National Semiconductor's Flat Panel Display Technology Supports Intel's Integrated Graphics Memory Controller Hub - Open LDI digital transmitter - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, June 12, 2000

National Semiconductor (NYSE:NSM) Monday introduced a digital transmitter to support the open LDI specification which supports Intel Corporation's integrated Graphics Memory Controller Hub (GMCH).

"National's Open LDI specification has been widely accepted by notebook manufacturers and GUI vendors," said Wade Thompson, Program Manager of Intel's Platform Driver Division. "It's only a natural extension to expect that its flexibility, high resolution and power advantages will be transferred to the desktop. With the need for increasing graphics bandwidth, products based on National's LVDS technology will certainly be at the forefront to support this trend."

Operating at 3V, the 85MHZ Open LDI digital transmitter (DS90C387R) with 12-bit double pumped input receives its signal from the GMCH Digital Video Out (DVO) port for TFT flat panel displays up to SXGA resolution. The DS90C387R transmitter is fully compliant with Open LDI specifications for digital display interfaces and is compatible with TIA/EIA-644 LVDS and GMCH standards. According to market research firm Display Search, as many as 28.4 million TFT LCD flat panel units are projected to be sold in the year 2000 for LCD monitors, LCD-PCs and notebook computers, and 38.5 million units in the year 2001.

"It's only a matter of time until CRTs are supplanted on the desk top by digital flat panel displays with their higher resolution and lower power requirements," said Mitchell Abbey, product marketing manager at National Semiconductor. "Intel anticipated that trend when they designed their GMCH solution with a digital video out (DVO) port that generates RGB data for the digital flat panel display. And as the high-resolution LCD monitor market continues to emerge on the desktop, sub-systems such as the 387R LVDS driver and a corresponding LVDS receiver will replace high-speed TTL interfaces."

National's DS90C387R transmitter, with its dual pumped front end, transmits high-bandwidth pixel data between host and flat panel displays with XGA (1024X768) or SXGA (1280X1024) resolutions. The chip's LVDS data bit streams maximize bit times, while keeping clock rates low to reduce EMI and shielding requirements.

The DS90C387R LVDS transmitter's 12-bit channel supports one port of two data per clock input for 24-bit RBG and two ports of two data per clock 12-bit input for dual 24-bit RGB, 48-bit RGB total. The double pumped data scheme will also interface with standalone graphics controllers. Its two pixel per clock technology will allow interface with future technologies such as digital video ports for digital TVs. Scalable bandwidth from 25-85MHz is consistent with GMCH clock rates and can be programmed to match resolutions up to GMCH's SXGA limits. Since the part is backward compatible with earlier LVDS transmitters, it can be paired with National's DS90CF388 LDI or FPD-Link receivers in non-DC balance mode operation. An optional second LVDS clock facilitates backward compatibility with FPD-Link, narrowing the interface between graphics controller and panel. This flexibility allows GUI/LCD panel/mother board vendors choices of selection of each other.

At 3V, the DS90C387R drives graphics signals with the LVDS-related benefits of low power - thinner cables and smaller connectors. Typical cable length is 7 meters although the device is capable of driving cable 5M to 15M in length. Optional 1.0V to 1.8V data input systems are also available.

Pricing and Availability

Available now in a 100-pin TQFP package, the DS90C387RVJD is priced at $7.50 each in 1,000 unit quantities. For more information on the DS90C387R visit National's World Wide Web site at http://www.national.com/appinfo/fpd/index.html, or contact National's Design Support Group at 1-800-272-9959.

National Semiconductor provides system-on-a-chip solutions for the information age. Combining real-world analog and state-of the-art digital technology, the company's chips lead many sectors of the personal computer, communications, and consumer markets. With headquarters in Santa Clara, California, National reported sales of $2 billion for its last fiscal year and has about 10,500 employees worldwide. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web at www.national.com.