Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage device is provided which includes a control unit configured to, in case that first data coincides with third data out of second data of a second size greater than the first size stored on a storage medium, do not write fourth data obtained by replacing the third data included in the second data with the first data onto the storage medium.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a controller of a magnetic disk device starts to receive first data specified in a first write command from a host, and starts to write the first data to a disk in accordance with the first write command. The controller reports a status for execution of the first write command to the host depending on whether or not a second capacity of data not yet written to the disk is less than or equal to a first capacity of a first free space in a nonvolatile cache. The first free space is available to save data during a first period when a backup power supply enables power to be supplied. The second capacity decreases as writing of the first data to the disk progresses.

Abstract: A data reassign method in an embodiment includes: when a reassign command specifying a first logical sector that is included in a first physical sector and that has not been specified yet by the reassign command is received, reassigning data in the first physical sector to a second physical sector different from the first physical sector; and refraining thereafter from reassigning data in the second physical sector until occurrence of either re-receipt of the reassign command for the first logical sector or second-time or later receipt of a reassign command for a second logical sector other than the first logical sector included in the second physical sector.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a read/write apparatus includes a receiver and a refresh module. The receiver receives a write command requesting a write to a magnetic disk. The refresh module refreshes, when a first area of the magnetic disk includes a second area corresponding to the write command, data written in a third area, the third area being an area obtained by excluding the second area from the first area.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a read/write apparatus includes a receiver and a refresh module. The receiver receives a write command requesting a write to a magnetic disk. The refresh module refreshes, when a first area of the magnetic disk includes a second area corresponding to the write command, data written in a third area, the third area being an area obtained by excluding the second area from the first area.

Abstract: To provide a medium scan method which can be executed for a suitable region at suitable timing, a disk device comprises a storage medium for storing information, a writing unit for writing information to the storage medium by request from an upper device such as a host computer or the like, a medium monitoring unit for monitoring the state of the storage medium, and a medium scan determining unit for determining whether or not to require medium scan for the storage medium.

Abstract: In a rod lens array having a structure in which a plurality of rod lens elements are arranged between two side panels and a resin is filled and cured in spaces between the rod lens elements to be integrally formed, the side panels are made of a glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin and a phenol-based curing agent is used as a curing agent of the epoxy resin. In detail, the curing agent is exemplified by a phenol-based curing agent including a tris-hydroxyphenyl-methane skeleton.

Abstract: To provide a medium scan method which can be executed for a suitable region at suitable timing, a disk device comprises a storage medium for storing information, a writing unit for writing information to the storage medium by request from an upper device such as a host computer or the like, a medium monitoring unit for monitoring the state of the storage medium, and a medium scan determining unit for determining whether or not to require medium scan for the storage medium.

Abstract: In a rod lens array having a structure in which a plurality of rod lens elements are arranged between two side panels and a resin is filled and cured in spaces between the rod lens elements to be integrally formed, the side panels are made of a glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin and a phenol-based curing agent is used as a curing agent of the epoxy resin. In detail, the curing agent is exemplified by a phenol-based curing agent including a tris-hydroxyphenyl-methane skeleton.

Abstract: An aligning tool having a plurality of grooves formed side by side is provided; gradient index rod lenses are placed in alignment within the grooves at an average spacing of 1 ?m-5 ?m; the gradient index rod lenses are fixed to form an integral unit as they maintain the aligned state; thereafter the end faces of each rod lens are polished.

Abstract: A film-forming surface reforming method includes the steps of bringing a gas or an aqueous solution containing ammonia, hydrazine, an amine, an amino compound or a derivative thereof into contact with the film-forming surface before an insulating film is formed on the film-forming surface, and bringing a gas or an aqueous solution containing Hydrogen peroxide, ozone, Oxygen, nitric acid, sulfuric acid or a derivative thereof into contact with the film-forming surface.

Abstract: An aligning tool having a plurality of grooves formed side by side is provided; gradient index rod lenses are placed in alignment within the grooves at an average spacing of 1 &mgr;m-5 &mgr;m; the gradient index rod lenses are fixed to form an integral unit as they maintain the aligned state; thereafter the end faces of each rod lens are polished.

Abstract: A magnetic disk device has an improved seek control in which a waiting time occurred in a first magnetic head while it is scanning a first track, is utilized efficiently and effectively by activating a second magnetic head such that the second magnetic head scans a second track during the waiting time of the first magnetic head.

Abstract: An aligning tool having a plurality of grooves formed side by side is provided; gradient index rod lenses are placed in alignment within the grooves at an average spacing of 1 &mgr;m-5 &mgr;m; the gradient index rod lenses are fixed to form an integral unit as they maintain the aligned state; thereafter the end faces of each rod lens are polished.

Abstract: In a method for forming a planar microlens according to the present invention, a wet etching is conducted to a glass substrate for a stamper while it is covered with a mask. After the etching is conducted and the mask is removed a wet etching is conducted again to the glass substrate to form densely arranged concave portions thereon, and thereby a stamper is obtained. An uncured resin is applied on the forming surface of the stamper, a glass substrate for a planar microlens array (MLA) is pressed thereto, and thereby the uncured resin is formed. The uncured resin is cured by applying an ultraviolet irradiation thereto and the stamper is released therefrom. The resin layer is removed by a reactive ion etching and whereupon the substrate is etched in a form corresponding to the form of the resin layer and whereby an all-glass microlens of high precision is obtained.

Abstract: An aligning tool having a plurality of grooves formed side by side is provided; gradient index rod lenses are placed in alignment within the grooves at an average spacing of 1 &mgr;m-5 &mgr;m; the gradient index rod lenses are fixed to form an integral unit as they maintain the aligned state; thereafter the end faces of each rod lens are polished.

Abstract: There is provided a film-forming surface reforming method that comprises the steps of bringing a gas or an aqueous solution containing ammonia, hydrazine, amine, amino compound or their derivative into contact with a film-forming surface before an insulating film is formed on the film-forming surface of a substrate, and

Abstract: In a method for forming a planar microlens according to the present invention, a wet etching is conducted to a glass substrate for a stamper while it is covered with a mask. After the etching is conducted and the mask is removed a wet etching is conducted again to the glass substrate to form densely arranged concave portions thereon, and thereby a stamper is obtained. An uncured resin is applied on the forming surface of the stamper, a glass substrate for a planar microlens array (MLA) is pressed thereto, and thereby the uncured resin is formed. The uncured resin is cured by applying an ultraviolet irradiation thereto and the stamper is released therefrom. The resin layer is removed by a reactive ion etching and whereupon the substrate is etched in a form corresponding to the form of the resin layer, and whereby an all-glass microlens of high precision is obtained.

Abstract: A contactless electrolytic polishing apparatus for manufacturing a lead frame having a smooth polished surface includes a polishing tank containing polishing solution and divided by partitions into a first cathode-containing vessel, a first solution-discharge vessel, a first anode-containing vessel, a second solution-discharge vessel, a second anode-containing vessel, a third solution-discharge vessel and a second cathode-containing vessel. A direct current is applied with ripples having a frequency of 40 to 120 Hz alternately to the anode and cathode in the electrolytic polishing tank filled with an electrolytic polishing solution so that the time for which the blank positioned between both electrodes functions as the anode may be at least 3.3 times longer than that for which it functions as the cathode. The blank is then plated with a metal by employing a customary method.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a process for manufacturing a lead frame by polishing a blank for a lead frame electrolytically and plating the electrolytically polished surface of the blank with a metal, which process enables the electrolytic polishing of the blank to be continued for a long time by employing a contactless electrolytic polishing apparatus, and can form an electrolytically polished surface which is sufficiently smooth to allow it to be plated with a very good metal coating.The contactless electrolytic polishing apparatus is employed for applying a direct current with ripples having a frequency of 40 to 120 Hz alternately to the anode and cathode in an electrolytic polishing tank filled with an electrolytic polishing solution, so that the time for which the blank positioned between both electrodes functions as the anode may be at least 3.3 times longer than that for which it functions as the cathode, and the blank is, then, plated with a metal by employing a customary method.