Abstract: A liquid crystal layer is sealed between a pair of substrates on which opposite electrodes are formed. The liquid crystal layer is formed of a liquid crystal which exhibits an antiferroelectric phase while the liquid crystal is in a bulk state. When the liquid crystal is sealed between the substrates as the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal exhibits a ferrielectric phase wherein liquid crystal molecules aligned in a first state of being aligned in a first direction and liquid crystal molecules aligned in a second state of being aligned in a second direction are present in predetermined order. In accordance with the polarity and magnitude of a voltage applied between the opposite electrodes, the ratio of the number of liquid crystal molecules aligned in the first state to the number of liquid crystal molecules aligned in the second state varies such that the direction of the director of the liquid crystal layer varies continuously.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus uses a holographic optical element to split the light from a light source for generating white light to R, G and B wavelength light components. The split light components enter respective pixels of a liquid crystal cell according to the R, G and B wavelengths, thereby ensuring the display of a color image. In this liquid crystal display apparatus, unit holographic optical elements corresponding to unit pixels each consisting of R, G and B pixels are comprised of holographic optical cells for condensing respective lights of specific wavelengths on the associated pixels. Alternatively, the unit pixels are formed to have symmetrical shapes. Color filters may be provided at some of the pixels of the liquid crystal cell. Accordingly, the light incident to the pixels of the liquid crystal cell is optimized.

Abstract: A pair of destaticizing elements and a resistive element for delaying an electrostatic pulse are provided between a short-circuiting line short-circuiting a plurality of data lines and an upper end portion of each of the data lines. When a short electrostatic pulse is applied to an upper end portion of one data line from the outside, the leading edge of the pulse is made gentle by the resistive element. As a result, the destaticizing element can work well in response to even the short electrostatic pulse.

Abstract: A music navigator provides a visual image indication or presentation of fingering motion of a hand in playing notes. In an embodiment, the music navigator employs a fingered music storage and a hand image device. When music is played on a keyboard instrument, the music navigator reads fingered music data and selects appropriate hand image data indicative of fingering motion (e.g., turning over or under of a finger) in playing a current note for visual display. In another embodiment, the music navigator provides a sequence of hand images representative of fingering motion in playing notes in a motion picture manner.

Abstract: A home page creating system, apparatus, and program recording medium, capable of creating a home page easily without requiring any special knowledge, wherein, when a WWW server confirms a terminal's request to create a home page, the terminal's type code is set in a predetermined register based on the terminal's ID. The server sends terminal user's preference inquiry data to the terminal and receives user's preference data entered from the terminal by the user. When the server receives all user's preference data about predetermined items, it creates a home page by pasting information corresponding to the user's preference data to a predetermined template. The created home page is stored along with data on the date and time when the home page was created in a predetermined data file, and is then sent to the terminal.

Abstract: When receiving a conversion instruction from a key input section, a CPU reads character data stored in a message memory to a conversion buffer, converts the same into numeric data base on a conversion table, causes a tone signal generator to convert the same into a DTMF signal and outputs the signal to a speaker. When an input instruction of a registration designation and message number is received from the key input section, the CPU forms transmission data for sequentially storing the input information and the numeric data converted from character data in this order, causes to convert the same into the DTMF signal and outputs the signals. At the time of reception of the transmission data, the CPU identifies the content of the data, restores the numeric data into the character data based on an inverse conversion table, retrieves a message number from a TEL bank memory and registers a message into a memory area assigned to the number.

Abstract: A method of forming a bump electrode, comprises the steps of preparing an Si-substrate having a plurality of bonding pads, forming a core on a substantially central portion of the bonding pad on the substrate, forming a resist layer around the core, which has a greater plan-view shape than the core and is provided with an opening portion through which that portion of the bonding pad, which is located around the core, is exposed, and coating an electric conduction strip having a uniform thickness on peripheral and upper surfaces of the core and on that portion of the bonding pad, which is located around the core, by a plating method.

Abstract: A digital still camera combines a display pattern received from a printing apparatus and a photographed image with each other, and displays the resultant image on a viewfinder. A user adjusts the balance between the display pattern and the image of the object both being displayed on the viewfinder, and depresses a shutter release button. The digital still camera fetches the photographed image. The digital still camera sends to the printing apparatus the fetched image and a pattern name specifying the display pattern used at the time of photographing. The printing apparatus combines the decoration pattern specified by the pattern and the image received from the digital still camera into composite image data. The printing apparatus prints the composite image data.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a plurality of images can be simply synthesized with each other without preparing a specific image such as an image extracting image. In this image processing apparatus, a distribution rate of the respective color data of each of pixels in first image data and second image data is calculated in the case that the first image data is synthesized with the second image data based on transmittance data of the first and second image data, and a value of color data of each pixel in a synthesized image is calculated, and then the first image data is synthesized with the second image data based upon this color data value.

Abstract: Selection transistors and drive transistors are formed in individual pixel areas on a substrate. Cathode electrodes which reflect visible light are formed above the selection transistors and the drive transistors so as to cover the pixel areas, with flat insulation films between the cathode electrodes and the selection and drive transistors. An organic EL layer and an anode electrode are sequentially formed on the cathode electrodes.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a gate insulation film, a silicon film and silicon nitride film are laminated on a gate backing pad made of a gate metal film, and etching is carried out on the silicon nitride film such that it remains on the gate backing pad as a protective insulation film. Thus, the corrosion of the gate backing pad, which is caused as the etching solution penetrate the silicon film in defect, can be prevented. Further, a protective semiconductor layer formed by patterning the protective insulation film and the silicon film, is formed above the gate backing pad. Thus, the gate backing pad can be protected from the etching solution during the patterning of the pixel electrode made of ITO. Therefore, the disconnection of the gate backing pad can be prevented.

Abstract: A home page updating notification apparatus is provided for avoiding useless access operations for accessing the same content of home page several times, so that updated necessary information opened in home pages can be effectively acquired. A home page formed in a home page forming apparatus and then transferred is written into a home page storage portion of a memory, so that updating of this home page is detected. When updating of this home page is detected, a document of an electronic mail, and an address of a transmission destination of this electronic mail are read which have been previously stored. Then, an electronic mail is formed based on the read document and the read address, and the formed electronic mail is transmitted to an address of a transmission destination. As a result, a user of a terminal allocated to this address can be notified by such a fact that the home page is updated by observing the electronic mail.

Abstract: After any cell area to be an always displayed area of an edition area composed of rows and columns of cells is designated, and a scroll display operation is performed, a CPU performs a normal scroll display until the always displayed area reaches an edge of the edition area, at which time the CPU scrolls and displays only an area excluding the always displayed area to thereby refer to cells efficiently even when a table whose size cannot be displayed on a single display screen is edited.

Abstract: A communication system is designed to exchange messages between a plurality of paging receivers each having a transmission section. One of the paging receivers transmits a question message and a plurality of answer contents to the question message to a paging receiver group constituted by the remaining paging receivers. When answer messages are returned from the paging receiver group which has received the question message and the answer contents, the paging receiver totalizes the answer messages, and displays them on a liquid crystal display panel, together with the question message.

Abstract: The present chord progression composer provides an open and wide space of composition and yet can compose those chord progressions having a desired valuation of fitness for a given melody. To this end, the composer receives an initial chord progression population. It computes melody fitness valuation of chord progression individuals of the population of interest. The chord progression population repeatedly undergo genetic operations (selection, crossover, mutation etc.). The melody fitness valuation will generally increase with generations under the control of the chord progression composer.

Abstract: An image displaying apparatus stores plural image data and displays one of the image data, which image data represent a growing plant (animal) or represent a series of motions of an animal. The apparatus further stores plural element data for growing the plant (animal). When one of the element data is selected, another image data of the plant (animal) is displayed in place of the previously displayed imaged data to show how the plant (animal) grew up responsive to the selected element data. The apparatus is provided with a sensor for detecting motion of a user. Detecting the motion of the user, the apparatus displays new image data representing a motion of the animal in place of the previously displayed image data to show how the animal reacts to the user's motion.

Abstract: In the present invention, a partition wall having a matrix shape is formed on anode electrodes so as to divide them further into dots of a small region, which are surrounded by the partition wall. With this structure, if a dark spot which is a non-light emitting region, is created in one dot, the growth of the spot can be stopped by the partition wall. Therefore, good display property can be maintained for a long time.

Abstract: A service information receiving apparatus for receiving pay service information and date data which is multiplexed on FM broadcast waves transmitted from an FM broadcasting station, wherein use end day data calculated on the basis of valid term relative value data stored in a detachable IC card installed in the service information receiving apparatus and the received date data is acquired and stored, and the stored use end date data and received date data are compared. The display of pay service information is permitted while both data do not coincide, and the display of pay service information is prohibited after both data have coincided.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell includes scanning and signal electrodes, and a bistable nematic liquid crystal material sealed therein. The material has liquid crystal molecules alignable in first and second metastable aligned states by selective application of twist select voltages smaller than a reset voltage after application of the reset voltage. A tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules is controlled in the first and second metastable aligned states in accordance with an effective value of a voltage applied between the opposing electrodes. A row driver, in accordance with display data, supplies a reset potential for applying the reset voltage between the electrodes, and a write-period voltage for designating a period for applying a voltage with an effective value according to the display data between the electrodes, to scanning electrodes.