Abstract: On a compact disk is recorded audio data and/or image data for predetermined pieces of music. Auto-play data which is to be reproduced in synchronism with the audio data and/or image data, and data indicating the recorded position of the audio data and/or image data in association with the auto-play data are stored in an auto-play memory. In executing auto-playing in synchronism with the playing of the audio data and/or image data from a midway of a piece of music, the top of the compact disk is set on the basis of the position data in the memory at the midway point so that the play start points in the memory and the compact disk at the midway point can be matched with each other.

Abstract: A thin film semiconductor device comprises a matrix circuit portion and a peripheral circuit portion. An NMOS thin film transistor included in the peripheral circuit portion comprises as an active layer a polysilicon thin film formed on a substrate, leading to a high on-current and an improved switching speed, compared with a thin film transistor including as an active layer of a polysilicon thin film which is obtained by crystallizing an amorphous silicon thin film. An NMOS thin film transistor included in the matrix circuit portion also comprises as an active layer a polysilicon thin film which is formed on the substrate. However, the gate insulating film of an NMOS thin film transistor in the matrix circuit portion as a whole is made thicker than that in the NMOS thin film transistor included in the peripheral circuit portion because of the presence of a first interlayer insulating film.

Abstract: The lower significant n bits of a first differential value between adjacent sampled values of a sampled received signal are cut off to provide a second differential value, which is then subjected to adaptive quantization to thereby provide data compression. When this data is expanded, the second differential value decoded from the adaptive quantized value is sequentially accumulated by 2.sup.n times at a period corresponding to 1/2.sup.n of the sampling period of the received signal. As a result, a quantizing error (quantization noise) per sampling of the received signal is dispersed in 2.sup.n periods to thereby provide an improved acoustic S/N ratio. When the first differential value of the received signal is quantized, when the lower significant n bits of the first differential value are cut off, and when the resulting signal is subjected to adaptive quantization, the resulting respective quantizing errors are fed to corresponding values processed next.

Abstract: A plurality of image data and sequence data indicative of the sequence of displaying images are provided beforehand. The image data are sequentially read in accordance with the sequence indicated by the sequence data at the timing synchronous with automatic accompaniment. Image advancement in automatic accompaniment of a normal pattern differs from image accompaniment in automatic accompaniment of a fill-in pattern. The image display is made at the timing synchronous with chord advancement in automatic accompaniment.

Abstract: A method of efficiently orienting liquid crystal molecules on an orientation film formed on one surface of a film substrate which constitutes part of a liquid crystal display panel. In this method, the film substrate is conveyed between a rubbing roll and a backup roll disposed opposite the rubbing roll such that the orientation film faces the rubbing roll, that the rubbing and backup rolls are rotated in contact with the film substrate to thereby rub the orientation film formed on the film substrate for orienting the liquid crystal molecules. Thus, the orientation film formed on the film substrate is continuously rubbed while the film substrate is being conveyed to thereby achieve efficient rubbing.