Have you heard of low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS)? Over the past decade, it’s become an increasingly common specification used in liquid-crystal displays (LCDs). From TVs and computer monitors to tablets and smart appliances, countless LCDs now feature LVDS technology. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at LVDS, revealing how it works and why it’s become so common in LCDs.
Overview of LVDS
Also known by its technical specification of TIA/EIA-644, LVDS is a specification used to transmit data at high speeds using voltage differences. In other words, it’s able to transmit information between a computer and LCD by sending specific voltages.
Keep in mind, other specifications use differential voltage to transmit data. Fairchild Current Transfer Logic, for example, uses a similar method of voltage changes to transmit data. LVDS, however, is often preferred because of its exceptionally low power consumption.
Benefits of LVDS
So, what benefits does LVDS offer compared to other data-transmission specifications? For starters, it places less stress on the power supply decoupling, resulting in less interference. While other specifications are susceptible to interference from ground bounce, LVDS is not. It’s able to transmit data fluidly across long distances with little or no interference, making it an excellent choice for consumer and commercial applications alike.
As the name suggests, LVDS also uses very little power. With a 2.5 V supply, LVDS draws just 8.75 mW of power. The low power consumption of LVDS makes it an attractive choice for large LCDs that would otherwise consume a significant amount of power.
History of LVDS
According to Wikipedia, LVDS technology became popular during the early to mid-1990s. Prior to this period, LCDs generally had low display resolutions, so they didn’t require high-speed data transmission. It wasn’t until 1992 when Apple acknowledged the need for a new, faster method of transmitting data. With the help of National Semiconductor, Apple developed the first LVDS known as QuickRing.
In Conclusion
To recap, LVDS is a specification used to send and receive data with LCDs. It differs from other specifications by leveraging the power of voltage differences. With LVDS, data is transmitted using voltage differences, allowing for little or no interference along with low power consumption. Of course, LVDS is still a relatively new specification that’s only been around a little over a decade. During that time, however, it’s become an increasingly popular alternative to existing specifications on the market.
