congatec provides full DisplayPort Support for COM Express Type 2

DisplayPort is a fully digital, packet-based and royalty-free display interface for the transmission of video signals and other data, for example multiple audio channels.

In the long term, DisplayPort is set to replace existing interfaces such as DVI and VGA. HDMI will remain the preferred interface for Home TV applications. As a rule, HDMI licensing costs do not allow it to be a viable option for industrial applications. Both DisplayPort and HDMI transmit audio signals. Since DisplayPort provides almost twice the data bandwidth of HDMI, or DVI, it is suitable for use in displays with extremely high resolutions.

DisplayPort consists of a maximum of four lanes (differential data pairs) that are automatically configured in line with the required data rate in order to make optimal use of the available transmission capacity. When all four lanes are used, this adds up to approximately 17 Gbit/s of available data bandwidth. This is sufficient for resolutions of up to 4096 × 2560 pixels at 60 Hz frame rates and 24 bit colour depths.

The differential data lines of DisplayPort allow cable lengths of up to 15 meters. But DisplayPort will eventually also replace the now universal LVDS interface in applications that bridge shorter distances within a computer system.

DisplayPort opens new opportunities, especially for the medical and gaming market, says Martin Danzer, R&D Manager at congatec AG. According to the COM Express specification, support for DisplayPort is available only with the type 6 pin assignment. Many of congatec’s COM Express Type 2 modules are already capable of transferring DisplayPort signals via PEG lines without violating the specification. So there is no reason not to use DisplayPort today.