Internal DisplayPort standard seeks to replace LVDS

STMicroelectronics and LCD panel manufacturer LG Display submitted a proposed Internal DisplayPort (iDP) interface standard to the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) TV panel task group. The iDP standard aims to replace the current LVDS standard.

To enable more realistic animation, graphics, 3D video and better overall picture quality, LCD TVs are rapidly advancing toward higher refresh rates thus creating the need for a new high-speed panel-interface standard. The proposed iDP standard was developed as an open and royalty-free industry standard to address this market requirement, accelerate market adoption and drive innovation in the consumer electronics industry.

iDP is an advanced technology that is based on DisplayPort, a proven industry-standard technology that is an open and royalty-free VESA digital-display interface standard. The DisplayPort interface enables high-bandwidth audio and video signal transmission by utilizing a state-of-the-art digital protocol. ST has been a solid supporter of the development and deployment of the DisplayPort interface and is committed to driving the evolution of the technology and expanding its use in new applications.

"Introducing technologies such as iDP is an important part of ST's strategy to continue advancing as a major player in semiconductors for the mainstream and high-end LCD TV market," said Luigi Mantellassi, general manager of ST's TV and monitor division. "With the support and cooperation of LG Display in defining and driving widespread adoption of the iDP standard, ST has co-developed a technology we believe will benefit the industry and consumers. Additionally ST is developing a wide range of competitive products based around video/audio quality, Internet-TV and DisplayPort connectivity, enabling TV manufactures to provide the highest level of user experience to their customers."

"We believe iDP will support the increasing demand for high video bandwidth, which was considered as a challenge for the current LVDS standard," said In Jae Chung, executive VP and chief technology officer of LG Display. "As iDP is expected to enhance performance at a lower BOM cost and reduces system problems such as EMI, LG Display is planning to promote the adoption of iDP to its customers and introduce it in one of the new panel line-ups to deliver greater value to the market."

STMicroelectronics and LG Display currently plan to jointly promote and demonstrate iDP technology in the market and to establish a wider co-operation on the definition and development of common technologies and innovative solutions to support the next generation of high-refresh-rate LCD panels.

How it works
The proposed iDP standard is targeted for the connection between a TV-controller SoC and an LCD-panel timing controller within a TV chassis. The utmost robustness in interoperability and cost-effectiveness are realized by leveraging the proven DisplayPort technology in its simplest form. With a link operating at 3.24Gbit/s per differential pair, only 17 signals (eight differential pairs and one Hot Plug Detect (HPD) signal) are needed to transport Full HD 240Hz at 10bits per color over the iDP link, substantially fewer than the 96 signals required for a conventional LVDS link. With the dynamic lane-count adjust feature, iDP is capable of supporting pixel rate change due to events such as video frame-rate change and 3D-stereo display timing without visual glitch on a TV screen. The openness of the iDP standard further enhances cost effectiveness because it solicits competition by many component suppliers without royalty considerations.

ST is planning to introduce a new series of highly-differentiated products to support deployment of iDP, including an LVDS to iDP and iDP to LVDS bridge ICs; and 240Hz video enhancement IC with iDP output; 120Hz TV SoC with iDP output. Expected to sample by December, these products will offer maximum flexibility to TV manufactures for a seamless transition to iDP.