Silicon Image takes wraps off FPD set

Electronic News, August 11, 1997

Cupertino, Calif.--Silicon Image last week rolled out a flat panel display (FPD) interface chipset--conforming to the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) plug-and-display (P&D) interface specification--targeted at the replacement of cathode ray tubes (CRTs).

In addition, the company introduced the initial member of a planned family of intelligent panel controllers integrating the functionality of an ASIC while maintaining the receiver portions of Silicon Image's proprietary PanelLink technology.

The VESA P&D standard was ratified last month (EN, July 7) and touted as the first digital monitor interface for desktop flat panels. The VESA P&D standard was developed to have an interchangeable flat panel interface for both CRTs and FPDs although Silicon Image is using the P&D specification to target CRT replacement.

"A standard interface will enable a selling point because you can plug multiple panels into a system and still have the display come up like nothing had ever happened," said Scott Macomber, president of Silicon Image in an interview with Electronic News. "This also will enable people to seriously think about the CRT replacement market--the benefits of enhanced images, smaller devices and--above all--the reduction of cost for these FPDs."

The VESA standard includes sync detection for hot plugging, wide frequency operating range, and long distance cable support. Silicon Images' two-chip chipset features the Sil140 chip that functions as the transmitter for the host computer or adapter card and the Sil141 that functions as the receiver that is mounted on the back of the display.

The Sil140 features an integrated phase-locked loop (PLL), voltage swing control, data capture, transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS) encoder and a serializer. The Sil141 features an integrated PLL, synch detect, reflection minimizer, data recovery, TMDS decoder and channel sync. Silicon Image claims the chipset supports resolutions ranging from VGA (640x480 pixels) to SXGA (1280x1024 pixels). In addition, Silicon Image said the chipset allows OEMs to use one board design and panel interface to support a variety of panels, regardless of the panel, manufacture, LCD technology or screen resolution.

In a related event, Silicon Image also introduced the Sil201 integrated panel controller targeted at SVGA and XGA active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs) panels, Mr. Macomber said. The device is claimed to offer a lower cost, low EMI and low power as well as low system noise compared to other FPD offerings. The device supports automatic power down of panels for hot plugging of FPDs for CRT replacement, enabling it to meet the VESA P&D standard.

The device allows for the future addition of image enhancing features by integrating a programmable feature in the chip so software is only required for additional features. The Sil201 is available now priced at $9 in 10,000-unit quantities.

Silicon Image said LG Electronics has already integrated the Sil201 into its new generation of FPDs for notebook computers. LG Electronics is the initial FPD manufacturer to adopt the Sil201.

"With this device we are able to integrate certain components through software that will add to further the desire to replace CRTs," said Mr. Macomber. "We are planning to do what the VGA guys have been able to do but on the FPD side--integrate multiple components on one device and upgrade through software minimizing cost and size."