Inova Semiconductors launches first SerDes devices of APIX3 generation
The first members of the APIX3 generation – two transmitters and a receiver – have been launched by Inova Semiconductors
Automotive pixel link is a multi-channel serialiser/deserialiser (SerDes) technology, developed by Inova, for high-resolution video applications in motor vehicles, in particular infotainment and advanced driver assistance systems.
The latest-generation APIX3 can host multiple display connections with bandwidths of up to 12 Gbps and supports high definition and ultra high definition displays.
Transmitter INAP563TAQ has HDMI 1.4a with 3D support, INAP565TAQ has DSI 1.2 and the receiver INAP562RAQ comes with CSI, DSI or LVDS video output.
The two transmitters differ only in the video input but are otherwise compatible. Each transmitter can use the INAP562R receiver to set up an APIX3 link via a QTP, STP or coaxial cable. The components support various EMC-friendly operating modes with fixed bandwidths of 1.5; 3 or 6 Gbps in single-lane mode or 3, 6 or 12 Gbps in dual-lane mode with a fixed back channel of 187.5 Mbps.
These new devices are designed for popular displays (for example 2880 x 1080 x 24 bit, 60 Hz) in cars but video resolutions up to ultra high definition and colour depths up to 30 bit are possible. The INAP565TAQ with DSI interface allows the transmission of DSC compressed video data with a video bandwidth of up to 28.8 Gbps.
All the devices enable the simultaneous transmission of up to eight audio channels. The technology features the media-independent interface (MII, RMII, RGMII) for 100 Mbit ethernet according to the IEEE standard. An SPI interface for convenient component configuration and data transfer is also available. The receiver INAP562R also has an I²C interface, which is optimised for the connection of touch screen controllers.
The APIX3 devices are backward compatible with the APIX2 predecessor family and, like these, offer compensation functions for cable ageing and temperature fluctuations. A new feature, the link training of the APIX3 link on the cable medium used, is said to ensure robust, stable and optimised transmission.
