Abstract: An electrostatic earphone with a closed-back housing, a sleeve for acoustically sealing to an ear canal, and an electrostatic transducer is provided. The closed-back housing may include a nozzle for acoustic transmission of sound to the ear canal, and the sleeve may be removably attached to the nozzle. The electrostatic transducer may include a diaphragm with a conductive layer, stator plates, and diaphragm rings in electrical contact with the conductive layer of the diaphragm. The stator plates may include an outer annular conductive portion and a central conductive portion. The outer annular portion may be in electrical contact with a bias voltage and the diaphragm rings. The central portion may have a dielectric layer and be in electrical contact with an audio signal. The stator plates and the diaphragm may be spaced apart by the diaphragm rings. An amplifier may provide the bias voltage and audio signal to the earphone.

Abstract: A stabilizer for use in stabilizing a diaphragm of an audio device, such as a microphone transducer or a speaker driver. The stabilizer is configured to be attached to the diaphragm to provide stability to the diaphragm, which may be in the form of one or more of counteraction to asymmetric movement about the center of mass of the voice coil; counteraction to rotation in a direction perpendicular to the desired axial motion of the diaphragm; and additional nonlinear stiffness for mechanical limiting of the diaphragm in the axial direction, which may assist in preventing large excursions of the diaphragm from atypical sources, such as drop, shock, etc.

Abstract: A dual diaphragm dynamic type microphone transducer that, among other things, provides control of source/receiver proximity effects without sacrificing professional level dynamic microphone performance.

Abstract: In connection with a sales transaction, product information is directly collected from the product provided with a label or tag that can be electronically scanned by, for example, optical scanning technology or radio-frequency scanning technology. The product information is electronically provided to the buyer in the form of an electronic receipt.

Abstract: A dual diaphragm dynamic type microphone transducer that, among other things, provides control of source/receiver proximity effects without sacrificing professional level dynamic microphone performance.

Abstract: An electrostatic earphone with a closed-back housing, a sleeve for acoustically sealing to an ear canal, and an electrostatic transducer is provided. The closed-back housing may include a nozzle for acoustic transmission of sound to the ear canal, and the sleeve may be removably attached to the nozzle. The electrostatic transducer may include a diaphragm with a conductive layer, stator plates, and diaphragm rings in electrical contact with the conductive layer of the diaphragm. The stator plates may include an outer annular conductive portion and a central conductive portion. The outer annular portion may be in electrical contact with a bias voltage and the diaphragm rings. The central portion may have a dielectric layer and be in electrical contact with an audio signal. The stator plates and the diaphragm may be spaced apart by the diaphragm rings. An amplifier may provide the bias voltage and audio signal to the earphone.

Abstract: In connection with a sales transaction, product information is directly collected from the product provided with a label or tag that can be electronically scanned by, for example, optical scanning technology or radio-frequency scanning technology. The product information is electronically provided to the buyer in the form of an electronic receipt.

Abstract: In connection with a sales transaction, product information is directly collected from the product provided with a label or tag that can be electronically scanned by, for example, optical scanning technology or radio-frequency scanning technology. The product information is electronically provided to the buyer in the form of an electronic receipt.

Abstract: A database is provided for storing a plurality of sales transactions between buyers and sellers, where each sales transaction may involve, for example, the sale of a product. A signal is received indicating that the selected buyer wishes to register with the seller product information associated with a product of a sales transaction, the sales transaction in the database is identified, the product information is retrieved from the database, and is transmitted to the seller, along with information identifying the buyer.

Abstract: A database is provided for storing a plurality of primary sales transactions between buyers and sellers. An electronic receipt is generated for one of the sales transactions, the electronic receipt is transmitted to a device associated with a user, and a signal is received from the user whereby a sales transaction is initiated relating to a secondary purchase.

Abstract: In connection with a sales transaction, product information is directly collected from the product provided with a label or tag that can be electronically scanned by, for example, optical scanning technology or radio-frequency scanning technology. The product information is electronically provided to the buyer in the form of an electronic receipt.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for an audio transducer. The audio transducer is excited by driving a paddle of a diaphragm. A plurality of node regions of a paddle is determined for the higher-order modal components, which correspond to resonance frequencies and have an order greater than one. An intersection region of at least two higher-order modal components is identified, in which an excitation point is located with the intersection region. The diaphragm of the audio transducer includes a frame, at least one hinge, and a paddle. The paddle connects to the frame by the at least one hinge and is excited by a signal source at an excitation point to produce an acoustic signal.

Abstract: In connection with a sales transaction, product information is directly collected from the product provided with a label or tag that can be electronically scanned by, for example, optical scanning technology or radio-frequency scanning technology. The product information is electronically provided to the buyer in the form of an electronic receipt.

Abstract: A database is provided for storing a plurality of sales transactions between buyers and sellers, where each sales transaction may involve, for example, the sale of a product. A signal is received indicating that the selected buyer wishes to register with the seller product information associated with a product of a sales transaction, the sales transaction in the database is identified, the product information is retrieved from the database, and is transmitted to the seller, along with information identifying the buyer.

Abstract: A database is provided for storing a plurality of primary sales transactions between buyers and sellers. An electronic receipt is generated for one of the sales transactions, the electronic receipt is transmitted to a device associated with a user, and a signal is received from the user whereby a sales transaction is initiated relating to a secondary purchase.

Abstract: A database is provided for storing a plurality of sales transactions between buyers and sellers, where each sales transaction may involve, for example, the sale of a product. A signal is received indicating that a buyer wishes to return a product, the seller of the purchased product is identified in the database, a return label is generated, and it is transmitted back to the buyer.

Abstract: A composition comprising a highly esterified polyol polyester wherein the polyester comprises a polyol residue and a plurality of fatty acids esters, and wherein from about 5% to about 80% of the fatty acid esters contains two or more pairs of conjugated double bonds.

Abstract: A composition comprising a highly esterified polyol polyester wherein the polyester comprises a polyol residue and a plurality of fatty acids esters, and wherein from about 5% to about 80% of the fatty acid esters contains exactly one pair of conjugated double bonds.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing friction between at least two metal surfaces which are in a frictional relationship with each other or otherwise in need of lubrication. The method includes contacting the metal surfaces with an effective amount of a lubricant composition comprised of partially-esterified sucrose molecules having, in one embodiment, an average distribution of from 5 to 7 fatty acids bound to a sucrose backbone. The lubricant may also include from about 20 ppm to about 10,000 ppm of an antioxidant, about half of which may be an active tocopherol.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for an audio transducer. The audio transducer is excited by driving a paddle of a diaphragm. A plurality of node regions of a paddle is determined for the higher-order modal components, which correspond to resonance frequencies and have an order greater than one. An intersection region of at least two higher-order modal components is identified, in which an excitation point is located with the intersection region. The diaphragm of the audio transducer includes a frame, at least one hinge, and a paddle. The paddle connects to the frame by the at least one hinge and is excited by a signal source at an excitation point to produce an acoustic signal.