Licence-free interface to simplify mobile displays

The Mobile Video Interface is a high-speed serial interface designed specifically for text and graphics displayed on mobile communications devices.

Seiko Epson Corp and Renesas Technology Corp have jointly developed standard specifications for the Mobile Video Interface, a high-speed serial interface designed specifically for text and graphics displayed on mobile communications devices.

Now that they have completed the new standard, the two companies have decided to make it an open standard.

This recently established specification will be made available on a licence-free basis, not only to mobile applications developers, mobile device makers and other mobile industry-related participants, but also to other semiconductor manufacturers, in hopes of enlisting partners from major companies to help accelerate this new interface's adoption in global markets.

Epson and Renesas Technology believe that the dissemination of the new standard will ensure an even simpler architecture for the high-speed data transmissions required of next-generation mobile equipment such as mobile phones.

It will also contribute to greater battery life, reduced EMI noise, and will make mobile equipment easier to use.

The Mobile Video Interface is a high-speed serial interface for connecting devices built into mobile phones and other mobile communications products.

As an open standard, it enables various kinds of added value for users to be designed into next-generation mobile phones.

The interface includes eight physical signals: CLK +/-, DTO +/-, STB +/- and DTI +/-.

In the case of a mobile communications device that contains both a main LCD and sub-LCD, this interface - which has six interface lines as opposed to the 40 lines on conventional interfaces - can control both the main and sub-LCDs.

The details of the Mobile Video Interface will be announced steadily as these two companies launch their market-oriented campaign to enlist partners from among the major players in Japan and overseas around the world.

The first products will use the Mobile Video Interface Rev 1.0 to link LCDs.

In the fourth quarter of 2004, products that link cameras via this interface are due on the market, and in the first quarter of 2005 products with baseband links are expected.

Mobile Video Interface Rev 2.0, which will support data transfer at up to 400Mbit/s, is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2005.

Back to top