MPI DSI refers to a commonly used serial interface between the processor and LCD in modern electronic devices. Other than being affordable, it offers various features which allow it to be used on modern mobile devices. MIPI is the latest yet innovative product of the MIPI alliance. MIPI alliance is one of the leading mobile industries like Samsung and Intel. The company is known for its innovative interfaces, in which DSI is one of those interfaces. This article, however, gives you a detail of how DSI works, its operating models, features, and practical applications.
What Is MIPI DSI and MIPI DSI-2?
MIPI DSI refers to a high-speed interface that creates a connection between the process and the display. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and automobiles all need a display interface. This interface falls perfectly for these because of its low cost, high performance, low EMI, and low consumption of power. However, the standard of the interface reduces the PINs. This minimizes the design complexity while keeping the compatibility between both devices and the module.
Whereas MIPI DSI-2 creates a high-bandwidth and scalable connection between the processor and display with higher resolution. It transfers video in UHD to provide a rich visual experience of visual. It has an 8K plus resolution with a 120fps refresh rate. Other than that, it also reduces the cost, consumes less power, and minimizes the complexities between different modules and devices.
However, MIPI DSI-2 refers to the latest version of DSI. The higher rate of bandwidth of MIPI DSI-2 mainly differs from the DSI. Whereas both work on a similar layer of MIPI D-PHY. Moreover, both belong to the MIPI Alliance. The twist we have here is that the MIPI DSI-2 interface also operates on the physical layer of C-PHY.
MIPI Communication Levels
MIPI contains two levels of communication. The interface and packet level. The first manages the low level of communication, whereas the former manages the high level of communication. However, both work in high and low-speed interface modes.
· Interface Level
It considers the first level, which illustrates the power configuration and rate of data speed. At the same time, it contains three modes: High speed, Low power, and ultra-low-power mode. Each mode determines the starting and ending of data at the packet level. Moreover, the usage of modes totally determines the manufacturing and capability of the processor and module display.
· Packet Level
This level of communication helps in sending the data in the image form to a display interface in packets. The shorter packet has 4 bytes, while the longest pack contains 6-25.451 bytes. However, each packet type determines the data, error connection, and size. Short packages are considered best for sending no-image command data. At the same time, long packets are considered best for sending commands with multiple bytes of data which also include image data.
Features
This MIPI DSI mobile interface offers various types of features which make it ideal to use on different types of devices. Some of those features include:
· High-Speed Data Transfer
This interface allows a high transmission rate of data at high speed. The rate of transmission of data typically ranges up to many Gbps. This, however, helps in the smooth playback of video with faster display updates. Moreover, data transmission with high speed ensures a seamless and responsive user experience.
· Low Consumption Of Power
MIPI DSI refers to a power-efficient device that consumes less battery and allows the battery to stay longer. This interface uses low-power modes and power-saving options, which helps the device to consume less energy. However, optimal management reduces the generation of heat and enables efficient working.
· Differential Signaling
This interface transmits data with a differential signaling method. However, differential signaling minimizes the electromagnetic interfaces while enhancing signal integrity. Moreover, it allows robust and reliable communication between the processor host and the module display.
· Multiple Data Lanes
This MIPI DSI interface allows the use of several data lines, which typically range from 1 to 4. Using multiple lines of data altogether enhances the transmission rate of data and the bandwidth overall. Thus the improved bandwidth enables a faster rate of refreshing with a high-resolution display.
· Control And Data Channels
This interface contains various separate data and control channels. The data channels help the device send data packages from the process to the LCD display. However, the control channels help in sending commands to the display, which includes configuration settings and power management.
· Display command Set
It contains a whole standardized command set that manages display operations. This command set offers various types of display functions. However, this includes controlling the brightness, display configuration, and power management. Moreover, the standard allows the interface to create compatible connections and simplifies the integration of the device.
· Flexibility And Scalability
MIPI DSI basically offers greater flexibility in its color depth, resolution, and type of display. Moreover, it supports different technologies for the display; this includes OLED and LCD panels. However, it allows the interface to accommodate the latest advancements of the future in the technology of display.
· Industry Adoption
Because of its amazing features, MIPI DSI became popular in various industries. However, the mobile industry uses them the most. Moreover, it became a standard for attaching displays to smartphones. However, its greater acceptance ensures greater compatibility between components and devices.
MIPI DSI Operating Modes
MIPI contains two types of DSI communication modes. These communication protocols include:
· Command Mode
This type of mode operates by sending commands to the registers of established displays. Moreover, it uses both short and long packages to change their mode of working from high to low speed. As the command mode requires display registers, therefore it only operates on displays in which the frame buffer contains RAM. This usually operates with short package transmission as the memory of the display requires data of at least 2 bytes.
· Video Mode
A display module that contains no internal memory utilizes this mode. It operates at a very high speed and sends data continuously from the host processor to the module display. In this type of video mode, the host processor sends data streaming in real-time pixels to create an interface with the display.
Advantages Of Using MIPI DSI
MIPI DSI offers various types of benefits. Some of them include low cost, low consumption of power, and low EMI. Moreover, it also uses lesser pins, contains a high bandwidth interface, and supports stereoscopic data transmission.
Typical Applications
MIPI interfaces, as the name suggests, are used in mobile and smartphones. However, it can also be used in smart meters, smartwatches, video game players, tablets, laptops, VR and AR handsets. Other than that, it is also used in the displays of phones and embedded display sets.
MIPI Interface
MIPI refers to a type of mobile interface. It is considered a basic standard for smartphone device processors. MIPI Alliance created this standard. MIPI contains various subinterfaces for different devices. These interfaces include:
MIPI CSI
CSI creates a high-speed serial interface between the processor of the host and the module camera. It operates on a maximum of four lines of data in the physical layer of D-PHY. It provides max 4GB per second output. However, it does use one shared lane of differential time. Moreover, CSI also contains another separate interface of 12C to control the camera. Furthermore, CSI also supports package transmission of data. This helps in detecting errors and managing lines.
MIPI DSI
The serial display interface of MIPI refers to a high-speed connection between the processor host and the module display. Just like CSI, the MIPI DSI operates on four lines of data along with one mutual differential line. But the DSI gives lower output than CSI, which hits 1GB per second max.
Conclusion
MIPI DSI serves as one of the reliable and durable serial interfaces between processor and display. It is used in a type of display that does not need a higher refreshing rate and high resolution over the range of 8K. Therefore, DSI-2 proves best for these applications. Moreover, this fast-growing technology has fast speed and is widely used in various types of modern electronics.
