May 29, 2001 - National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM) today announced that its power-saving, low-noise reduced swing differential signaling (RSDS?) digital interface technology will now be available to any developer royalty-free. This technology, used in thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, enables larger, higher resolution displays and lowers component count without increasing power consumption, bus interconnect or overall cost.
In the past two years, National has partnered with Hitachi, Samsung and Sharp, allowing these companies to combine their column drivers with National's universal interface panel timing controllers, furthering their positions in the LCD column driver market.
"The tendency of the TFT industry toward higher resolution displays requires a new low noise digital interface. The open RSDS technology offers us an industry leading technology platform on which to base our product," said Kazuo Minorikawa, Senior Group Executive, Microcomputer Division, Semiconductor & Integrated Circuits of Hitachi. "Combining our TFT display-related technology with a royalty-free, low noise interface like RSDS will accelerate developing new TFT driver families to achieve next-generation, high-performance TFT LCD modules."
"Samsung has extended its leadership in the area of flat panel displays since partnering with National Semiconductor in the development of RSDS technology," said Dr. Oh-Hyun Kwon executive vice president and general manager of System LSI division, Samsung Electronics. "Opening RSDS to the general market will allow the industry to move faster into the higher resolution displays. RSDS is now proven in the market with design wins at most of the major OEM's, including Dell, Apple, Toshiba and Gateway."
As flat panel displays become larger, simplified design and improved power performance are becoming more important. This is especially true with applications such as notebook computers and other portable products where reducing weight and thickness are as important as increasing resolution and reducing component count.
"National Semiconductor designed RSDS technology to enable the next generation of flat panel displays. We decided to open the specification to all developers, free of charge, to continue to drive the market," said David Handorf, vice president of National Semiconductor's Displays and Monitors group.
About RSDS and the Open RSDS Specification
A key part of National's displays and monitors portfolio, RSDS is a derivative of the Low Voltage Differential Signal (LVDS) technology used in National's FPD-Link interface chipset, a widely used standard for notebook motherboard to flat panel display (FPD) interface.
With RSDS technology, National's customers are able to reduce the size of circuit boards and the bus interconnect, and eliminate discrete components typically used in TFT LCD modules. National's universal interface XGA (eXtended Graphics Adapter) panel timing controller combined with a partner's RSDS-enabled XGA column driver form a powerful solution to reduce size, weight and cost.
The use of RSDS Technology also enables several other key features and benefits in these new display products. Substantial power savings, critical in battery-operated and mobile applications can be realized without sacrificing performance and resolution. Significantly reduced EMI-radiated (electro-magnetic interference) noise can be achieved, lowering production costs by eliminating EMI shielding and speeding new products to market.
For more information on National's RSDS technology, please visit www.national.com/appinfo/fpd. The RSDS specification will be available during the SID 2001 show, Computex Taipei 2001 and at www.national.com/appinfo/fpd.
National at Society of Information Display 2001 and Computex Taipei 2001
National Semiconductor will be exhibiting its RSDS technology, as well as other products from its Displays and Monitors and Portable Power groups, at the Society of Information Display 2001 conference in San Jose June 3 to 8 in booths 1125 and 1127. National will also be demonstrating its RSDS technology at the Computex Taipei 2001 tradeshow from June 4 to 8 in booth 1250. For more information on National's activities at these events, visit its web site at http://www.national.com/events/.
About National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor is the premier analog company driving the information age. Combining real-world analog and state-of-the-art digital technology, the company is focused on the fast growing markets for wireless handsets; information appliances; information infrastructure; and display, imaging and human interface technologies. With headquarters in Santa Clara, California, National reported sales of $2.1 billion for its last fiscal year and has about 10,000 employees worldwide. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web at www.national.com.
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