Abstract: A warning against the possible failure is accurately sent from the magnetic disk device to a host device. In one embodiment, error indices per unit time are stored discontinuously/continuously for each magnetic head, and if the new index (partial integral error rate) updated with the stored multiple error indices as the items to be monitored satisfies required conditions, this state is diagnosed as an abnormality or a pseudo-abnormality, and reported to the host device. The partial integral error rate is updated with an increase in the number of sets of error indices. Each time a new set of error indices per unit time are stored, the oldest of the existing error indices to be monitored is discarded and one of the new error indexes is added. In this way, a new partial integral error rate is calculated from the fixed number of new sets of error indices to be monitored.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help improve the process for updating parities accompanied by the writing process. According to one embodiment, a host controller transmits a write command and new data to a hard disk drive (HDD). The HDD reads old data at a region where the new data are to be written. The HDD then XORs the new data and the old data to generate a pseudo-parity. The HDD sets the pseudo-parity in a data frame addressed to both of a horizontal parity disk drive HDD and a diagonal parity disk drive HDD and transmits it. The horizontal parity disk drive HDD and the diagonal parity disk drive HDD update the parities using the pseudo-parity.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a loop network system and data storage devices connected thereto where the data storage devices (nodes) can perform effective pieces of processing and the probability of error occurrence can be reduced. One embodiment according to the present invention includes a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop network, a Host controller and multiple HDDs connected thereto. A port on the network outputs parameters to control loop initialization processing as well as a LIP Order Set. Each port performs loop initialization processing according to the received parameters and transfers the received LIP Order Set with parameters appended to the down stream.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention reduce noise and residual vibration during random access operation of a magnetic disk drive. The magnetic disk drive which executes each instruction from an upper device to move a magnetic head from a start track to an end track on a magnetic disk. In one embodiment, the magnetic disk comprises a processor configured, if a seek span from the start track to the end track, according to a seeking instruction from the upper device, is equal to a preset specific length, to store the seeking instruction for the specific length in memory, and to seek an alternative position from the start track for moving the magnetic head and then seek the end track specified in the stored seeking instruction from the alternative position for moving the magnetic head.

Abstract: A video camera is disclosed which can make photographing without any compulsion. A rotary grip is provided on a side face of a camera body so as to be rotatable relative to the camera body, the camera body having an image pickup device, a camera lens and a circuit board of various circuits. A hand strap is attached to the rotary grip. For carrying the video camera, the fingers other than the thumb of one hand are inserted between the rotary grip and the hand strap so that the tips thereof are caught on a peripheral surface of the rotary grip. A liquid crystal display monitor and an operating unit are integral with the peripheral surface of the rotary grip, and when the rotary grip is rotated relative to the camera body unit, the hand strap, as well as the liquid crystal display monitor and the operating unit, also rotate.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide an auxiliary storage device that prevents performance degradation and collects data useful for buffer failure analysis. In one embodiment, a data set including user data and cyclic redundancy check (CRC) information is temporarily stored in a buffer. If a CRC error is detected in a data set that is read from the buffer during a data write or data read, the contents of the data set and the affected buffer address are recorded on a nonvolatile recording medium. Further, the buffer address is disabled. This makes it possible to store the data for reproducing a soft error that occurs in the buffer and prevent the performance of the auxiliary storage device from being degraded by a buffer error.

Abstract: An air-packing device has an improved shock absorbing capability to protect a product in a container box. The air-packing device is comprised of first and second thermoplastic films where predetermined portions are bonded thereby creating a plurality of air containers, a plurality of heat-seal lands each sealing the first and second thermoplastic films in a small area of the air container thereby creating a plurality of series connected air cells for each air container, a plurality of check valves for corresponding air containers for allowing the compressed air to flow in a forward direction. The plurality of heat-seal lands at predetermined sides of the air-packing device create triangled areas of the air cells, and the air-packing device is folded at the heat-seal lands, thereby creating an inner space for packing a product therein.

Abstract: A polyphenylene sulfide resin composition which comprises 100 parts by weight of a polyphenylene sulfide resin (A) and, compounded therewith, 1 to 100 parts by weight of glass fibers (B) having a single-fiber diameter of 12 ?m or lager and has a crystallization temperature during cooling of 205° C. or lower. Also provided is a polyphenylene sulfide resin composition which comprises 100 parts by weight of a polyphenylene sulfide resin (A) and, compounded therewith, 1 to 100 parts by weight of glass fibers (B) having a single-fiber diameter of 10 to 12 ?m, excluding 12 ?m, has a crystallization temperature during cooling of 205° C. or lower and a chloroform-extractable content of 0.5 wt. % or lower, and gives a 2 mm-thick molded product which has a transmittance of 15% or higher for laser beam having a wavelength of 940 nm and a heat distortion temperature of 230° C. or higher under a load of 1.82 MPa.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an error recovery scheme that allows a data read/write error in a data storage device to be processed within a short time, and a data storage device that attempts error recovery using the error recovery scheme. In one embodiment, a data storage device conducts an error recovery process for a data access error in accordance with an error recovery procedure having multiple error recovery steps; the data storage device including a head that accesses a data region of a user data storage medium, and a controller that controls the error recovery process by using not only address information of the sector where the access error to the data region has occurred, but also an error recovery log which has address information of the data region and past error recovery information associated with the latter address information.

Abstract: An optical scanner is capable of effectively correcting a difference with respect to the sub-scanning direction between the positions of optical spots for scanning photoconductor drums of a tandem type color image forming apparatus. The optical scanner includes an optical axis adjusting part. The optical axis adjusting part uses a deflecting mirror or a wedge-shaped prism to deflect the optical axis of an optical beam with respect to the sub-scanning direction. As a result, it is possible to accurately correct a resist difference among individual image forming stations and form a high-quality color image without any color displacement.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention prevent a magnetic head from coming into contact with a protrusion on a magnetic disk. In one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a piezoelectric actuator for changing the flying height of a head/slider assembly. The address of a protrusion on a magnetic disk is preregistered in a nonvolatile memory. When a seek operation or following operation is to be performed, the head/slider assembly flies at a reference flying height. Before the protrusion passes below the head/slider assembly, an operating voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator to increase the flying height. After the protrusion passes below the head/slider assembly, the head/slider assembly flies at the reference flying height with operating voltage application stopped.

Abstract: A light-emitting semiconductor device provides an active layer which comprises thirteen (13) layers that includes six (6) pairs of quantum barrier layers made of Al0.95In0.05N and quantum well layers made of Al0.70In0.30N, which are laminated together alternately. The semiconductor device may also comprise a quantum well layer having a high composition ratio of indium (In). Forming the quantum barrier layer and the quantum well layer to have a high composition ratio of indium (In) increases the lattice constant of the active layer of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A warning against the possible failure is accurately sent from the magnetic disk device to a host device. In one embodiment, error indices per unit time are stored discontinuously/continuously for each magnetic head, and if the new index (partial integral error rate) updated with the stored multiple error indices as the items to be monitored satisfies required conditions, this state is diagnosed as an abnormality or a pseudo-abnormality, and reported to the host device. The partial integral error rate is updated with an increase in the number of sets of error indices. Each time a new set of error indices per unit time are stored, the oldest of the existing error indices to be monitored is discarded and one of the new error indexes is added. In this way, a new partial integral error rate is calculated from the fixed number of new sets of error indices to be monitored.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber in which a sliding member in a location far from an opening portion of an external cylinder is fixed on an inner peripheral surface of the external cylinder with extremely simple structure is provided. A sliding member fittingly fixed in the location far from the opening portion is formed in a ring shape at a parting line gap angle of 15° to 25°, and is deformed to reduce the parting line gap angle during press-fitting operation into the external cylinder so as to be fitted and assembled in a fitting recess formed on an external cylinder inner peripheral surface in the location far from the opening portion. Accordingly, a space of the opening is formed relatively wide and thus, it is possible to press-fit the sliding member in the location far from the opening portion by sufficiently deforming the sliding member.

Abstract: A seed layer as a laminate of a GaN layer (second seed layer) and an AlN buffer layer (first seed layer) is formed on a sapphire substrate. A front surface thereof is etched in the form of stripes with a stripe width (seed width) of about 5 ?m, a wing width of about 15 ?m and a depth of about 0.5 ?m. As a result, mesa portions each shaped like nearly a rectangle in sectional view are formed. Non-etched portions each having the seed multilayer as its flat top portion are arranged at arrangement intervals of L?20 ?m. Part of the sapphire substrate is exposed in trough portions of wings. The ratio S/W of the seed width to the wing width is preferably selected to be in a range of from about ? to about ?. Then, a semiconductor crystal A is grown to obtain a thickness of not smaller than 50 ?m. The semiconductor crystal is separated from the starting substrate to thereby obtain a high-quality single crystal independent of the starting substrate.