Parade Technologies Introduces Second-Generation DisplayPortTM Repeater Architecture

发表于17 8 月, 2009

San Jose, Calif.—17 August 2009—Parade Technologies Ltd. (www.paradetech.com), a leading innovator of digital video interface products, has introduced the PS8311 DisplayPort^TM Repeater device. Like its predecessor the PS8121ED–the world’s first DisplayPort Repeater device, introduced by Parade last year–the PS8311 improves the output signal quality of a DisplayPort transmitter or “source,” such as a GPU. Using advanced adaptive equalization technology, The PS8311 removes signal distortion introduced by long PCB (printed circuit board) traces and by long or marginal connectors within the DisplayPort signal path between a GPU source and display sink.

Repeaters, also called re-drivers, are often needed within a system to successfully pass the VESA DisplayPort Certified Compliance Test. The new PS8311 provides improved performance and improved integration for Dual-mode or Multi-mode DisplayPort Source devices. Applications that benefit from DisplayPort Repeaters include notebook PCs, docking stations, and desktop PCs.

The PS8311 is a DisplayPort Repeater, a device class first introduced by Parade. It responds to Link Training commands between the Source and Sink systems and, using Parade Technologies’ proprietary “AUX Channel interceptor” circuit (patent pending), the device actively monitors the DisplayPort AUX Channel communication between the Source and Sink systems. The PS8311 will adjust its output voltage swing and pre-emphasis level based on the Sink system request during Link Training, as well as the number of Main Link (high speed) lanes and Aux Channel managed power states. The originating DisplayPort transmitter within the Source system will also respond to these Sink requests, providing a variation in the voltage swing and pre-emphasis levels provided to the repeater.

To reduce to possibility of jitter that may be imposed by high drive levels at the repeater input, the PS8311 includes a new advanced “Automatic Equalization Adjustment” feature that automatically adjusts the input gain and equalization level based on the link training commands. This compensates for expected input level changes, and also allows the PS8311 to be placed closer to the original DisplayPort Source device, where amplitude and pre-emphasis levels will be higher.

The PS8311 also integrates the sideband signal multiplexer needed for Multi-mode DisplayPort Source devices. Most DisplayPort Source devices today are Dual-mode, also referred to as Multi-mode, which means they support multiple video formats from the DisplayPort receptacle including HDMI^TM, DVI and DisplayPort. A low-cost voltage level-shifted cable adapter is required to support the DVI and HDMI output modes. In the Source device, the DDC (Display Data Channel) used for the DVI and HDMI protocols must be multiplexed with the DisplayPort AUX Channel (Auxiliary Data Channel) prior to the DisplayPort output receptacle. The PS8311 integrates this required DDC / AUX Channel multiplexer to both reduce system component count and improve performance.

Another advance incorporated into the second-generation PS8311 is Automatic Power Management, which significantly reduces overall power consumption. Automatically detecting the absence of a Sink device, such as a display, the PS8311 will power down until a Sink device is connected.

“Our original PS8121ED repeater is quite popular, particularly in docking stations but also on motherboards with complicated DisplayPort signal routing,” says Jimmy Chiu, VP of Marketing at Parade. “Many designers rely on DisplayPort Repeaters for additional PCB layout flexibility, since it will compensate for the PCB trace losses and will provide a clean output signal with a less-than-optimum PCB DisplayPort signal routing. The PS8311 improves this flexibility and has the added benefit of including the DDC and AUX channel multiplexer, as well as automatic power management.”

The improved DisplayPort Repeater architecture designed into the PS8311 has also been incorporated into other recently introduced Parade Technologies DisplayPort switch devices, such as the PS8312 (Dual Mode DisplayPort Source 1:2 Demultiplexer with DisplayPort and TMDS^TM Outputs), PS8318 (Dual Mode DisplayPort Source 1:2 Demultiplexer), and PS8325 (Dual Mode DisplayPort 2×2 Crosspoint Switch with DP and TMDS Outputs).

Pricing and Availability

The PS8311 is currently sampling and is priced at $1.50 in volume. It comes in a 48-pin TQFP RoHS package.

About Parade Technologies, Ltd. and Parade Technologies, Inc.

Parade Technologies, Ltd. is a privately held fabless semiconductor company that specializes in developing high-speed interface products. The company seeks to leverage a combination of high-speed analog, mixed-signal and digital design expertise, along with system level knowledge, to take product performance, power efficiency and customer satisfaction to new heights.

Parade Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Parade Technologies, Ltd, is located in San Jose, California, the heart of Silicon Valley. As Parade Technologies, Ltd’s marketing representative in the United States, Parade Technologies, Inc. can be reached at (408) 329-5540, or on the Internet at http://www.paradetech.com .

Contact:
Parade Technologies, Inc.
Craig Wiley, +1-408-329-5540
pr@paradetech.com