The proposed iDP interface, partners noted, aims at replacing today's LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling) standard to the VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) TV Panel Task Group.

ST and LG Display said the proposed iDP standard is suitable for the connection between a TV-controller SoC and an LCD-panel Timing Controller within a TV chassis. The robustness in interoperability and cost-effectiveness are achieved by leveraging DisplayPort, a proven industry-standard technology that is an open and royalty-free VESA digital-display interface standard.

Partners claimed that with a link operating at 3.24 Gbps per differential pair, only 17 signals are required to transport Full HD 240Hz at 10 bits per color over the iDP link, fewer than the 96 signals required for a conventional LVDS link.

Moreover, with the dynamic lane-count adjust feature, iDP can support pixel rate change due to events such as video frame-rate change and 3D-stereo display timing without visual glitch on a TV screen.

The next step to this partnership, ST and LG Display noted, consists of the definition and development of common technologies and innovative solutions to support the next generation of high-refresh-rate LCD panels.

ST said it expects to sample by the end of the year a range of products supporting iDP, starting with LVDS to iDP and iDP to LVDS bridge ICs, 240Hz Video Enhancement IC with iDP output, as well as 120Hz TV System-On-Chip with iDP output.