Microsemi Announces Timing Controller plus LED Backlight Solution for Next-Generation 3D LCD TVs

The complete turn-key reference design draws on Sony's powerful video and light processing technology and Microsemi's DAZL! LED drive technology, enabling the production of superior, high quality 3D and 2D images using LCD panels from a wide variety of manufacturers. The combined technologies allow lower cost 60 Hz refresh LCD panels to produce the image quality of more expensive 120 Hz panels, and enable 120 Hz panels to match the image quality of costly state of the art 240 Hz panels. TV designers, particularly in rapidly expanding markets such as China, can now create 3D-enabled LCD TVs with enhanced image motion quality and contrast ratio while reducing cost, simplifying design complexity and shortening time to market. Microsemi is also planning to extend its relationship with Sony to include support of Sony's next generation of video and light processing technology.

Key Features of Microsemi DAZL! LED ICs:

· Increased system efficiency via adaptive digital control of the backlight unit's power supplies
· SPI communication bus to interface with the video controller or to external FPGA
· Flexible scanning interface with programmable phase delay for every channel
· Configurable PWM frequency
· Advance LED current setting optimized for 3D support
· Per string voltage monitoring for failure event detection and protection
· FET arrays with inherent thermal protection
· Optimized thermal distribution using up to four 8-port LED drivers per LED controller
· High accuracy regulation of channel current: ±2%
· Optional FPGA/MCU control block to control LED light intensity using a closed loop
· RoHS compliant

Key Features of Sony's Timing and Lighting Controller:

· LVDS Rx IF
· Timing Generator for LCD driving signals
· mini-LVDS Tx IF / LVDS Tx IF(TCON bypass mode) (selectable)
· MEMC with frame rate conversion (2x, 2D/3D support)
· Horizontal/vertical scaling (3D format support)
· LED backlight local dimming
· RGB gamma correction
· Overdrive function
· Panel driver IC control function
· Internal frame memory
· RoHS compliant

This joint effort has yielded an easy to adopt yet technologically advanced solution for next-generation LED TVs, said Paul Pickle, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Microsemi's Analog Mixed Signal Group. The collaboration resulted in a complete turn-key solution supporting advanced features such as scanning LED backlighting and 3D, greatly reducing development time and cost for TV manufacturers.