While mobile device display performance continues to increase, system chip processes geometries continue to shrink, resulting in a greater proportion of system power consumed by the display and its high-speed interface.
The new Embedded Display Port (eDP) v1.4 standard offers several new features that maximize system power efficiency, further consolidate the display interface, and address a wide range of system profiles to satisfy the growing demand for power optimization in the embedded display system.
The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) first released the Embedded Display Port (eDP) standard in 2009 as an extension of the DisplayPort standard for use with embedded displays. VESA developed eDP to replace the aging Low-Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) standard, and today eDP is used widely in notebook computers and all-in-one systems.
The primary benefits of eDP over LVDS include the reduction of signal wires due to its higher data rate, compatibility with submicron chip processes, decreased interference with wireless services, and its ability to accommodate new features.
Since its initial release the eDP standard has gone through a series of revisions adding new features not shared with DisplayPort, as eDP has evolved to target battery-operated embedded display systems. For example, in 2010 eDP version 1.2 was published, adding control of display and backlight features over the auxiliary channel. In 2011 eDP version 1.3 introduced Panel Self Refresh (PSR).
While eDP was originally designed for notebooks and all-in-one systems, it is becoming increasingly optimized for smaller form factor systems including tablet and PC smart phone applications. Released in December 2012, eDP version 1.4 adds new optional features developed to address this broader range of form factors and further reduce system power.
