IDT unveils touch screen controller that uses DisplayPort AUX channel

[siopao1984]

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IDT unveils touch screen controller that uses DisplayPort AUX channel by VR-Zone.com

One of many reasons why touch screens aren't taking off on larger screen devices is the cost and part of that cost is because a special touch screen controller with its own interface is needed. Now IDT has come up with a solution that might help to reduce the overall cost of touch screens, by taking advantage of the AUX channel in the DisplayPort interface.

DisplayPort comes in two different shapes, the external connector that used to connect a PC or a notebook to a screen and eDP or embedded DisplayPort which is set to replace LVDS signalling in notebooks and tablets among other things. All DisplayPort standards have an AUX channel which in DisplayPort 1.2 got boosted to 720Mbps, up from a paltry 1Mbps in version 1.0 and 1.1. This has allowed IDT to run all the touch interface signals through the AUX channel with its latest touch new touch-over-AUX Embedded DisplayPort 1.3 (eDP™)-based timing controller (TCON) as the company likes to call it.



The TCON is an all-in-one solution in as much as it's both a touch screen controller and a timing controller for the display itself, reducing overall component count which results in overall lower cost. Another cost saving feature by using the AUX channel of the eDP interface is that there's no longer any need to run an additional USB interface to the display to act as the touch screen interface with the system and this also helps to simplify the overall system design. IDT is currently working with partners to get its new solution into products that should hopefully appear on the market next year. The only downside we can see at the moment is the unwillingness of the display panel makers to move away from LVDS to eDP, as this is preventing a move towards a simpler and more user friendly display interface from actually taking place.

Source: IDT

[SantosJB]

wow. very innovative.