Abstract: Hydrostatic pressure turbine runners according to the present disclosure are designed for maximally exploiting the hydrostatic pressure of a flowing fluid, rather than maximizing extraction of kinetic energy from the flow. The design converts less kinetic energy of the flow into hydropower as compared with current run-of-river turbine runner technologies. However, hydrostatic pressure turbine runners according to the present disclosure convert substantially more potential energy into hydropower. As a result, the total amount of energy converted into hydropower is significantly higher than the hydropower available from conventional run-of-river turbine runner designs, and, without promising any particular utility, may be capable of surpassing the upper limit of converted energy as defined by Betz' law. In a run-of-river context, the total amount of converted energy—mainly converted potential energy—may surpass the amount of kinetic energy of the flow engaged by the turbine runner.

Abstract: A vehicle with a chassis supported by a multiple-lifting-tandems suspension of four, six, eight, ten or twelves lifting tandem pairs, where each lifting tandem pair comprises a front wheel and a rear wheel rotatably mounted to a rocker arm whereas both wheels may or may not be steerable; a link arm having a proximal end rotatably mounted to the chassis and a distal end rotatably mounted to a central portion of the rocker arm; an actuator having a proximal end rotatably mounted to the chassis a distance from the proximal end of the link arm and a distal end rotatably mounted to a central portion of the rocker arm or to a distal end of the link arm, the actuator extending to move the rocker arm to an extended position and retracting to move the rocker arm to a retracted position; and drive means engaging each front wheel and each rear wheel.

Abstract: An energy-storage apparatus for providing emergency backup power to an electronic device has a housing, a battery integrated within the housing, and an interface configured to be inserted into a data port of the electronic device to electrically couple the battery to the power supply of the electronic device. The interface is rigidly coupled to a top surface of said housing and is centered at about a midpoint of its length. The height and depth of the housing are shorter than the length. The housing has a front surface with an open dimple centered at about a midpoint of its length.

Abstract: An energy-storage apparatus for providing emergency backup power to an electronic device has a housing, a battery integrated within the housing, and an interface configured to be inserted into a data port of the electronic device to electrically couple the battery to the power supply of the electronic device. The interface is rigidly coupled to a top surface of said housing and is centered at about a midpoint of its length. The height and depth of the housing are shorter than the length. The housing has a front surface with an open dimple centered at about a midpoint of its length.

Abstract: Apparatus is described, for use with a cellphone (10) that has a power supply, in which the apparatus includes energy-storage apparatus (20), including a housing (26), a battery (28) coupled to the housing, and a cellphone interface (30) coupled to the housing, configured to electrically couple the battery to the power supply of the cellphone and to carry current from the battery to the power supply. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is described, for use with a cellphone (10) that has a power supply, in which the apparatus includes energy-storage apparatus (20), including a housing (26), a battery (28) coupled to the housing, and a cellphone interface (30) coupled to the housing, configured to electrically couple the battery to the power supply of the cellphone and to carry current from the battery to the power supply. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The preferred computer-implemented method includes the steps of storing a first amount of money from funds of a first party, issuing a unique identifier to the first party, and storing the unique identifier and the first amount. The method further includes the steps of receiving the unique identifier and a request to release a second amount of money from a second party, refusing to release the second amount if the second amount exceeds the first amount, and releasing the second amount to the second party if the second amount is equal or less than the first amount. A computer system for making payments is also provided. The system includes computer electronics and software that implement the above method and other functionality.