Abstract: The present invention relates to a chair having a center of gravity that can be intentionally made to adopt an unstable state when the chair is sat upon. The objective of the present invention is to provide a self-standing type chair that is unstable when in use and that automatically stands by itself using auxiliary legs when not in use, and that is convenient to handle. The main feature of the present invention is that, in order for a chair that is unstable when in use to be self-standing when not in use, auxiliary legs (14a, 14b), other than a main leg, form new points of contact with a floor or ground surface by utilizing the action of an urging means and a driving force transmission means that accompanies the removal of weight from the chair by a user.

Abstract: A disk device and a method are described for reassigning data areas (e.g. sectors) which minimize the reduction in the data transfer rate when alternate data areas are used to replace defective areas. The disk device uses a plurality of data zones with spare areas allocated in each data zone. An alternate area is allocated (a) in the spare area within the data zone where the error occurs and (b) at an angular position offset more than a predetermined angle from a position of the data in which the error occurs. The offset angle allows the device time to seek to the alternate area, read the alternate area and seek back to the area following the defective area within a single rotation of the disk.

Abstract: A storage device is described which has a plurality of different error recovery routines which are are divided into groups. When an error occurs, specific routines are selected from the groups in accordance with the error type. The selected routines are executed in order. By preferentially executing the selected routines corresponding to the error type, the error recovery rate in the early stages of the error recovery procedure is enhanced.

Abstract: A disk drive and a method for controlling the disk drive in which an additional read from a medium can be performed as needed while minimizing the command overhead to the minimum. In a disk drive device 10, even if a read command is issued, and all the required data is stored in the cache memory such that the data transfer can be performed without the intervention of a local MPU 16, a HIC 15 performs the data transfer so as to leave the last one block and waits for the intervention of the local MPU 16. The local MPU 16 provides instructions to transfer the last one block when the preparation for the command termination is completed, and if a plurality of blocks of data to be transferred are remaining when the local MPU 16 instructs the HIC 15 to transfer the last one block, the HIC 15 executes all the data transfer without stopping the data transfer before the last one block, completing the command.

Abstract: A collapsible steering column apparatus comprises a steering column capable of receiving, a steering shaft having one end to which a steering wheel is fixed; and an energy absorbing member composed of a plastically deformable material and having its front end joined to a partial outer peripheral surface of the steering column and its rear end joined to a portion fixed to a vehicle body. The energy absorbing member is formed by punching out a sheet of metal plate to achieve a laterally undulating configuration with the extent of the undulations laterally of the energy absorbing member varying along its length. When applying an impulsive force to thrust the steering column forward due to a secondary shock in a collision, the energy absorbing member permits a forward displacement of the steering column while being plastically deformed in such a direction as to extend the undulations thereof.