VESA's Mobile Display Device Interface Standard Designed for High-Speed, Short Range Communication

Milpitas, Calif., Nov. 13, 2008--The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has introduced an update to its interface standard developed to enable high-speed, cost-efficient, low-power communication for the latest portable electronics products.

VESA's Mobile Display Device Interface Standard (MDDI) 1.2 describes the requirements of a high-speed digital packet interface that lets portable devices transport digital images from small portable devices to larger external displays. MDDI applies a miniature connector system and thin flexible cable ideal for linking portable computing, communications and entertainment devices to emerging products such as wearable micro displays. It also includes information on how to simplify connections between host processors and a devices display, in order to reduce the cost and increase the reliability of these connections.

Portable electronic devices have increasing features and capabilities, are becoming smaller, and consume less power. Many have wireless network communication capability, more powerful processors, larger amounts of bulk storage, and enhanced input devices. These capabilities can all be integrated into smaller devices, but there is a limit to the small size of a high-resolution display. This makes it necessary for portable devices to export their display information in order for the portable device to have a high-resolution display. Also, within a device there are often high-bandwidth connections to an internal display. Present solutions use parallel interfaces and relatively high signal levels causing the connection to be more costly, less reliable and cause radiated emissions that interfere with proper operation of the device.

MDDI enables portable devices to connect to external displays in the following ways: to a projector so a PDA or mobile phone can display an electronic presentation; to support emerging head mounted displays, and through a docking station to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

For more information about MDDI or to purchase the standard, visit the VESA web site at www.vesa.org.

ETC Approved as DisplayPort Cable Test Center

Milpitas, Calif., June 16, 2008 – The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today announced that Electronics Testing Center, Taiwan (ETC) has been approved to offer cable compliance testing for the DisplayPort standard.

DisplayPort is a next generation digital interface designed to replace LVDS, DVI and eventually VGA. It promises several significant benefits to consumers. It simplifies connectors and allows for sleeker displays and notebooks by removing the need for LVDS electronics. As a VESA standard, DisplayPort devices deliver a true digital experience to all PCs and monitors, not just the most expensive brands.

ETC is an independent technology testing house that provides complete inspection and testing services in a wide range of fields, including environmental and reliability tests, safety and EMC tests, RoHS chemical analysis, instrument calibration, and tests for automotive parts, medical devices and telecommunication terminals. Its Cable & Connector Laboratory has been established for more than 10 years and is capable of providing tests not only for USB, 1394, SATA but also for HDMI and ExpressCard.

"It’s our great pleasure to be approved as a DisplayPort Authorized Test Center," said Martin Cheng, President of ETC. "We pursue excellence in quality control and offer a complete suite of DisplayPort cable testing that aids our customers in bringing DisplayPort products to market. We welcome this opportunity to work with VESA to support the DisplayPort standard.”

"The compliance program is the key to the successful launch of DisplayPort products and it assures a user that their product meets the demanding requirements set forth in the DisplayPort standard,” said Bill Lempesis, executive director, VESA. "ETC is recognized around the world for its leadership in compliance testing and we are pleased that they are a part of the DisplayPort program.”

Allion Approved as First DisplayPort Test Center

Milpitas, Calif., March 6, 2008 – The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today announced that Allion Test Labs, via its Taiwan facility, has been approved to offer compliance testing for the DisplayPort standard.

DisplayPort is a next generation digital interface designed to replace LVDS, DVI and eventually VGA. It promises several significant benefits to consumers. It simplifies connectors and allows for sleeker displays and notebooks by removing the need for LVDS electronics. As a VESA standard, DisplayPort devices deliver a true digital experience to all PCs and monitors, not just the most expensive brands.

Allion is the first test center approved to test DisplayPort products to ensure that they meet the DisplayPort standard requirements. Compliant products are able to display the DisplayPort Certified Logo. This logo that tells consumers the products have been tested to meet the DisplayPort standard.

"We are pleased to have added DisplayPort product testing to our vast offering of services," said James Ou, director of Allion Test Labs. "As the leading test center in Asia, we offer a complete suite of DisplayPort product testing that will help companies bring their DisplayPort products to market very quickly. We look forward to working with VESA to support the DisplayPort standard."

"The compliance program is the key to the successful launch of DisplayPort products and it assures a user that their product meets the demanding requirements set forth in the DisplayPort standard,” said Bill Lempesis, executive director, VESA. "Allion is recognized around the world for its leadership in compliance testing and we are pleased that they are the first authorized test center."

All compliant products will be listed at www.displayport.org. Information on where to purchase DisplayPort products will also be added to the site.

VESA Announces the Release of its Second-Generation Display Identification (DisplayID) Standard

Milpitas, Calif., February 11, 2008 – The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today released its second-generation display identification standard, DisplayID. The DisplayID standard defines the meaning of flexible data formats that organize interface and display configurations information. It is intended as an eventual replacement for the previous standard, the Extended Display Identification Data (EDID). It provides better support for non-CRT displays and digital interfaces, such as the VESA DisplayPort standard, than was available in the earlier EDID specification.

"DisplayID is a much more flexible and the modern ID structure allows developers to mix and match predefined data blocks for what is appropriate for a specific digital device, " said Bob Myers, chairman, VESA.

This new standard defines flexible data formats that organize interface and display configuration information in a file stored in a display product. A host PC has access to the file over the video interface connection. The host uses this data to automatically setup and optimize the video interface facilitating plug and play operation with minimal or no user intervention. Its simple, compact data structure enables expanded compatibility with digital products used for a wide range of applications, including “embedded displays” e.g., PCs, notebook LCD panels, freestanding monitors and TVs.

The modern DisplayID structure consists of a variable length block of data up to 256-bytes. It also permits additional variable length blocks of up to 256-bytes, called DisplayID Extensions, to be added to the base structure in applications where it is desirable that additional information be provided by the display. The new standard is not directly backward compatible with the earlier EDID/E-EDID definitions. DisplayID features significant changes but does carry over many data field definitions from these earlier standards. It is strongly encouraged that users familiarize themselves with the new standard documentation before beginning implementation.

VESA Releases 17- and 19-inch Wide Panel Standards and an Updated DisplayPort Panel Connector Standard

Milpitas, Calif., February 1, 2008 – The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today announced the release of 17- and 19-inch Wide Monitor Panel standards and an Updated DisplayPort Panel Connector standard.

The 17-and 19-inch wide standards define the requirements to standardize the mechanical dimensions and selected electrical interface elements of 17- and 19-inch wide format panels intended for use as LCD monitors. This will help LCD manufacturers and panel consumers to better control panel supply and demand cycles.

The DisplayPort Panel Connector standard shall serve as an alternative panel connector for various VESA panel standards. It defines the requirements for a standard DisplayPort connector for use in any standard panel that uses a 30-pin LVDS connector.