New DisplayPort Standard for PCs, Monitors, TV Displays and Projectors Moves from Promoter Group to Video Electronics Standards Association
Press Release
The newly-developed DisplayPort(TM) interface proposal, which has been
designed to simplify display interfaces in computer and consumer
electronics systems, has been turned over to the Video Electronics
Standards Association (VESA) for finalization and approval as a
standard.
In May, VESA announced the DisplayPort development program by a group
of industry-leading companies dedicated to creating a new digital
display interface specification for broad application within computer
monitors, TV displays, projectors, PCs and other sources of image
content.
“The plan in May was to submit a comprehensive version of the interface
proposal to VESA during the third quarter for ratification and
adoption,” said Ian Miller, chairman of VESA. “The group has met its
internal timetable and delivered to us a very comprehensive
specification, which VESA will now administer and provide a forum for
future revisions.”
DisplayPort allows high quality audio to be available to the display
device over the same cable as the video signal. It delivers true
plug-and-play with robust interoperability, and is cost-competitive
with existing digital display interconnects. Designed to be available
throughout the industry as an open, extensible standard, DisplayPort is
expected to accelerate adoption of protected digital outputs on PCs to
support viewing high definition and other types of protected content
through an optional content protection capability, while enabling
higher levels of display performance.
DisplayPort enables a common interface approach across both internal
connections, such as interfaces within a PC or monitor, and external
display connections, including interfaces between a PC and monitor or
projector, between a PC and TV or between a device such as DVD player
and TV display. The standard includes an optional digital audio
capability so high definition digital audio and video can be streamed
over the interface, and it provides performance scalability so the next
generation of displays can feature higher color depths, refresh rates,
and display resolutions. It also features a small, user-friendly
connector optimized for use on thin profile notebooks in addition to
allowing multiple connectors on a graphics card.
Layered, Modular Architecture Includes Main Link and Auxiliary Channel
DisplayPort incorporates a Main Link, a high-bandwidth, low-latency,
unidirectional connection supporting isochronous stream transport. One
stream video with associated audio is supported in Version.1.0, but
DisplayPort is seamlessly extensible, enabling support of multiple
video streams. Version 1.0 also includes an Auxiliary Channel to
provide consistent-bandwidth, low-latency, bi-directional connectivity
with Main Link management, and device control based on VESA’s E-DDC,
E-EDID, DDC/CI and MCCS standards. The Link configuration enables true
“Plug-and-Play.”
The Main Link bandwidth enables data transfer at up to 10.8 Gbits/second using a total of four lanes.
The promoter group based their development efforts on the premise that
the PC industry requires a ubiquitous digital interface with optional
content protection that can be deployed widely at minimum cost to
enable broad access to premium content, according to Miller.
As higher performance display and source technologies are introduced,
the demands on interface bandwidth expand and the problem will become
even more acute soon with demands for more colors, higher resolutions,
and higher refresh rates. The DisplayPort standard’s high initial
bandwidth is designed to scale to even higher bandwidths to accommodate
future display requirements.
About VESA
The Video Electronics Standards Association is a worldwide organization
with more than 120 member companies that promotes and develops timely,
relevant, open display and display interface standards, ensuring
interoperability, and encouraging innovation and market growth. For
information about VESA, visit www.vesa.org.