Product category: Analogue and Mixed Signal ICs
News Release from: Chrontel | Subject: CH7017/9
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 15 August 2002
Budget display chip
accelerates PC/TV convergence
Chrontel is shipping the world's first single-chip high-resolution flat panel display driver, display scaler and TV encoder to PC manufacturers
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Chrontel's CH7017 integrates video functions that previously required three separate chips: a dual LVDS (low voltage differential signal) transmitter, which supports all flat panel display resolutions up to 2048 x 1536pixel at a 60Hz refresh rate; a display scaler, which automatically adjusts the selected pixel resolution to the physical size of the display; and a TV encoder (or TV-out), which sends video signals directly to a conventional NTSC or pal television.
Notebook PC manufacturers can now design an array of display options into their products by using a single low-cost IC.
Almost every notebook computer contains an LVDS chip, which is the standard industry technology for transmitting the output of a graphics processor on a PC motherboard across the open hinge of a notebook case to a flat panel display.
Many PCs also incorporate scaler technology, which automatically resizes the user-selected pixel resolution to occupy every square inch of the notebook's display.
In addition to the notebook's internal display, PC users increasingly demand direct video output to conventional TVs, so that information, presentations, movies and games can be shared with multiple viewers.
Until now, PC OEMs that wanted to support all graphics formats - from VGA (640 x 480) all the way up to QXGA (2048 x 1536) - and also support automated 2D scaling and direct analogue video output to a TV, had to purchase as many as three separate ICs for their notebook design.
Further reading
LVDS transmitter meets new Intel specs
A new LVDS transmitter is the first of its type to comply with Intel's new, proprietary SDVO (serial digital video output) PC interface specification
Display interface aims to catch PCI Express bus
Chrontel has developed a DVI transmitter that is fully compliant with Intel's new, proprietary SDVO interface specification
Toshiba selects TV chips
Chrontel is to supply TV encoder devices for four new Toshiba notebook PC lines
Video chips gain Centrino compatibility
Chrontel has customised its extensive product line to support Intel's new Centrino mobile technology
By integrating all of these video display options into a single device, Chrontel has dramatically lowered the complexity and part count for next generation notebooks.
"DVD drives are becoming standard on today's PCs, so users want TV-out capability to display movies on a large TV screen.
At the same time, notebook displays are growing larger, so LVDS transmitters must support resolutions up to QXGA", explained Dr David Soo, Chrontel's president and CEO.
"This PC-TV convergence is changing the economics of video display chips.
It is now more cost-effective to use one device to drive both the notebook display and an external TV.
Chrontel's new device wraps all these video options into a single IC, which means the cost of convergence just decreased".
The CH7017 supports LVDS pixel rates up to 330Mpixel/s, which is required for resolutions up to QXGA.
The device includes an adaptive and programmable on-chip scaler, patented flicker filter, and text enhancement technology for superior text display.
The chip also integrates four 10-bit DACs that allow the CH7017 to drive both TV composite video and component S-video outputs, while simultaneously driving an alternate image on the notebook's flat panel display.
Using a PC built around the CH7017, a user can display a slide presentation on a TV to a roomful of people, while simultaneously viewing speaker's notes on a notebook's internal display.
To meet the system requirements of the broadest range of PC OEMs, Chrontel also offers the CH7019, which eliminates the scaling feature of the CH7017 for PC designs that either omit or employ discrete ICs for that function.
Notebooks from leading PC manufacturers incorporating the new CH7017 and CH7019 chips should begin appearing on store shelves this autumn.
The CH7017 and CH7019 are both available now in production quantities.
The devices are packaged in 128-pin LQFP and come complete with Windows and DOS driver support.
The CH7017 is priced from $7.50 each in quantities of 1000, and the CH7019 is priced from $5.50 each in quantities of 1000.
(This was Electronicstalk's Top Story on 15 August 2002).
(This was Electronicstalk's Top Story on 15 August 2002)
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