Parade Technologies Solves Signal Integrity Puzzle for DisplayPort™ Video Transmitters
发表于18 8 月, 2008
DisplayPort™ Repeater Device uses Advanced Equalizer and Aux Channel Link Training
New PS8121ED DisplayPort™ Repeater Serves Notebook Docking Station and Motherboard Applications
IDF San Francisco 2008
SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Parade Technologies Ltd. (www.paradetech.com), a leading innovator of digital video interface products, has introduced the PS8121ED DisplayPort™ Repeater device. The PS8121ED improves output signal quality of DisplayPort transmitters or “Source” systems by removing signal distortion imposed by long PCB (printed circuit board) traces and connectors within the DisplayPort signal path. The PS8121ED drives the DisplayPort output receptacle with a clean signal, improving DisplayPort Compliance test margin and enabling robust interoperability with a wide variety of receivers.
The PS8121ED is the first DisplayPort repeater that responds to Link Training commands between the Source and Sink systems. 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 PS8121ED adjusts 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, however the PS8121ED will over‐ride these input drive changes and provide the correct drive characteristics at the system output receptacle.
The PS8121ED DisplayPort input incorporates Parade’s unsurpassed advanced equalizer circuit. This circuit automatically adjusts the voltage gain and pass‐band frequency response of the input receiver to compensate for signal loss (attenuation) and distortion over the system’s internal distribution path.
“Meeting the DisplayPort specification can be challenging when outputting through a notebook docking station, for example,” explains Jimmy Chiu, VP of Marketing at Parade. “In this application, the DisplayPort signal originates from the chip set or GPU on the notebook mother board, then travels through PCB traces to the docking connector, through more PCB traces in docking station, and finally to the DisplayPort connector. The 2.7 Gbps (giga‐bit‐per‐second) DisplayPort signal gets quite distorted under these conditions. The PS8121ED was specifically designed to alleviate the distortions inherent in long signal transmission traces, and it is already being designed into several docking stations. We are also finding applications within PC motherboards. With DisplayPort integrated into the chipset, signal routing to the back panel connector can involve long PCB traces and multiple vias. The commonly used FR‐4 PCB base material does not propagate these high frequencies very well, which results in significant signal loss and distortion. The PS8121ED demonstrably improves DisplayPort signal conditioning in multiple applications.”
“One attractive aspect of DisplayPort is its ease of integration into chipsets and microprocessors,” says Eric Mentzer, Graphics Development Group General Manager, Intel Corporation. “Its relative low signal swing and AC coupling allow it to easily scale with Intel’s most advanced manufacturing processes. We are pleased to see technology innovation from companies like Parade that will extend the utility of DisplayPort connections to a wider range of applications as docking stations.”
The PS8121ED is packaged in a 48‐pin QFN package. The device is compliant with DisplayPort Standard version 1.1a. The PS8121ED is available in production quantities now, and sells for $1.40/unit in volume. Parade Technologies will be demonstrating the PS8121ED at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in San Francisco during August 19‐21, 2008.
About Parade Technologies, Ltd. and Parade Technologies, Inc.
Parade Technologies, Ltd. is a privately-held fabless semiconductor company that specializes in developing digital video display 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 Sunnyvale, 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.
Jimmy Chiu, 408-329-5540
jimmy.chiu@paradetech.com