Abstract: The cord guard 1 having a cylindrical hollow passage 5 into which a cord 3 can be inserted and a flange portion 11 at one end which is retained by a cord guard retainer 9 in a half housing 7. The cord guard 1 further having a tapering wall portion 13 the wall thickness of which is gradually reduced from the flange portion 11 toward the free end, a constant wall portion 15 extending in series from the tapering wall portion 13 further toward the free end with its wall thickness constant, and a thicker wall ring flange 17 provided along the periphery of the free end of the constant wall portion 15. The wall thickness and the length of the constant wall portion 15 are determined such that the constant wall portion 15 is provided with a bending strength low enough that it is flexed smoothly together with the cord 3 when a load approximately equal to the weight of the cord 3 is applied as a bending load.

Abstract: For the high-speed data access machine, data is distributed in a plurality of hard disk drives coupled to slave processors to achieve ever-higher data reliability and maintenance. One master processor is provided with a plurality of slave processors, each of which is coupled to two hard disk drives containing the same data. A synchronous signal permits two hard disk drives to operate in synchronous rotation in half-a-turn phase difference from each other. The hard disk controller writes the same data in both hard disk drives but reads data from whichever hard disk drive requires less access time to obtain the data. A plurality of hard disk drives holding exactly the same data improves data reliability. Also, by rotating a plurality of hard disk drives in different phase, the rotational delay in data access is cut by half.

Abstract: An image sensor with a light-receiving-element mounting substrate secured to a frame by bringing the light-receiving-element mounting substrate into close contact with the frame at a uniform and proper pressure, making the optical position of a sensor IC to a manuscript to be read and a rod lens array accurate, and showing a superior resolution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrayed recording apparatus having spare devices for replacing faulty disk drives. Each of the SCSI controllers in the arrayed recording apparatus connects to a driver/receiver and further connects to spare disk drives. Each of the SCSI controllers accesses the spare disk drive by setting a receive/enable signal effective to the driver/receiver. Unused ID numbers are assigned to the spare disks. If a disk drive develops a fault, the RAID controller RC requests the SCSI controller to replace the faulty disk drive with the spare disk drive.It is possible to attain the function of the hot stand-by system without comprising a specific spare controller.

Abstract: A battery charging system is disclosed for charging two different types of battery packs, a known three terminal type including batteries and a thermostat switch, and a newer four terminal type further including a thermistor for sensing battery temperature. A charging control circuit stops charging current to the battery pack when a contact of the thermostat switch is open or when the thermistor detects a temperature above a predetermined temperature. If either the thermostat switch or the thermistor fail to properly operate, charging current to the battery pack is stopped securely to avoid damaging batteries.

Abstract: The hit ratio of a cache memory in a data base processing system is improved by changing the priority of erasing cache data. A forward/backward pointer and a backward/forward pointer are contained as cache management information. At a completion of access of all the data of a table and before the next access of a table begins, the forward/backward pointer is changed to the backward/forward pointer and the backward/forward pointer is changed to the forward/backward pointer if the hit ratio is lower than expected ratio. Depending on the type of data access or external commands, the priority of erasing cache data is further changed to achieve a high hit ratio.

Abstract: A recording device which improves a response time to write data by reporting to a host computer the completion of writing operation prior to the completion of writing redundancy data. Data writing command information from the host computer is stored in a command/status memory backed up by a power source in an array controller, and the completion of writing operation is reported to the host computer at the time of the completion of writing updated data prior to the completion of writing redundancy data. Redundancy data is written as a background process. If redundancy data could not be written due to any abnormality of the power source or the like, such redundancy data may be generated from the data in other disk units of the same redundancy group in accordance with writing command information stored in the command/status memory, thereby completing the writing of redundancy data.

Abstract: A recording device which improves a response time to write data by reporting to a host computer the completion of writing operation prior to the completion of writing redundancy data. Data writing command information from the host computer is stored in a command/status memory backed up by a power source in an array controller, and the completion of writing operation is reported to the host computer at the time of the completion of writing updated data prior to the completion of writing redundancy data. Redundancy data is written as a background process. If redundancy data could not be written due to any abnormality of the power source or the like, such redundancy data may be generated from the data in other disk units of the same redundancy group in accordance with writing command information stored in the command/status memory, thereby completing the writing of redundancy data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a data storage system that reduces a load of a data bus for connecting a HOST system with the data storage system. The data storage system includes a disk manager connected to the HOST system by a SCSI BUS, connected to a disk control unit by an RS PORT and connected to disk enclosures and a fan unit by a Serial BUS. The disk manager monitors operation of the disk control unit and disk enclosures and transmits results to the HOST system. In addition, control commands of the HOST system to the disk enclosures are executed via the disk manager.

Abstract: For the high-speed data access machine, data is distributed in a plurality of hard disk drives coupled to slave processors to achieve ever-higher data reliability and maintenance. One master processor is provided with a plurality of slave processors, each of which is coupled to two hard disk drives containing the same data. A synchronous signal permits two hard disk drives to operate in synchronous rotation in half-a-turn phase difference from each other. The hard disk controller writes the same data in both hard disk drives but reads data from whichever hard disk drive requires less access time to obtain the data. A plurality of hard disk drives holding exactly the same data improves data reliability. Also, by rotating a plurality of hard disk drives in different phase, the rotational delay in data access is cut by half.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device which includes: a plurality of source bus lines in parallel with each other; a plurality of gate bus lines in parallel with each other, crossing the source bus lines; a switching element connected to one of the plurality of source bus lines and one of the gate bus lines; a pixel portion connected to the switching element; and a source drive circuit for supplying a data signal to the plurality of source bus lines, wherein the source drive circuit has a data signal line connected to the respective source bus lines, and the data signal line forms a closed circuit, thereby making a delay time of the data signal supplied to the plurality of source bus lines uniform is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing repairs and inspections in a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of a nuclear reactor are described. In one embodiment of the apparatus, a support mast facilitates the positioning of tools within the RPV, especially at locations that are extremely difficult to access using known methods and apparatus. In the one embodiment, a mast extends in the reactor pressure vessel and through an opening in the top guide and through an opening in the core plate. The mast includes an outer tube and an inner tube positioned at least partially within the outer tube. The inner tube is connected to a robotic arm. A slot is formed in the outer tube and the slot extends at least partially along the axial length of the mast. The portion of the inner tube positioned at the location of the slot is in free communication with the reactor components when the mast is positioned within the RPV. The robotic arm can access the reactor components through the slot in the outer tube.

Abstract: In a redundant array of disks, the disks are divided into areas of different sizes, so that small amounts of data can be stored in an area of an appropriate size on a single disk, instead of being spread over multiple disks. A usage status table indicates which areas are in use. Check information is generated and stored only for areas indicated to be in use. When new check information is generated, it is therefore possible to omit the reading of unnecessary old data and old check information. When a disk fails and is replaced with a standby disk, only the data in areas indicated to be in use are reconstructed. Check information can be stored on a solid-state disk.

Abstract: An aqueous suspension-type microcapsule insecticide composition which is obtained by emulsifying a hydrophobic admixture of liquid pyrethroid insecticide or a pyrethroid insecticide and a high boiling point solvent, preferably an alkyl ester of phthalic acid in which the alkyl group has 8-13 carbon atoms to form particles of a suitable size in the presence of an anionic water-soluble polymeric surface active agent and polycondensating melamine-formaldehyde or a derivative thereof on the surface of the said emulsified and dispersed particles, and a process for producing the composition. This composition exhibits stable insecticidal activity over a prolonged period with noticeably reduced toxicity to aquatic life.

Abstract: In a redundant array of disks, the disks are divided into areas of different sizes, so that small amounts of data can be stored in an area of an appropriate size on a single disk, instead of being spread over multiple disks. A usage status table indicates which areas are in use. Check information is generated and stored only for areas indicated to be in use. When new check information is generated, it is therefore possible to omit the reading of unnecessary old data and old check information. When a disk fails and is replaced with a standby disk, only the data in areas indicated to be in use are reconstructed. Check information can be stored on a solid-state disk.

Abstract: In a redundant array of disks, the disks are divided into areas of different sizes, so that small amounts of data can be stored in an area of an appropriate size on a single disk, instead of being spread over multiple disks. A usage status table indicates which areas are in use. Check information is generated and stored only for areas indicated to be in use. When new check information is generated, it is therefore possible to omit the reading of unnecessary old data and old check information. When a disk fails and is replaced with a standby disk, only the data in areas indicated to be in use are reconstructed. Check information can be stored on a solid-state disk.

Abstract: A recording device which improves a response time to write data by reporting to a host computer the completion of writing operation prior to the completion of writing redundancy data. Data writing command information from the host computer is stored in a command/status memory backed up by a power source in an array controller, and the completion of writing operation is reported to the host computer at the time of the completion of writing updated data prior to the completion of writing redundancy data. Redundancy data is written as a background process. If redundancy data could not be written due to any abnormality of the power source or the like, such redundancy data may be generated from the data in other disk units of the same redundancy group in accordance with writing command information stored in the command/status memory, thereby completing the writing of redundancy data.

Abstract: In a redundant array of disks, the disks are divided into areas of different sizes, so that small amounts of data can be stored in an area of an appropriate size on a single disk, instead of being spread over multiple disks. A usage status table indicates which areas are in use. Check information is generated and stored only for areas indicated to be in use. When new check information is generated, it is therefore possible to omit the reading of unnecessary old data and old check information. When a disk fails and is replaced with a standby disk, only the data in areas indicated to be in use are reconstructed. Check information can be stored on a solid-state disk.