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Benefits of MIPI Interface

Benefits of MIPI: Why this interface has become the top choice for new applications.

MIPI is a high-speed display interface commonly used for smartphones, tablets, laptops, automobiles, and other platforms. MIPI stands for Mobile Industry Processor Interface. The industry demands display interface solutions that meet strict power and performance requirements as cameras and LCDs in automotive, IoT, and multimedia applications grow. Designers have traditionally used the Display Serial Interface (DSI) to connect TFT displays to application processors or system-on-chips (SoCs) in mobile applications like smartphones. Thanks to their demonstrated advantages and successful implementation, MIPI interfaces are now being used in new applications like advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), infotainment, wearables, and augmented/virtual reality head mount devices. More recently even, MIPI DSI has become a go to interface for applications throughout the industrial, medical and defense sectors.

The MIPI DSI was created to link cellphones and smart devices’ displays, and it is now the most widely used connection interface for these devices. This interface communicates with the display over one, two, three or four data pairs using LVDS signaling across a D-PHY layer. The MIPI interface contains a differential clock pair that clocks the signals at a high frequency in addition to the data lines. These clock and data lanes are triggered at low voltages, resulting in low-power displays. A considerable amount of data can be delivered, exceeding the minimal frame rate requirements because this interface can signal data at a very rapid pace. This means MIPI interface displays can have high resolution, good color rendering and be used for high-speed applications like video transmission.

While MIPI DSI interface microcontrollers are not widely used in the industry, graphics controllers can be used to support a processor that requires a MIPI interface. MIPI interface displays are ideal for displaying images with a lot of color and detail. More data must be provided for each pixel in greater color, and a higher resolution means more pixels. This generates a considerable amount of data, which necessitates a memory address for the minimum frame buffer in order to keep an image.

MIPI has a number of technological advantages for commercial applications, including low power consumption and low EMI. According to MIPI requirements, the low EMI and low power consumption are achieved through a combination of factors such as low-voltage swings on high-speed physical layers and slew rate control. This gives developers the freedom to alter the physical layer interface’s EMI profile to fit the EMI requirements of the end product.

MIPI-based displays are helping to propel the development of AR/VR devices with increased pixel density (PPI), pixel resolution (BPC), and frame rates. MIPI provides product designers with a dependable specification that interfaces with components to give the required throughput while decreasing pin count, energy consumption, and EMI as bandwidth demand grows. AR/VR developers employ CSI-2 to link cameras and high-end SoCs and MIPI DSI to handle multiple displays (one for each eye).

Vehicles today are jam-packed with modern cameras, sensors, and displays. ADAS is utilized to enable park assist, driver monitoring, blind-spot recognition, night vision, and car security systems, among other things. In addition, cockpits and infotainment systems use MIPI interconnects to connect many high-resolution displays.CSI-2, DSI-2, C-PHY, and D-PHY are MIPI requirements in today’s cars. Furthermore, the MIPI Alliance has created the MIPI A-PHY, a physical layer specification for ADAS and self-driving cars (ADS). The A-PHY also serves additional surround sensor applications in autos (e.g., for displays and cameras.) While most MIPI specifications are intended for shorter distances in mobile devices, A-PHY may reach up to 15 meters in severe automotive conditions. Up to 16 Gbps is supported by A-PHY v1.0, with plans to expand to 24 Gbps, 48 Gbps, and beyond.

MIPI provides benefits of speed, as well as efficiency in display technologies which are now demanded across all industries including the industrial, medical, automotive and defense sectors. Manufacturers can use the interface to combine screens for high performance, low power, and low electromagnetic interference (EMI) while lowering pin count and retaining vendor compatibility. MIPI DSI allows designers to achieve excellent color rendering for the most demanding picture and video sequences and support stereoscopic content delivery. Focus LCDs offers a range of quality MIPI DSI high-speed displays that will meet your use case’s needs.

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