Display apparatus and portable information processing apparatus

A display apparatus comprising:

• display means for displaying, on a display screen, a display image containing a time axis formed so as to extend at least in a first direction, said display screen being divided into a plurality of display regions;
• input operation means for moving at least said time axis in said first direction, said input operation means being further effective for optionally enlarging selected display regions among said plurality of display regions;
• and
• controlling means for controlling said display screen based on an operational input given by an operation of said input operation means, wherein:
• said input operation means includes a rotational operating means having an axis of rotation extending in a second direction that crosses said first direction, and said rotational operation means supports a back-and-forth shifting movement along its axis of rotation in said second direction;
• said rotational operating means is arranged such that a rotational operation of said rotational operation means by a first amount causes a movement of at least said time axis by a second amount corresponding to said first amount;
• said input operation means is located at one end of said display screen as viewed in said first direction;
• and
• moving said rotational operation means in a first shifting direction along its axis of rotation causes enlargement of the display region positioned at one end of said display screen as viewed in said second direction, and moving said rotational operation means in a second shifting direction opposite said first shifting direction along its axis of rotation causes the enlargement of the display region positioned at the other end of said display screen as viewed in said second direction.

A display apparatus, comprising:

• display means for displaying, on a display screen, a display image containing a time axis formed so as to extend at least in a first direction, said display screen being divided into a plurality of display regions;
• input operation means for moving at least said time axis in said first direction, said input operation means being further effective for selectively enlarging a predetermined one of said plurality of display regions;
• and
• controlling means for controlling said display screen based on an operational input given by an operation of said input operation means;
• wherein said input operation means includes a rotational operating means having an axis of rotation extending in a second direction that crosses said first direction;
• wherein said rotational operating means is arranged such that a rotational operation of said rotational operation means by a first amount causes a movement of at least said time axis by a second amount corresponding to said first amount;
• and
• wherein said first operating portion is movable in said second direction along the axis of rotation of said rotational operation means, moving said first operating portion in said second direction causes the position of a cursor on the display screen to be moved in said first direction, and rotating said rotational operation means after said first operating portion is moved in said second direction causes the position of said cursor on said display screen to be moved in said second direction.

A display apparatus, comprising:

• display means for displaying, on a display screen, a display image containing a time axis formed so as to extend at least in a first direction, said display screen being divided into a plurality of display regions;
• input operation means for moving at least said time axis in said first direction, said input operation means being further effective for selectively enlarging a predetermined one of said plurality of display regions;
• controlling means for controlling said display screen based on an operational input given by an operation of said input operation means;
• and
• a second operating portion;
• wherein said input operation means includes a rotational operating means having an axis of rotation extending in a second direction that crosses said first direction;
• wherein said rotational operating means is arranged such that a rotational operation of said rotational operation means by a first amount causes a movement of at least said time axis by a second amount corresponding to said first amount;
• and
• wherein said controlling means performs, based on the operation of said second operating portion, control of the display screen so as to enlarge the pitch of a time scale of said time axis in said first direction.

A display apparatus comprising:

• display means for displaying, on a display screen, a display image containing a time axis formed so as to extend at least in a first direction, said display screen being divided into a plurality of display regions;
• input operation means for moving at least said time axis in said first direction, said input operation means being further effective for selectively enlarging a predetermined one of said plurality of display regions;
• controlling means for controlling said display screen based on an operational input given by an operation of said input operation means;
• and
• a third operating portion;
• wherein said input operation means includes a rotational operating means having an axis of rotation extending in a second direction that crosses said first direction;
• wherein said rotational operating means is arranged such that a rotational operation of said rotational operation means by a first amount causes a movement of at least said time axis by a second amount corresponding to said first amount;
• and
• wherein said controlling means performs, based on the operation of said third operating portion, control of the display screen so as to contract the pitch of a time scale of said time axis in said first direction.

A display comprising:

• display means for displaying, on a display screen, a display image containing a time axis formed so as to extend at least in a first direction, said display screen being divided into a plurality of display regions;
• input operation means for moving at least said time axis in said first direction, said input operation means being further effective for selectively enlarging a predetermined one of said plurality of display regions;
• and
• controlling means for controlling said display screen based on an operational input given by an operation of said input operation means;
• wherein said input operation means includes a rotational operating means having an axis of rotation extending in a second direction that crosses said first direction;
• wherein said rotational operating means is arranged such that a rotational operation of said rotational operation means by a first amount causes a movement of at least said time axis by a second amount corresponding to said first amount;
• wherein:
• said display apparatus maintains a database having a plurality of first category entries, each of said first category entries being associated with a plurality of second category entries;
• said rotational operation means supports a back-and-forth shifting movement along its axis of rotation in said second direction;
• said display means is further effective for providing a database-display area in said display screen for displaying selective content of said database;
• said database-display area being initially divided into showing only a plurality of first display segment regions, with each of said first display segment regions displaying a corresponding one of said first category entries, and a separate one of said first display segment regions is targeted with rotation of said rotational operating means;
• wherein said rotational operating means when operated in said second direction causes a targeted first display segment region to be selected;
• and
• in response to a targeted first display segment region being selected by said rotational operation means, said controlling means splits said database-display area into at least a first hierarchical display region and a second hierarchical display region, said first display segment regions being restricted to said first hierarchical display region, and said second hierarchical display region being divided into a plurality of second display segment regions each showing a separate one of the plurality of second category entries associated with the selected first display segment.

A display apparatus comprising:

• display means for displaying, on a display screen, a display image containing a time axis formed so as to extend at least in a first direction, said display screen being divided into a plurality of display regions;
• input operation means for moving at least said time axis in said first direction, said input operation means being further effective for selectively enlarging a predetermined one of said plurality of display regions;
• controlling means for controlling said display screen based on an operational input given by an operation of said input operation means;
• and
• posture angle detecting means for detecting the posture angle of said display means with respect to a horizontal plane;
• wherein said input operation means includes a rotational operating means having an axis of rotation extending in a second direction that crosses said first direction;
• wherein said rotational operating means is arranged such that a rotational operation of said rotational operation means by a first amount causes a movement of at least said time axis by a second amount corresponding to said first amount;
• and
• wherein said controlling means includes a posture switch control unit which controls, based on the result of detection of said posture angle detecting means, a power supply such as to turn on the power supply when the detected posture angle falls within a predetermined range, and to turn off the power supply when the detected posture angle does not fall within the predetermined range.

A display apparatus, comprising:

• display means for displaying, on a display screen, a display image containing a time axis formed so as to extend at least in a first direction;
• input operation means for enabling operational input of said display image at least on said display screen;
• and
• controlling means for controlling said display screen based on an operational input given by an operation of said input operation means;
• wherein said display means displays display segment regions defined by dividing said display screen in a second direction perpendicularly crossing said time axis;
• and
• wherein said controlling means includes a first operating portion which when moved to one end as viewed in said second direction causes a display segment region adjacent to said end to be enlarged on the display and, when further moved again to said one end, causes one of other display segment regions to be enlarged.