VESA® Launches Cable Adaptor Certification Program

-VESA Adds Dual-mode Cable Adaptors to DisplayPort Certification Program---Assists Consumers in Selecting Quality Devices---

Newark, CA., July 20, 2010 – The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) announced the availability of certification testing and DisplayPort Certified Logo for Dual-mode DisplayPort cable adaptors. Dual-mode cable adaptors allow a Dual-mode DisplayPort PC or graphics card to interoperate with DVI monitors and HDMI TVs. By launching the certification program, VESA enables consumers to easily identify cable adaptor products that have been tested and certified for proper operation via the DisplayPort Certified Logo on adaptor product packaging.

Certification testing is available for both DisplayPort-to-DVI and DisplayPort-to-HDMI Dual-mode cable adaptors. Certification testing is offered at no cost for VESA member companies through a contracted test lab. Certification testing is also available from Allion Test Labs in Taipei, Taiwan, and CESI Technology in Beijing, China for both member and non-member companies at a nominal fee.

The VESA DisplayPort standard was developed by the PC industry as the next generation display interface, eventually replacing DVI and VGA. To aid in the transition, the DisplayPort standard provides for interoperability with VGA, DVI, and HDMI displays via the use of simple adaptors. Almost all DisplayPort PCs with integrated graphics or discrete GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), offer this Dual-mode DisplayPort capability that is indicated on product packaging via the DisplayPort++ icon. When a Dual-mode DisplayPort cable adaptor is plugged into a Dual-mode DisplayPort PC or graphics card, the PC outputs either Single Link DVI or HDMI signaling to the adaptor.

Certification testing assures that these cable adapters function as intended, providing interoperability between Dual-mode DisplayPort PCs, DVI monitors, and HDMI HDTVs. Testing of Dual-mode DisplayPort cable adaptors follow the DisplayPort Interoperability Guideline Adaptor Checklist that is available for download at http://www.vesa.org/Standards/free.htm, under VESA DisplayPort Related Standards. It is recommended that developers of such cable adaptors review the checklist to assure both display interoperability and the ability to achieve adaptor certification. The Checklist verifies that the cable adaptor is implemented as per the current VESA DisplayPort Interoperability Guideline, also available on the VESA web site.

Cable adaptors that pass the certification test will be listed on the www.displayport.org web site in the Consumer Site under the Products section.

For manufacturers who want to use the DisplayPort “DP Certified” logo on their product, packaging or literature and have passed certification testing, a logo license agreement is available at no cost for VESA member companies and $1500.00 (U.S. dollars) for non-VESA members. For more information, please visit www.displayport.org or contact the VESA office.

VESA® Issues Updated Embedded DisplayPort Standard

-Includes New Control Capabilities, Reduces Interconnect Wires, Improves Performance

Newark, CA., June 29, 2010 – The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has announced a new version of the Embedded DisplayPort Standard (eDP™). eDP version 1.2 includes several enhancements to further enable improved display performance and reduced system power consumption. eDP v1.2 defines new panel and backlight control capabilities using the DisplayPort bi-directional AUX Channel. It also adds support for the higher 5.4Gbps link rate defined by the DisplayPort v1.2 standard released in January 2010, enabling high performance Stereo 3D at Full HD, 1080p60 per eye, and support for Field Sequential Color (FSC) panels.

VESA member companies developed eDP as the eventual replacement for LVDS which has been used in notebook PCs for over 10 years. eDP-enabled mobile PCs went into production this year, and will account for approximately 11% of the 2010 mobile PC market, according to In-Stat. Mobile PCs using the new eDP v1.2 will be in production the first half of 2011. Industry market trends indicate eDP will have largely replaced LVDS by 2013.

eDP notebook panels use fewer interconnect signals, thereby simplifying internal cabling and requiring less EMI shielding. eDP notebook panels can also decrease system power consumption significantly, enabling extended notebook battery life. eDP v1.2 further reduces wire count and adds new LCD panel control and backlight capabilities using the bidirectional AUX Channel. Such capabilities include backlight brightness and modulation frequency control, enabling of dynamic backlight control, color engine operation, dithering, self-test mode, and more. The new 5.4Gbps link rate option doubles the data bandwidth of the video data channel(s), allowing for either further reduction in wire count or higher performance 2D or Stereo 3D displays at Full HD resolution. eDP is ideal for Field Sequential Color panel applications that require 120Hz or higher refresh rates and high dynamic range support.

eDP also plays an important role in PC chip integration. Based on the VESA DisplayPort standard, eDP uses low-voltage, AC-coupled signaling which is compatible with today’s sub-micron chip processes; and less device pins are needed. With the latest PC architectures featuring graphics integrated into the CPU, a reduced interface footprint is crucial. And unlike LVDS, eDP shares commonality with the DisplayPort external interface, simplifying design.

“eDP provides a significant advantage for integrated GPU architectures,” said Craig Wiley, Sr. Director of Marketing at Parade Technologies, VESA Board Vice-chair and eDP editor. “It would be difficult to support LVDS directly from the CPU, which now includes the GPU, due to the number of pins and high voltage required. eDP uses a physical interface similar to PCI Express which simplifies the design process."

For the system developer, eDP means longer battery life and fewer wires for the display interface across the display hinge. This also makes it easier to add other wires for a wireless antenna, camera, microphone(s) and speakers.

The eDP v1.2 standard is now available for purchase from VESA and is provided free of charge to VESA member companies.

VESA® Issues Internal DisplayPort Standard for Flat Panel TVs

-Simplifies Interconnection Implementation & Improves Screen Performance-

Milpitas, CA., May 10, 2010 – The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today issued the new Internal DisplayPort (iDP™) interface standard for inside-the-box connectivity within flat panel TVs. The standard is designed to replace LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling) with a simpler and higher-performing connectivity technology based on the widely adopted VESA DisplayPort standard.

The VESA iDP standard addresses the connection between a TV controller SOC (System-on-a-Chip) and a TV panel Timing Controller (TCON) within a TV chassis. Only 17 signals – eight differential pairs and one Hot Plug Detect (HPD) signal – are needed to transport Full HD 240Hz at 10 bits per color over the iDP link, reducing cost and manufacturing complexity compared to the LVDS 96-signal requirement. The open and royalty-free standard will create a healthy competitive environment with component suppliers, further enhancing cost benefits while driving innovation within the consumer electronics industry.

This is a scalable standard, allowing for support of future design needs. For example, with iDP a 4K x 2K at 240Hz display only requires two banks of 16 differential pairs and one HPD for 65 signals. In comparison, LVDS would require 192 differential pairs (or 384 signals) to support this rate. Other iDP advantages include elimination of the many LVDS printed circuit board traces and device pins which result in reduced system form factor and cost, and less shielding requirement due to reduced EMI.

Similar to the existing VESA eDP™ (Embedded DisplayPort) interface standard used within Notebooks and other PC devices with internal displays, iDP is designed around the special needs of flat panel television displays and provides specific optimizations for internal flat panel TV applications.

“Today’s flat panel TV manufacturers are in a constant race to provide better picture quality, more realistic animation, and even 3D video. This continues to push refresh rates higher and has created the need for a new high-speed panel interface standard,” said VESA Executive Director Bill Lempesis. “VESA’s iDP standard meets that need while also helping control costs.”

Industry Quotes

 “The ratification of the iDP standard by VESA is a key milestone in acceleration of iDP as an industry-wide standard,” said Luigi Mantellassi, General Manager of TV and Monitor Division at STMicroelectronics. “ST is fully committed to support deployment of VESA’s iDP standard and plans to expand its implementation across all of our Monitor and TV SOC platforms.”

"LG Display is pleased to adopt the VESA iDP as an optimized interface for the next generation TV panels requiring high video bandwidth and low EMI in 2011,” said In Jae Chung, Executive Vice President and CTO at LG Display. “The VESA iDP standard provides both our customers and display industries with the huge benefits of an open standard.”

“We believe the new VESA iDP standard defines a mechanism for mitigating the impact to the panel interface resulting from increasing resolutions and higher refresh rates,” said Stuart Thomson, Senior Director of Product Marketing, Digital TV at Broadcom Corporation. “Among other benefits, it reduces the complexity of the cabling and supports smaller connectors than are common today. Our commitment to develop and deliver advanced technology in all areas of digital TV, including supporting VESA’s iDP standard, will foster the placement of digital TVs as the hub of entertainment, information and communication in the digital home.”

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