Taiwan’s Etron Technology has made design advances to its EL7300 product, giving rise to the EL7301, with better speed and functionality, and reduced cost. The EL7301 supports 17-inch LCD displays at up to 160 MHz, has an improved 3-channel ADC and two PLLs.
Where the EL7301 really scores over conventional LCD controller design is its use of embedded memory, which eliminates the need for an external frame buffer. The advantage of this approach, according to Etron president Nicky Lu, is that it allows you to keep the original aspect ratio of the video. Scaling with a conventional external frame buffer, typically utilizing DRAM, can change the aspect ratio.
The new design also includes a de-interlacer, for back-end processing of video input. Notes Lu, this is a cost-effective solution for de-interlacing on the fly, and both customers and end-users can now have video display at 15 inches, without the need for external chips.
Other features directly support LCD manufacturers. There is an on-chip pattern generator, to shorten test and burn-in times.
A more complete gamma table has been added, allowing accurate assessment of color change. The signal-to-noise ratio of the new controller is over 42 dB, with the rest of the industry around 40 dB or below.
This controller also scores high marks for customer- and user-friendliness. “In the past, says Lu, “an LCD chip would have many registers, requiring the use of something approaching machine language. This time, we are providing a design kit as well as kernel libraries. Most customers can program above the kernel level.” Designed primarily for use by monitor manufacturers, the design kits can also be used by “serious” end-users.
In 160-pin PQFP packaging, the LCD controller is in mass production this month.
Etron TechnologyFax (886) 3-577-8671
www.etron.com
