Motorola patent combines multiple devices to make one large display
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted March 5th 2010 3:49PM
posted March 5th 2010 3:49PM
It seems to us that if you indulge in mobile video from time to time, you're either lugging around a device with a decent display size (netbook, tablet, whatevs) or more likely than not you're watching your Britain's Got Talent! clips on a handset -- either solution is obviously less than ideal. What if we told you that Motorola has filed a patent application for a "Reconfigurable Multiple-Screen Display"? This technology will essentially let you configure multiple devices for use as one big display: Instead of lugging around your Thinkpad or suffering the indignity of watching postage stamp-sized video on your Droid you can simply and conveniently carry four phones around. Why didn't we think of that?
Ringo?
@hey BINGO!
@hey I was thinking a cross between Bono and Robert Downey Jr.
@hey Yeah, that's definitely Ringo
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/blog/ringo.jpg
@hey Peace and Love. Peace and Love.
@hey Its patents like these that cannot and should not be awarded. (Just like Apple's patents). Common, this kind of thing already exists and is a no brainer
Good thing AMD didn't think of that with their Eyefinity multiple display merging concept.
@(Unverified) Seriously I'm kind of getting tired of patents where they basically take an existing idea and technology then add the words "portable device" or "smart phone" to it. Lord knows how long multiple screen displays have been around-just because you make it smaller doesn't make it a brand new idea, wtf.
score1
3.7" 'All Screen' smart phone anyone?
@Certifiedfryguy as long as it fold out and snaps into something to somehow form a 10 inch (at least) screen I'll take 5
And one wonders why Motorola's mobile division is suffering.
@bighap
Who knows, maybe they'll sue HTC next.
@rarrk Surely they can't sink to those bottom of the barrel desperation methods like everyone else? Shock and horror.
I think you're missing the point of this Joe.
What this would be hella useful is if you are trying to show your friends a video or something, you can all combine phones - Captain Planet style - and make one amazing screen for it.
Also, I can see an implementation of this in some sort of art exhibit somewhere.
@Evster88
EARTH
@216
FIRE
@Evster88 WIND
@martynmcfarquhar
SHIT
@Mightydh
HEART
@killerDJMW
Go planet?
@SFR By your powers combined
should have made the patent more broad
@senormatt
Yeah, Apple-ing patents needs to be patented.
Cause everyone loves BIG BEZELS blocking the actual picture, right?
If you can afford 4 smart phones then you can afford a pico projector.
@Gamecheater or a real projector.
@Gamecheater
You're not meant to use this for yourself, it's more for combining phones with friends for watching videos together.
So if you're looking at youtube videos together, you can just sit your phones next to each other and have the video expand over both screens.
I remember Microsoft demoed this long time ago, how can moto patent it?
@htd
Easy, the patent office does no research. How do you think apple has so many patents? Patent research is done in the courtroom.
@wraith404
It is a patent application with an emphasis on the "application." You can review application and patent case histories at the USPTO website. This will help you clearly understand the reasoning behind Apple's patents.
They're actually blueprints for a mecha-Ringo which will sold to the military.
Just let me know when I can view my mobile with a 3D screen.
But iPad is already using that!
I dont know how this is patentable if this isnt more technical than stated in the article. I mean multi display is at least 10-15 years old if not older.
@arnavdesai Thats what I'm thinking. Fuckin stupid, no one should be able to patent that since it's been around since I can remember. These new phones are essentally a little computer now and screen sharing/merging would eventually come to them. Trying to patent it is like trying to patent the wheel but instead of it going on a suv it goes on little car.
@niZmo
It is a patent application.. there is not patent as of yet and it may never turn into a patent.
You're obviously not very familiar with the USPTO then, are you? Submit it, and they shall come...
@arnavdesai
Are you saying that automatically bringing displays together at which point they automatically recognize themselves as being part of a "whole" and switch into mulit-display mode is something that's been around for 10-15 years? I'm positive I've never seen anything like that. If you have, give some examples.
You have to understand that patents are very specific (or supposed to be) so even though tiling displays together *at a factory* or *by a number of technicians who then feed individual video feed cables into a separate box which does the video mixing* has been possible for some time, it doesn't mean someone can't build on that idea like Motorola seems to be doing and then get credit for that with a patent. In fact, that's precisely how the patent system works, and should work.
ummm I hate to tell motorola this but you can do this right now with XDM in linux. I would imagine you could port XDM to Andriod and iPhone (jailbroken, of course).... so...fail?
Well, I think it is cool. I think doing this with 4 different computers(hand-held devices) and have them do this with wireless sync may add something to the prior art.
screw idea patents, until you make one and try to sell it you shouldn't be allowed to patent that BS.
furthermore the strength of your patent should be based on how many units you sell. if someone copies your idea and you have sold 2 million of your units the maximum damages you can claim is is like 10cents per one of your units.
@Wikimon I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you to taken down this post. See, I've patented the idea of disagreement. Therefore your only legal option is to go along with it...as that is public domain.
My lawlyers will be in touch.
@noneroy
or your lawlyers will serve everyone with a lawlsuit?. Sign me up!
Hello Moto
Wish that was done sooner, so I can put 4 24" lcd into one big screen.
@techlord and use bezels as crosshair in games bahahahahaha
Because bezel on phone screen is just sooooo small...
What if we told you that Motorola has filed a patent application for a "Reconfigurable Multiple-Screen Display"?
So they filed for the patent ? That doesn't really mean shit does it ?
This should be on Enpatent.com
Does anybody else remember when the PS3 was supposed to have dual HDMI outputs to allow for multi-screen gaming? Not that I would be able to afford two 1080p screens... I'm still trying to get one. Dang 720p.
That has to be one of the dumbest idea I've heard in a while. I love it.