MILPITAS, California, December 2 /PRNewswire/ --

- CM5160 is the Industry's First MDDI-to-MIPI(TM) and Legacy CPU-to-MIPI(TM) Display Controller

California Micro Devices (Nasdaq: CAMD) today introduced the CM5160 bridge display controller. This innovative display controller can operate in conjunction with both the Mobile Display Digital Interface (MDDI) and the Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI(TM)) standards for high speed serial display interfaces intended for advanced mobile handsets. Developed in collaboration with major handset and device manufacturers, the CM5160 will permit handsets that utilize CPUs and application processors with on-chip MDDI compatible hosts to interface to liquid crystal display (LCD) modules incorporating either MDDI or MIPI(TM) based clients. The CM5160 can also be utilized as an MDDI display client supporting LCD modules with resolutions up to WQVGA 24 bit per pixel.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081202/AQTU038 )

Competing Display Interface Standards

The existence of two industry standards for high speed serial display interfaces has compelled handset makers to procure different LCD modules. With the availability of the new CM5160 MDDI-to-MIPI(TM) bridge, handset makers utilizing a handset CPU with an MDDI based host will have the flexibility to procure display modules with a MIPI(TM) based client, thereby standardizing their LCD module purchases on a single display interface protocol.

Handset makers that produce systems based on both the GSM and CDMA standards and associated 3G standards, will have the opportunity to achieve cost savings by concentrating their purchasing power on procuring LCD modules based on a single standard while also enjoying the cost, space, power and EMI reduction advantages inherent in the use of the serial interface, commented Kyle Baker, CMD's vice president of marketing.

In addition to providing multi-standard display module support for MDDI based handsets; the new CM5160 MDDI-to-MIPI(TM) bridge can also interface to existing GSM and WCDMA baseband CPUs and application processors via an industry standard CPU interface. This will enable handset makers seeking an early introduction of MIPI(TM) based handset designs the additional flexibility of utilizing widely available GSM and WCDMA CPUs that do not feature an integrated MDDI or MIPI(TM) host. Handset makers can reduce product launch risks associated with dependence upon new product development schedules while taking full advantage of the benefits of a high speed serial display interface.

Multiple Use Cases

The CM5160 supports two use cases: as an interface conversion IC capable of converting video packets from MDDI or CPU client interfaces to a MIPI(TM) DSI (Display Serial Interface) host interface compatible with the MIPI(TM) DSI Type 1/2/3/4 display interface standard, and as a low power dual display MDDI client transceiver for primary display resolutions of up to WQVGA (432 x 240) 24 bit per pixel.

Interface Conversion

Utilized as an interface conversion IC, the CM5160 is capable of generating MIPI(TM) DSI pixel stream packets on 1 or 2 data lanes, with transfer rate up to 500 Mbps, constantly refreshing a MIPI(TM) Type 3 or 4 video mode display up to WQVGA resolution from the integrated frame buffer. The CM5160 also features a unique DCS (Display Command Set) conversion capability that can convert incoming MDDI video packets or data from a legacy CPU interface to MIPI(TM) DCS commands in real time to support MIPI(TM) Type-1 displays. In this mode, the frame buffer in the CM5160 is configured as a pass-through FIFO and pixel data is directly written to the display's frame buffer, thus it can support MIPI(TM) Type 1 and 2 displays with resolutions such as WVGA or higher.

MDDI Client

The integrated MDDI client transceiver is a Type I (1 strobe pair and 1 data pair) interface that can support a data rate of up to 400Mbps. The device features an enhanced timing controller with an integrated WQVGA frame buffer that supports the primary display through a standard RGB interface to the display module's driver chip. The CM5160's MDDI client is able to control both primary and secondary displays simultaneously through this high speed, yet low power interface.

The secondary display interface is designed to interface with smart LCD modules with a built-in frame buffer. Both a MIPI(TM) DSI link with 1 data lane and an SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) / MIPI(TM) DBI (Display Bus Interface) Type-C interface are available for the secondary display. The CM5160 supports an SPI/DBI Type-C interface that features two independent chip selects. This useful feature permits handset designers to dedicate one SPI interface to support primary display set up and a second SPI interface for the secondary display.

The CM5160 is developed in a low power process technology and features extensive power management modes to provide minimal power consumption. The CM5160 is housed in a 128 bump, 11 x 12 array wafer level chip scale package (CSP) in 0.4mm pitch and features an industry leading small form factor of just 4.5mm x 4.9mm.

Pricing and Availability

Evaluation boards and chip samples of the CM5160 are available now. Chip pricing starts at US$5.00 in 1,000 unit quantities. Volume production is scheduled for Q2 2009.

About California Micro Devices Corporation

California Micro Devices Corporation is a leading supplier of application specific analog and mixed signal semiconductor products for the mobile handset, digital consumer electronics and personal computer markets. Key products include protection devices for mobile handsets, digital consumer electronics products such as digital TVs, and personal computers as well as analog and mixed signal ICs for mobile handset displays. Detailed corporate and product information may be accessed at http://www.cmd.com.

All trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Richard Haas of California Micro Devices Corporation, +1-408-934-3108, richardh@cmd.com. Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081202/AQTU038