Abstract: An automatic melody composer composes a melody on a phrase by phrase basis. A phrase database storage stores data of many and various phrases. A generating index database storage stores records of music generating index. Each record describes or indicates appropriate phrases in the phase database and how melody is modified or developed in moving from one musical time unit to another. A decoder selects an index record from the generating index database, retrieves, from the phrase database, phrase components according to the index record, and combines them into a phrase. Thus, the composer quickly provides a natural melody formed with a chain of phrases without requiring complicated data processing.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, to improve the contrast, the frame frequency is raised by scanning the scanning electrodes of the liquid crystal display panel a plurality of times during one field interval of the video signal. The scanning electrodes are divided into two groups, which are scanned alternately. An image memory is provided to store video signals. In scanning the liquid crystal display panel, the video signal from the video signal supplying source and the video signal read from the image memory are alternately supplied to the liquid crystal display panel. The image memory stores only part of the video signal such as the video signal for every other horizontal scanning period or the signal consisting of the most significant bit only, not the entire video signal.

Abstract: In a tape printer apparatus, tape cassettes containing tape members of different widths are selectively mounted, and input printing data is printed on the tape member of the mounted tape cassette. The tape cassettes are provided with notches indicating the widths of the contained tape members. The presence or absence of the notch of the mounted cassette case is detected by ON or OFF of switches disposed in a cassette mounting portion of an apparatus case. Based on a result of this detection, the tape width is determined, and a printing matching with the tape width is performed.

Abstract: An electrostatic recording apparatus includes a developing agent carrier member provided to extend along a predetermined path. A developing agent convey unit conveys a developing agent along the surface of the developing agent carrier member. The developing agent carrier member has a step in a developing agent convey direction of its surface. A plurality of recording electrodes are aligned on an upper surface of the step of the developing agent carrier member and spaced apart from each other with gaps therebetween in a direction perpendicular to the developing agent convey direction, and project uniformly from the step. An opposite electrode is disposed to oppose the plurality of recording electrodes. A leaf spring member supports at least portions of the plurality of recording electrodes projecting from the step and can swing the projecting recording electrodes in directions to approach to and to separate from the opposite electrode.

Abstract: In a digital recorder, a signal process can be performed on digital audio data track by track or event by event in a recording mode or in a reproducing mode. In the recording/reproducing mode, transfer of digital audio data between a hard disk and respective audio input/output devices is executed in real time under control of a DMA controller and a HD controller. A DSP provided between the DMA controller and the HD controller performs the signal process such as a filtering process on digital audio data (block data) of several samplings in a lump, which are transferred (DMA transfer) in a lump between the buffer and the hard disk.

Abstract: The position of a connecting portion between waveforms can be arbitrarily set when a plurality of waveform data is obtained by changing pitch widths of stored external sound waveform data, when a read rate of the waveform data is increased or decreased and the readout waveform data is synthesized, or when the waveform is changed from one waveform to another waveform. In addition, a plurality of loop reproduction cycles can be arbitrarily set when the waveform data is to be read out. In loop reproduction, two items of waveform data having different phases between the preset start and end addresses can be repeatedly read out and synthesized, and their mixing ratios can be changed as a function of time, thereby performing loop reproduction so as not to abruptly change amplitude values of the waveforms.

Abstract: A receiver such as a liquid crystal display television receiver, which a user carries with him, is used for learning at sight which television stations at a destination supply broadcasting service. The receiver performs automatic tuning operation of television signal waves to search available television channels, stores searched available television channels in a memory device, and displays a list of the available stored television channels. The receiver displays the available television channels stored in the memory device, and successively receives the available television channels, thereby displaying the television programs for a predetermined period. The receiver is equipped with a memory in which local areas, local television stations in the areas, frequency data and network relations between key stations and the local television stations are memorized.

Abstract: An image forming assembly includes a first unit having a photosensitive drum as an image carrier and a second unit being independent of the first unit and having a developing device as one of image formation relating devices for taking part in an image formation on the photosensitive drum, is removably fitted in a housing of an image forming apparatus at its predetermined position along a paper feeding path in the housing and functions as a main portion for forming an image on a paper sheet being fed along the paper feeding path. The first and second units are adjacent to each other at their predetermined positions along the paper feeding path, and are provided with handles being adjacent to each other when the first and second units are adjacent to each other at their predetermined positions within the housing.

Abstract: A slip producing apparatus and method for producing a slip having a variable number of word names and respectively corresponding word data, wherein a plurality of slip types and a variable arbitrary number of word names corresponding to each slip type are stored in advance in a word name storage device; an input device is provided for inputting data designating the slip type and for sequentially inputting word data respectively corresponding to the variable number of word names of the designated slip type; and the inputted word data is stored in a word data storage device.

Abstract: A thin-film transistor comprises a gate electrode formed on an insulating substrate, a gate insulating film covering the gate electrode and the insulating substrate, an i-type semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating film, and a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to two ends of the i-type semiconductor layer, respectively. The gate electrode is made of aluminum alloy containing high-melting-point metal such as Ti and Ta and oxygen or nitrogen or both.

Abstract: Waveform data written in a RAM 2 base on write addresses is always read out as two waveform data from two read addresses 1 and 2 designated by a CPU 1, and two interpolation data 1 and 2 are formed. A smaller address difference A between the write address and the read address 1 is multiplied with the interpolation data 1 as an envelope value to obtain cross-fade data 1. Similarly, cross-fade data 2 corresponding to the read address 2 is obtained. The two items of cross-fade data 1 and 2 are added to each other to obtain output waveform data. An envelope value of waveform data near a waveform discontinuous point becomes almost zero, and click noise can be eliminated.

Abstract: In a cordless telephone system, a radio communication unit is detachably connected to a base unit of the cordless telephone system. While the radio communication unit is electrically and physically separated from the telephone base unit, and brought out from a home or a firm, a radio communication is established between the radio communication unit and a telephone mobile unit, but also between the telephone mobile unit and a telephone subscriber via the base unit. Thus, an outdoor type telephone mobile unit is available in the cordless telephone system.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a main body in which a sheet-like printing medium or a tape-like printing medium contained in a cassette can be mounted, a printing head capable of printing an image either on the sheet-like printing medium or the tape-like printing medium, and a control unit for, when an image is printed on the sheet-like printing medium, controlling the printing head and the sheet-like printing medium to make them move relative to each other and cause the printing head to print the image on the sheet-like printing medium, and for, when an image is printed on the tape-like printing medium, controlling the printing head and the tape-like printing medium to make them move relative to each other and cause the printing head to print the image on the tape-like printing medium.