Upgraded Standard Sets Sights on 8K Displays for Laptops and All-In-One PCs

[[Coi] Mr.CLuBBeR]

Looking beyond 4K Ultra HD

Consumers have yet to fully embrace 4K Ultra HD displays, but now that the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has published the Embedded DisplayPort (eDP) 1.4a standard, it will only be a matter of time before 8K resolution panels end up on all-in-one PCs, laptops, and even mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. The new standard replaces eDP 1.4 published a year ago this month.
It also borrows from the previous standard by implementing its new higher HBR3 (High Bit Rate) link rate, which operates at 8.1Gbps per lane. Now part of the eDP 1.4a standard, HRB43 combines with the DSC (Display Stream Compression) v1.1 standard to support 8K resolution panels.
Another term you're likely to run into is Multi-SST Operation," or MSO. This supports a new type of display architecture that VESA calls "Segmented Panel Display." What it does is allow four high-speed eDP data lanes within the eDP interface to be divided up between either two or four independent panel segments. Lower resolutions will use two panel segments, while higher resolution displays will use four of them. Each segment can have its own timing controller and integrated source drivers.
"The Multi-SST Architecture enables greater design flexibility and power savings in new LCD panel technologies for embedded high resolution displays. Samsung proposed this feature in order to permit panel makers to make even broader usage of the eDP interface in advanced panels, as well as reduce panel thickness, reduce power draw, and reduce cost," said Bong-Hyun You, VP of Samsung Display Co.
This is a work in progress that will continue to evolve along with DisplayPort, though it won't be a particularly slow evolution. VESA expects to see systems using eDP 1.4a as early as next year.
Image Credit: documentary.net
Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook


More...