Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and a system for sequestering carbon-containing materials in underground wells. An example method includes: obtaining a material comprising a carbon-containing liquid; optionally testing the material for compatibility with an underground well; optionally adjusting a property of the material to improve the compatibility; and providing the material for injection into the underground well.

Abstract: A laminated load ring for a balloon assembly includes a plurality of ring stacking units stacked one on top of the other. Each of the ring stacking units can include a main body having a central opening, a plurality of arms, and at least one weld line. The plurality of arms may each extend away from the main body around a circumference of the main body. The at least one weld line can be formed on the main body. The plurality of arms of the plurality of ring stacking units may be aligned with one another. The weld line of each of the plurality of ring stacking units may be offset from the weld line of a directly adjacent ring stacking unit in a direction extending around the circumference of the laminated load ring.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and a system for sequestering carbon-containing materials in underground wells. An example method includes: obtaining a material comprising a carbon-containing liquid; optionally testing the material for compatibility with an underground well; optionally adjusting a property of the material to improve the compatibility; and providing the material for injection into the underground well.

Abstract: A balloon system is provided including a balloon envelope, a payload secured to the balloon envelope, a first parachute positioned within a parachute container, the parachute container secured to the payload, a first bridle line having a first end secured to the balloon system and a second end secured to the parachute container, a controller positioned on the balloon system, wherein when the controller receives a signal to deploy the parachute container, the controller is operable to cause the parachute container to be released downwardly from the payload.

Abstract: A portable computer may include a base, a lid, a base cylinder extending from the base, a lid cylinder extending from the lid, and a link. The link may couple the base cylinder to the lid cylinder fixing a positional relationship between the base cylinder and the lid cylinder so that the base cylinder frictionally engages with the lid cylinder.

Abstract: A touchscreen display device may include a capacitive sensor disposed adjacent to a top surface of the display device, and a resistive sensor disposed below the capacitive sensor. A backlight may selectively illuminate a pattern on an inner side of the top surface of the display device, so that the pattern is visible from outside the display device when the backlight is activated, and is not visible when the back light is not activated.

Abstract: A balloon system is provided including a balloon envelope, a payload secured to the balloon envelope, a first parachute positioned within a parachute container, the parachute container secured to the payload, a first bridle line having a first end secured to the balloon system and a second end secured to the parachute container, a controller positioned on the balloon system, wherein when the controller receives a signal to deploy the parachute container, the controller is operable to cause the parachute container to be released downwardly from the payload.

Abstract: According to one example embodiment, a sheet may include a first carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer, a graphite layer adjacent to the first carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer, the graphite layer comprising at least one aperture, a second carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer adjacent to the graphite layer, and at least one column of plastic extending from the first carbon reinforced plastic layer, through the at least one aperture, to the second carbon reinforced plastic layer.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a method can include receiving a plurality of indicators of interactions of a user with a plurality of locations of a touch-sensitive surface of an input area included in a base portion of a computing device. The method further includes receiving a plurality of indicators of pressure associated with at least a portion of the plurality of interactions, selecting a first interaction profile based on a first portion of the plurality of indicators of interactions and based on a first portion of the plurality of indicators of pressure, associating a first input mode with the first portion of the plurality of indicators of interactions based on the first interaction profile. The method still further includes associating a second input mode with a second portion of the plurality of indicators of interactions based on a second interaction profile different from the first interaction profile.

Abstract: A method of using a heat pipe to spot cool a component in a computer case involves disposing an evaporator portion of the heat pipe to be laterally or horizontally adjacent to, but not in direct contact with, the component in the computer case. The method further involves thermally coupling the laterally adjacent component and the evaporator portion of the heat pipe with a bridging heat transfer component.

Abstract: In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, a device may include a base member formed as a receptacle with a recess defining an interior region configured for receiving internal circuitry. The base member may include first and second sides intersecting orthogonally to define a corner. The device may include a rail member having a first portion coupled to the first side of the base member and a second portion coupled to the second side of the base member. The rail member may be positioned to contact the corner of the base member. The device may include an enclosing member coupled to the first and second portions of the rail member with a plurality of fasteners to thereby enclose the internal circuitry disposed in the recess of the base member between the enclosing member and the base member.

Abstract: A touchscreen display device may include a capacitive sensor disposed adjacent to a top surface of the display device, and a resistive sensor disposed below the capacitive sensor. A backlight may selectively illuminate a pattern on an inner side of the top surface of the display device, so that the pattern is visible from outside the display device when the backlight is activated, and is not visible when the back light is not activated.

Abstract: According to an example embodiment, an electrical connector may include an electrical cord comprising a plurality of wires, and a plug connected to the electrical cord. The plug may include electrical contacts coupled to the plurality of electrical wires, and at least one latch. The at least one latch may be biased to extend away from the plug, an end surface of the at least one latch being within two tenths of a millimeter of an end surface of the plug opposite from the electrical cord.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a display apparatus includes a display, a capacitive sensor disposed on a top surface of the display and a resistive sensor disposed on a bottom surface of the display. In another general aspect, a method for assembling a display apparatus includes laminating a capacitive sensor to a top surface of a display and laminating a resistive sensor to a bottom surface of the display.

Abstract: An end effector controller that is gripped by an operator in one hand, including a pistol-grip housing configured to fit in the palm of an operator's hand when gripped and having mounted thereon a plurality of switching mechanisms with pivoting, dual-acting switch triggers each configured for independent actuation by multiple fingers of the hand when said controller is gripped, and a method for controlling a robotic end effector remotely using the operator hand-gripped controller, the method including switching between preset operating modes of the end effector using a single, control input element, easily actuated by a finger in the operator's gripping hand; and providing continuous fine adjustment between preset modes using a second, control input element also easily actuated by a finger on the operator's gripping hand.

Abstract: According to an example embodiment, an electrical connector may include an electrical cord comprising a plurality of wires, and a plug connected to the electrical cord. The plug may include electrical contacts coupled to the plurality of electrical wires, and at least one latch. The at least one latch may be biased to extend away from the plug, an end surface of the at least one latch being within two tenths of a millimeter of an end surface of the plug opposite from the electrical cord.

Abstract: In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, a device may include a base member formed as a receptacle with a recess defining an interior region configured for receiving internal circuitry. The base member may include first and second sides intersecting orthogonally to define a corner. The device may include a rail member having a first portion coupled to the first side of the base member and a second portion coupled to the second side of the base member. The rail member may be positioned to contact the corner of the base member. The device may include an enclosing member coupled to the first and second portions of the rail member with a plurality of fasteners to thereby enclose the internal circuitry disposed in the recess of the base member between the enclosing member and the base member.

Abstract: A pistol-grip controller for the control of a robotic or virtual hand has multiple dual-action switching mechanisms positioned to simulate intuitively the motion of grasping and releasing an object. An externally-projecting switch trigger of each switching mechanism is hook-shaped to facilitate the operator donning and doffing the controller. These switches move in response to gripping and releasing movements of the associated fingers so as to close or open peripherals (fingers) of the end effector hand. A rocker switch allows an operator to toggle conveniently between commonly used modes of a virtual or robot hand, or the like. The mode toggling is complemented by a control to adjust between the commonly used modes of operation. To make the manipulation of the end effector more intuitive, the controller remaps the switching mechanisms to different functionalities on the end effector based on the mode of operation. The transition between switch to end effector mappings is hysteretic.