Display apparatus and portable information processing apparatus

• US 6,809,724 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2000
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Shiraishi, Atsushi, Nakashima, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALLACE, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US09/484,714
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 345/472, 345/963, 345/970, 345/184, 345/771, 345/724, 345/725, 345/726, 345/723, 345/864, 345/901, 345/934, 345/660, 345/611, 345/665, 345/788, 345/798, 345/800, 345/158, 345/440, 345/169, 345/671, 345/684, 345/739, 345/775, 345/784, 345/792, 345/801, 345/815, 345/866, 345/157, 345/161, 345/163, 345/164, 345/167, 345/824, 345/189, 345/789
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A display apparatus has a display unit for displaying, on a display screen, a display image containing a time axis formed so as to extend at least in a first direction. The display apparatus also has an input operation device for physically moving at least the time axis in the first direction. The display apparatus further has a controlling device for controlling the display screen based on an operational input given by an operation of the input operation device. The input operation device includes a rotational operating unit having an axis of rotation extending in second directions which cross the first direction. The rotational operating unit is arranged such that a rotational operation of the rotational operation unit by a first physical amount causes a physical movement of at least the time axis by a second physical amount corresponding to the first physical amount.

Claims

1. 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;

wherein said rotational operation means is further movable at least in said second direction along its axis of rotation, and causes said enlarging of the predetermined one of said plurality of display regions when moved in said second direction; and

wherein said input operation means is located at one end of said display screen as viewed in said first direction, and said predetermined one of said plurality of display regions is positioned at one end of said display screen as viewed in said second directions.

2. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotational operation means is arranged such that a direction of rotation of said rotational operation means coincides with said first direction.

4. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input operation means is further movable at least in said first direction, and moving said input operation means in said first direction causes the position of a cursor on said display screen to be moved at least in said first direction.

5. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input operation means includes a first operating portion positioned at one end of said display screen as viewed in said second direction.

9. A display apparatus according to claim 1;

wherein said controlling means is further effective for switching between a first display mode in which all of said display regions are displayed substantially at an equal scale and a second display mode in which at least one of said display regions is displayed at a greater scale than others; and

wherein said display apparatus further includes a fourth operating portion for providing a switching instruction to said controlling means for effecting the switching of said display modes.

18. A portable information processing apparatus comprising a display apparatus set forth in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 to 10, and 11 to 17.

19. A portable information processing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a wrist-wearing portion connected to said display apparatus so that said portable information processing apparatus can be worn on a user'"'"'s wrist.

3. 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.

6. 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.

20. A display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said rotational operation means is an integral part of said first operating portion.

7. 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.

8. 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.

10. 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.

11. A display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each said plurality of first category entries has a different hierarchical structure linking it to its associated plurality of second category entries.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. A display apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said input operation means has a second operating portion which, when moved to one end as viewed in said first direction, enlarges the pitch of time scale of said time axis.

15. A display apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said second operating portion when moved to said one end causes a lower-level menu of icons to be displayed.

16. A display apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said second operating portion comprises a pointing device which moves and sets the position of a cursor on said display screen, thereby designating the position where an icon is to be displayed.

17. A display apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising posture angle detecting means for detecting the posture angle of said display means with respect to a horizontal plane;

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.