Inova Provides DisplayPort™ Video Interface and HDC2.3 Encryption for New APIX3® SerDes

Inova Semiconductor Provides DisplayPort™ Video Interface and HDCP 2.3 Encryption in New APIX3® SerDes Devices

Inova Semiconductor has expanded its APIX3® SerDes product family with new video interface and encryption technologies. The devices are capable of transmitting video, audio, Ethernet information and data in real time at speeds up to 12 Gbit/s.

Inova Semiconductor announces two new members of the APIX3 SerDes product family: the INAP566TAQ and INAP596TAQ transmitter ICs. APIX (Automotive Pixel Link) is a multi-channel SerDes (serialization/deserialization) technology developed by Inova for automotive high-resolution video applications. The ICs are primarily used in automotive cockpits and infotainment systems. The latest APIX3 can establish multi-display connections with bandwidths up to 12 Gbit/s and supports HD and UHD displays.

The new INAP566TAQ and INAP596TAQ transmitters offer a DisplayPort 1.4 video interface. Up to four data paths are available, each with a maximum rate of 5.4 Gbit/s (HBR 2), as well as an auxiliary data channel with 1 Mbit/s. The INAP596TAQ also supports the new HDCP 2.3 standard for encrypting audiovisual content. The INAP596TAQ acts as a repeater as far as the HDCP standardization is concerned. This means that the video encrypted by the video source is decrypted after the DisplayPort input and encrypted again according to HDCP 2.3 before being transmitted to the corresponding APIX3 receiver component. All necessary HDCP keys are individually

Stored in each component.

Each of the two transmitting components can establish an APIX3 connection with all compatible receivers via QTP, STP or coaxial cable. The devices support various EMC operating modes with fixed bandwidths of 1.5, 3 or 6 Gbps in single-channel mode, 3, 6 or 12 Gbps in dual-channel mode, and a fixed return channel of 187.5 Mbps. The new devices in the APIX3 family are designed for display specifications widely adopted in automobiles (e.g., 2880 x 1080 x 24bit, 60Hz). Although designed for vehicles, the imaging effect is excellent: video resolution can reach up to ultra-high definition (UHD) and color depth can reach up to 30bit. The integrated circuit also supports the transmission of DSC compressed video data.

All devices support simultaneous transmission of up to 8 audio channels. A special feature of APIX technology is its Media Independent Interface (RMII MII), which is used for 100 Mbit Ethernet and complies with the IEEE standard. The product also provides an SPI interface for easy component configuration and data transmission. The APIX3 link can also transmit switch signals directly to the receiver via four existing GPIOs (General Purpose Input Output).

APIX3 devices are backward compatible with APIX2 and lower versions and, like these devices, offer compensation functions for cable aging and temperature fluctuations. A new feature of APIX3 is the automatic calibration (link training) of the APIX3 link to the cable medium used. This ensures a very stable and optimized transmission. With its numerous diagnostic functions, APIX3 supports safety-related applications and meets the automotive industry's requirements for electromagnetic immunity and resistance.

Typical applications for the new APIX3 chip are infotainment and entertainment systems as well as instrument clusters and head-up displays in vehicles.

Product Acquisition

Two new APIX3 transmitters, INAP566TAQ and INAP596TAQ, are available now. All devices are AEC-Q100 qualified and have an operating temperature range of -40°C to +105°C. Inova powers the semiconductor integrated circuits in a 151-pin aQFN package. The APIX3 technology has been licensed by Socionext.