New Display Interface Standard Proposed for PC Monitors, CE Devices

December 28, 2005

Eleven personal computer (PC) and consumer electronics (CE) companies formed a special interest group (SIG) to develop a specification called the Unified Display Interface (UDI) as a new digital standard for PCs and compatible with CE devices. UDI will replace the aging VGA analog standard and provide guidelines to compatibility with the Digital Video Interface (DVI) standard. It will be fully compatible with High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), the standard digital interface for High Definition TVs (HDTVs) and advanced CE displays.

UDI will use High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) technology deployed in HDMI-compatible products. Host platforms with UDI connectors will be able to plug into monitors and HDMI-equipped display devices including HDTVs with full content-use rights management and high-definition video compatibility.

UDI is one of three platforms (including DVI and HDMI) enabled to use HDCP, the most widely-deployed content protection technology for displaying premium high- definition content. This will allow UDI-compatible PCs, notebooks and workstations the ability to display digital content in various high-definition modes, including those meeting new high-definition optical disc standards.

UDI will provide a universal video connection from the computer host to the display, including PC and notebook monitors, HDTVs and projectors. For PC and monitor makers, UDI will enable integration with both discrete and integrated graphics controllers, letting OEMs build computer platforms and all-digital LCD monitors that are cheaper, easier to use and higher in bandwidth.

The UDI SIG, including Apple, Intel Corp., LG Electronics, National Semiconductor Corp., Samsung Electronics and Silicon Image Inc., will develop and continue revising the UDI specification. Nvidia Corp., THine Electronics Inc., and cable and connector makers FCI, Foxconn Electronics Inc. and JAE Electronics Inc. are SIG contributors.

UDI SIG members seek more industry participants to help validate and refine the display interface specification, currently in revision 0.8. The UDI SIG expects to complete the specification (version 1.0) in the second quarter of 2006.

For more information on UDI or to join the UDI Special Interest Group, visit www.udisigwebsite.com.

Source: Silicon Image Inc.