When ST Microelectronics acquired Faroudja Labs a couple of years ago (through their acquisition of Genesis Microchip), I wondered exactly how Faroudja’s technology — well known since the 1980s for pushing the state-of-the art in image quality in consumer electronics devices such as VCRs, camcorders, line doublers and quadruplers, TVs and many others devices — would appear in ST’s chips. This week ST sent word of a good example — a new series of LCD controller SoCs incorporating Faroudja processing that they say deliver superior performance for mainstream DisplayPort monitors. The single-chip controller ICs deliver features and performance previously only found in premium or high-end monitors, ST says, including advanced 12-bit color-processing capabilities, enhanced color fidelity, DisplayPort connectivity and ultra-low power consumption when the monitor is in standby mode.
Designed for full high-definition and WUXGA-standard (1920 x 1200 pixel) multimedia monitors, ST says their STDP6000 series has already gained several design wins with leading monitor makers. It enables customers to select one or all of its features to introduce differentiated monitors at mainstream consumer price points.
The STDP6000 accepts a wide range of digital inputs including DisplayPort, HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), and DVI (Digital Video Interface), and also supports VGA inputs for connectivity to legacy analog sources. DisplayPort, which is rapidly gaining momentum in notebook and monitor applications, is the open digital-interface standard for displays developed by VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association). The technology enables high-bandwidth audio-video signal transmission using fewer signal lines than conventional display interfaces used in multimedia-monitor applications. The STDP6000’s DisplayPort Receiver has passed the VESA Compliance Test.
The STDP6000 also integrates an HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) key for secured audio-video data transmission, thereby streamlining customers’ production flow and reducing cost.
On the Faroudja front, ST says the STDP6000 ensures the high picture quality usually found in professional-grade workstation monitors by implementing ST’s Faroudja RealColor® technology, which offers image enhancement, deep color support, and enhanced wide-gamut-panel support with improved color fidelity.
OEMs and end users can upgrade their monitor software without factory recall or on-site technical support via ST’s Smart ISP (In-System Programming) technology. The STDP6000 is available in volume production in a 128-pin TQFP package.
For more information, check out ST’s data sheet for the series.
