Abstract: A method of cell balancing for a battery comprising a plurality of cells. The method comprises determining a cell balancing strategy based on at least one of a cell chemistry of the battery; an expected use cycle of the battery; and a first state of the battery, wherein the first state is a detected state of the battery. The method further comprises discharging one or more cells according to the cell balancing strategy when the battery is in a second state, wherein the second state is a detected state of the battery. The cell balancing strategy is configured to discharge one or more of the plurality of cells such that a balancing parameter of each cell being discharged reaches a threshold value. The balancing parameter comprises at least one of a voltage; a state of charge; and a voltage difference.

Abstract: A method is described for processing commands for a client computing device using a remote graphics processing unit server. The method includes receiving, by a display driver of the client computing device, a command from an application operating on the client computing device and compressing, by the display driver, the command to generate a compressed command. Compressing the command includes determining whether a resource associated with the command is available in a cache of the remote graphics processing unit server and replacing the resource with a reference to the resource, when the resource is available. The display driver transmits the compressed command to the remote graphics processing unit server for processing by a remote graphics processing unit (GPU) and receives data generated by the remote GPU based on processing the compressed command.

Abstract: A toolkit for shaping a malleable compound. The kit including at least one of the following implements, (a) a plunger for slidable insertion into a cutter with a plurality of walls, wherein the cutter includes an interior space and the cutter is positioned atop a base; (b) a floor panel with a plurality of walls, at least one of the walls rotatably connected to the floor panel; and (c) a box having a base and a plurality of walls, wherein a plurality of guide slots are disposed within opposing walls for receiving the blade of a saw.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shaping a malleable compound including a major frame, a mesh secured to a minor frame, the mesh having an upper surface and a lower surface and the minor frame engaged with the major frame. In addition, a tray is disposed beneath the mesh and is separable from the major frame, mesh and minor frame. To assist in the formation of the shaped malleable material, a cutter of a desired pattern with a lower edge, an upper surface and an open extended interior spanning between the lower edge and the upper surface is utilized. The lower edge of the cutter is placed over the mesh atop the malleable compound and hand pressure is applied to the cutter causing the malleable compound to extrude through the mesh past the lower edge into the open interior of the cutter resulting in the malleable compound taking on the shaped of the desired pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) device comprising a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide. The NFT comprises a core layer comprising an insulator, a first metal layer adjacent to the core layer, and a second layer adjacent to the first metal layer, wherein the second layer comprises a material that is substantially mechanically and thermally stable and thereby functions as a hard jacket to mitigate deformation of the NFT. The first metal layer may comprise a plasmonic metal, such as gold. The second layer may comprise tungsten, chromium, or a dielectric material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) device comprising a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide. The NFT comprises a core layer comprising an insulator, a first metal layer adjacent to the core layer, and a second layer adjacent to the first metal layer, wherein the second layer comprises a material that is substantially mechanically and thermally stable and thereby functions as a hard jacket to mitigate deformation of the NFT. The first metal layer may comprise a plasmonic metal, such as gold. The second layer may comprise tungsten, chromium, or a dielectric material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) device comprising a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide in a direct-fire configuration. The NFT comprises an insulator core encased in a metal portion. The insulator core comprises a rectangular portion and a tapered portion, wherein the rectangular portion is between the waveguide and the tapered portion. The metal portion comprises a plasmonic metal.

Abstract: A toy brick maker and associated methods makes a compound brick having a body shaped as a rectangular prism with a first texture on a bottom surface of the compound brick and a second texture on a top surface of the compound brick. The brick maker includes a base portion, a cutter portion, and a plunder portion. The base portion has a flat surface for flattening a malleable compound into a slab of uniform thickness and has a first imprint surface for imprinting the first texture. The cutter portion is configured for cutting a quantity of compound from the slab and to form sides of the compound brick. The plunger portion has a second imprint surface to compress the quantity of compound within the cutter portion against the first imprint surface to form the sides, first texture, and second texture of the compound brick.

Abstract: A panel device for use with a plurality of connectors and rods with the rods connectable to the connectors is provided. The panel device comprises a substantially planar panel member having a plurality of sides. A groove is formed along each side of the panel member. A first groove edge is positioned along one side of the groove. A second groove edge is positioned on the other side of the groove with the second groove edge extending beyond the first groove edge wherein each rod is adapted to be inserted into the groove, the first groove edge and the second groove edge releasably maintaining the rod within the groove.

Abstract: A panel device for use with a plurality of connectors and rods with the rods connectable to the connectors is provided. The panel device comprises a substantially planar panel member having a plurality of sides. A groove is formed along each side of the panel member. A first groove edge is positioned along one side of the groove. A second groove edge is positioned on the other side of the groove with the second groove edge extending beyond the first groove edge wherein each rod is adapted to be inserted into the groove, the first groove edge and the second groove edge releasably maintaining the rod within the groove.