layer are sequentially formed, thereby having excellent flexibility and sufficient elasticity to be sewed, woven, knotted or braided. Therefore, the piezoelectric fiber can be applied in power supplies for a variety of sizes and types of wearable electronic devices, portable devices, clothing, etc. In addition, since the piezoelectric fiber has excellent piezoelectricity and durability because of the above-described structure, it can effectively convert deformation or vibration caused by external physical force into electric energy, and thus can replace existing ceramic-based and polymer piezoelectric bodies, etc. Furthermore, an economical and simple method of manufacturing a piezoelectric fiber having excellent piezoelectricity is provided.