Display Controllers

Display controllers are modules or circuits that are used to drive display devices. They convert the inputs that they receive into a signal that can drive a liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display, flat panel display (FPD), or other display device. For most flat panel displays, this output is an array of signals that are used to drive the grid design. The inputs that display controllers receive are varied. Examples include composite video, video graphics array (VGA), high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), and device independent file format (DVI). Special features for display controllers include on-screen display, power save, and zoom.

Most display controllers are printed circuit boards (PCBs) that are installed within a display assembly. Some products are designated as stand-alone modules. Display controllers that feature universal designs can drive many different displays. Boards that are meant to control only one or two types of displays are also available. These PCBs vary by resolution, inputs and outputs. Resolution is measured in pixels. VGA supports text at a maximum resolution of 80 x 25 characters in 16 colors. Graphics are supported at a maximum resolution of 320 x 200 pixels in 256 colors, or 640 x 480 pixels in 16 colors.

Display controllers differ in terms of number of inputs and input type. Composite video inputs combine all three YUV video signals into one channel. Brightness/luma (Y) and colors/chroma (U and V) are transmitted over one cable. Like composite video inputs, VGA inputs are analog instead of digital. Analog cathode ray tubes (CRTs) use the VGA format, whereas flat panel displays (FPDs) have both VGA and DVI inputs. A standard interface for digital devices, DVI is used with flat panel monitors, digital televisions (digital TV), digital video disk (DVD) players, cable TV setup boxes, and some data projectors.

Display controllers that use high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) inputs are also available. Unlike VGA or DVI, HDMI can be used to connect both audio and visual components. Typically, HDMI inputs are used with high-definition television (HDTV). Like the DVI connections that they often replace, HDMI permits uncompressed video data transfers between consumer electronic devices. Display controllers that receive HDMI inputs are used to provide high quality audio and video while reducing the number of cables required. HDMI also allows connections to personal computers (PCs).

• Interfacing the Planar Systems EL640.480-AF, AG, and AM Displays - AN116
  Planar's new series of low cost ICEBriteTM VGA format 6.4", 8.1" and 10.4" diagonal displays have been designed to integrate efficiently into many applications. This application note was designed to...
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• Generating Grayscales on ICEBrite VGA Displays - AN119
  Applications may benefit by using grayscales. Several video controllers have methods for generating grayscales on monochrome displays, including the ICEBriteTM family. This note addresses the Chips...
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• Interfacing the Avago HCMS-29XX / HCMS-39xx LED Alphanumeric Displays with the Intel 8751H Microcontroller
  The HCMS-29xx/HCMS-39xx 5x7 alphanumeric displays are high performance, easy to use, x- and y- stackable dot matrix displays driven by on-board, low power CMOS ICs. These displays have a serial IC...
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Part Numbers for Display Controllers