Mini-RGB interface system tailored for smart phones

Solomon Systech Ltd has launched a mini-RGB interface system solution consisting of the SSD1270, a mini-RGB bridge chip, and the IC SSD1276, a single-chip TFT LCD driver. The system supports 176 x 220 (QCIF+) resolution in mainstream displays with 262K colors and uses minimal interface wires at lower power consumption for smart phone systems.

According to the company, the SSD1270 promises an effective transmission solution enabling short-range communication with a display device. A mini-RGB interface is a serial interface that requires only six wires for data transmission. The company's technology promises to achieve lower power consumption and optimum EMI impedance compared to existing high speed serial interface (HSSI) solutions, Solomon said. The bridge chip is used to simplify the connections between a host processor and the display to reduce costs and simultaneously support dual display panels with up to 262K colors. It supports embedded serial peripheral interface control, which directly communicates with the main display through the TFT LCD driver, the SSD1276, and a sub-display in TFT/STN/OLED using the single serial interface. The SSD1270 embeds a DC/DC converter and voltage generator to provide the necessary voltage required by the display driver with minimum external components. The interface operates in the 1.4-3V range. A low-power standby mode is supported in the SSD1270 for extra power savings.

The SSD1276 is a single-chip solution incorporating both gate and source driver blocks and a power management circuit. It communicates with the common image processor, TFT graphic controller, powerful baseband or application processor via an 18bit RGB interface and a mini-RGB interface. This promises speedy data transmission in the smart phone system. The SSD1276 is 0.9mm wide, making it one of the most compact solutions for QCIF+ resolution commercially available, Solomon said. The small die allows thinner contact ledge for LCD modules, which in turn enables compact design for smart phones. Moreover, the SSD1276 is said to be the first single-chip product to offer an interim solution for serial interface with the mini-RGB interface support. Additionally, it supports serial interface output to provide a channel for sub-display control. The mobile phone processor can directly communicate with the SSD1276 as well as control the sub-display setting via a single interface.