Parade maintains leadership with first T-CON designed to meet new eDP v1.2 spec

SAN JOSE, USA: —Parade Technologies Ltd, a leading video display and interface IC supplier, has released the world'’s fist video display timing controller (T-CON) IC that satisfies the recently updated VESA eDP v1.2 specification.

Parade'’s new DP616 is designed specifically to help accelerate DisplayPort adoption by system OEMs. The chip lowers total system cost and system power requirements by eliminating the need for an external voltage regulator.

The first-generation eDP T-CON was very successful. Its widespread adoption enabled Parade to accumulate valuable OEM feedback to develop the second-generation device, which emphasizes total system cost reduction and power efficiency,” explains Jimmy Chiu, VP of Marketing at Parade Technologies. “As a key contributor to the DisplayPort effort, Parade was ready with the v1.2 device as soon as the new eDP spec was finalized.”

The DP616 is an eDP sink device that accepts video input from a CPU or GPU and converts it into mini-LVDS row and column video data for use by a display panel. The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) announced the version 1.2 upgrade of its embedded DisplayPort (eDP) spec last month.

The DP616 is a one-lane main link T-CON that supports eDP link rates up to 2.7Gbps. The device supports all panel resolutions up to WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050) with 18-bit color depth, and WXGA+ (1440 x 900) with 24-bit color depth.

Innovative design integrates switching regulator to slice system power
To significantly reduce total system power requirements, the DP616 incorporates an internal switching regulator. By eliminating the need for an external linear regulator—used in almost all panel designs to step down standard eDP supply voltage from 3.3 to 1.2 volts—the Parade DP616 reduces both the bill-of-materials cost and total system power requirements.

Parade estimates that eliminating a discrete linear regulator from a panel design will reduce system power consumption by as much as 175mW. The DP616 also uses crystal-free technology, has an integrated color engine and supports the new dynamic backlight control capabilities that are part of the v1.2 spec.

eDP replacing LVDS as link between CPU/GPU and display
VESA’s eDP standard is replacing LVDS as the common standard for linking CPUs and graphic controllers with displays in mobile computers. The new v1.2 specification now supports higher data rates and other new capabilities that further reduce the number of interconnect wires required over the link.

Notebook computer designs are converting to eDP because it requires fewer pins than LVDS, and because it employs low-voltage AC-coupled technology that is compatible with sub-micron fabrication. eDP also allows OEMs to design computer systems that use a common interface specification—DisplayPort—for both external and internal display panels. Major CPU vendors are actively migrating their designs from LVDS to eDP, and industry analysts expect this transition to be largely complete by 2013.

The DP616 is sampling now, and production volumes will be available in 4Q10. The DP616 will be available for $1.45 /ea. in high volume.