Display Interfaces

Display Technologies and Applications (Display Interfaces) Part 4

Projection Displays Projection displays do not represent a separate class of fundamental display technology, as was the case with the above types, but rather are most often a different application of one of these technologies. This class of display is distinguished by a single common feature: rather than being directly viewed, the display device (or […]

Practical and Performance Requirements of the Display Interface Part 1

Introduction Every engineering decision is, by necessity, a compromise. We are not given infinite resources, either in time, money, or any physical constraints (size, weight, etc.) with which to fulfill any given requirement, and of course we must work within the bounds imposed by the basic laws of physics. Display interfaces are certainly no exception. […]

Practical and Performance Requirements of the Display Interface Part 2

Shielding and filtering While both the coaxial and twisted-pair configurations can be considered “self-shielding” to some degree, an additional conductor is often added to cabling to provide further protection from external noise sources, and/or to reduce radiated emissions from the cable. This is more commonly required in the case of the twisted-pair type, whose performance […]

Basics of Analog and Digital Display Interfaces Part 1

Introduction It seems that in any discussion of electrical interfaces, the question of “analog vs. digital” types always comes up, with considerable discussion following as to which is better for a given application. Unfortunately, much of the ensuing discussion is often based on some serious misunderstandings about exactly what these terms mean and what advantages […]

Basics of Analog and Digital Display Interfaces Part 2

The True Advantage of Digital From the preceding discussion, the reader may now be under the impression that there is no real advantage to digital interfaces over analog, or that the author is somehow “anti-digital”. This is not the case; the purpose so far has been to show that the terms “analog” and “digital” do […]

Format and Timing Standards (Display Interfaces) Part 1

Introduction A large part of the many standards having to do with displays and display interfaces concern themselves not with the nature of the physical or electrical connection, but rather solely with the format of the images to be communicated, and the timing which will be used in the transmission. In fact, these are arguably […]

Format and Timing Standards (Display Interfaces) Part 2

Format and Timing Standard Development As noted, the primary markets served today by electronic imaging are, broadly, entertainment video (broadcast television and other consumer-oriented entertainment services) and the computer industry. To be sure, there are other electronic imaging and display applications, but more and more the standards developed for TV and PC displays have come […]

Standards for Analog Video -Part I: Television (Display Interfaces) Part 1

Introduction As the CRT may be considered to be the first electronic display technology to enjoy widespread acceptance and success (a success which continues to this day), the analog interface standards developed to support it have been the mainstay of practically all “standalone” display markets and applications – those in which the display device is […]

Standards for Analog Video -Part I: Television (Display Interfaces) Part 2

PAL Color Encoding Due to the effects of World War II, color television development in Europe lagged somewhat behind efforts in North America. By the time the European nations were ready to determine a color broadcast standard (the mid-1960s), the RCA/NTSC encoding system had already been adopted and implemented in the US and Canada. Still, […]

Standards for Analog Video -Part I: Television (Display Interfaces) Part 3

The “F” connector A step up from the “RCA” type for high-frequency connections, if only due to being a better match to the RG-59 type coaxial cable common in consumer video interconnects, is the “F” connector type. This again provides a single “signal” contact, which in this case is generally the center conductor of the […]