A method and apparatus is provided for verifying the validity of ID cards. A method for extending the service life of a portable device includes monitoring power consumption of at least one of the hardware or software of a portable device; and reconfiguring the connection schema of the battery banks to redistribute power consumption of at least one of the hardware or software. An outer bag inflates with the gas supplied through a flow port in the inner bag. Each of the surgical anchors has a penetration section and a head section. The detector detects an amount of toner remaining in the hopper. The supported lowest-order mode which has gain, has a mode cross section which is large compared to the operating optical wavelength in both the transverse and lateral directions.