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Multi-Screen Display for Rugged Portables

October 4, 2013 by admin 5 Comments

Three Extra Screens for a Rugged Laptop

This is a neat solution for adding graphical output power to a rugged laptop (or indeed commercial grade laptop).  Utilizing the high speed of USB-3, the AGS-MCCD-3USB gives any modern rugged laptop an extra three 17″ HD displays in a rugged aluminum chassis. You can carry the laptop in one hand and the AGS-MCCD-3USB in the other like a briefcase. Within moments you are up and running with a four screen command and control system.  Compatible with all the major rugged portable brands: Panasonic Toughbook CF31, Dell e6420 and Getac b300 or VT100 all of which feature USB3 ports and enough processing power to make it all work properly.  The extra displays can operate as a single screen (albeit with ‘bars’ between screens) or as three additional displays, each with their own content.  The mouse moves between them entirely naturally under Windows 7.

5760 x 1080 Workspace

The complete three screen display weighs in at about 10lbs, and measures 17.1″ x 11.5″ x 5.7″.   An IP65 version with mil-spec connectors and ‘multi-touch’ touch screens are available to special order.  The three displays are all HD resolution, which means between them, they display 5760 x 1080.

three-screen laptop display for rugged portable computers

Rugged Laptop expansion – three screen display

Rugged Portable Video Test

In tests on a Getac b300 rugged portable, it was possible to play three HD videos simultaneously without any noticeable frame drop issues. This wasn’t the case when I tried it on a USB2 port – but even that was perfectly usable for general ‘office’ type use.  I was surprised that a rugged portable could drive three screens through a single USB-3 port, but is really works well!

Multi-screen display on a rugged laptop

Four screens from a rugged laptop

These systems are also available with 3 x DVI inputs, 3 x VGA, or three Displayport connectors – but really the USB3 solution works so well, I’m not sure I would bother most of the time.  Get more information about the three screen display here: AGS-MCCD-3USB

Nine display rugged portable workstation

When two sets of AGS-MCCD-3USB’s are stacked on the AGS-MCCS-3U a nine-display portable package is possible.  Now portable means different things to different people…  The Macbook Air crowd will not be interested, but if you need a command and control center that is fast to set up this is a neat solution.  The whole thing fits into two manageable shipping cases – Pelican, Zero, Zarges etc

Nine 17" displays on one rugged portable

Nine display rugged workstation

Nine-screen rugged portable workstation. View showing adjustable brackets for ergonomic adjustability

Rugged workstation with nine displays side view

USB3 maximum cable length

A customer recently asked us how long a cable we can use to operate the three screen USB driven display.  We tested it with 18′ of cable and it worked fine.  I took a look at the USB3 specification and it does not directly define maximum cable length, rather the voltage drop maximum.  They provide this table of wire gauge v voltage drop to give guidance on the maximum runs.

Maximum cable length for USB3

USB3 Maximum cable length

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Filed Under: Rugged Display, Rugged resources Tagged With: Rugged Display, Triple-Display, USB3

Comments

  1. Michael says

    October 10, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    I would definitely like the have that option on my laptop!

    Reply
  2. R. Cemovic says

    March 1, 2015 at 1:00 am

    Pls quote me for the 3 monitor solution
    Kind regards

    Reply
  3. Seth Phillips says

    August 29, 2018 at 4:07 pm

    Can you Quote me 2 screen Setup. (2 does not include the laptop screen). I will be using a Panasonic Toughbook CF-19.

    Reply
    • Omead says

      January 7, 2019 at 4:02 pm

      Hi Seth, I just saw your request and forwarded to the sales rep to reach out with you directly

      Reply
  4. kevin a says

    January 25, 2019 at 9:34 pm

    that’s so cool to have two or three extra screens for my laptop and to have that option to be portable

    Reply

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Previous posts:

  • Contact
  • First Garfield comic strip
  • History of portable computers with a rugged bias
    • AGS MilPAC-III C4ISR Portable with 3 x 17.3″ displays
    • AGS-MRPC-4 – Lunchbox Computer – 2011
    • Compaq Portable III lunchbox computer
    • Dolch FlexPAC
    • Fieldworks FW7500 – 1994
    • Getac A320 Rugged Notebook
    • Getac B300
    • Getac Z710 – Rugged Android Tablet
    • GRiD Compass – 1982
    • IBM Convertible PC
    • IBM Portable 5155 – questionably rugged, questionably portable
    • IBM Portable PC 5110
    • IBM ThinkPad 700
    • iTronix GoBook XR-1 (General Dynamics)
    • Kontron IN-Lite
    • Kontron IP-Lite
    • Kookaburra PC / Dulmont Magnum 1983
    • Osborne 1 – The first portable PC
    • Osborne Vixen rugged luggable
    • Panasonic CF19
    • Panasonic Toughbook CF-25
    • PSION Series 5
    • Sharp PC-1211
    • TRS-80 Model 100 (Radio Shack)
    • TRS-80 Tandy/Radio Shack
  • Rugged Handheld Computers

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