Sony patents a two-way folding device, wants you to have extra screen real estate where you need it

Phones with dual displays have been done, and Sony's foldable Tablet P brought similar functionality to tablets with mixed results. It looks like the Japanese electronics giant isn't done with such devices, however, as it's just been granted a patent for a gadget that can fold on multiple axes. The patent in question describes a device constructed of two rectangular casings that can be "rotated relatively in one of a first rotation direction and a second rotation direction orthogonal to each other." Translation: a sort of next-gen Jacob's ladder with hinges that open up on both sides of a right angle, which would allow you to set screens side by side or on top of one another. Want to know more? Check out all the patent claims and drawings at the sources below.

Sony patents a two-way folding device, wants you to have extra screen real estate where you need it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 13:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.