White Paper: LVDS Flat Panel Display Interface on Intel Desktop Boards

White Paper: LVDS on Intel Desktop Boards

1.2 24-bpp Display Panel Compatibility

LVDS support for 18 bpp (6-bits/color) is based on three differential data-pairs, plus a

differential clock signal, per channel. In contrast, 24-bpp (8 bits/color) panels require

four differential data-pairs, plus the differential clock signal, per channel.

Consequently, an onboard 18-bpp LVDS solution does not support 24-bpp panels in

24-bpp mode; however, certain types of 24-bpp panels can operate in 18-bpp mode.

For a 24-bpp panel to function properly on an 18-bpp interface the panel must expect

the RGB Least Significant Bits (Red[1:0], Green[1:0] and Blue[1:0]) to be transmitted

on the fourth differential data pair. This is referred to as the 24.0 LVDS data format.

Figure 1 shows the LVDS connection between an 18-bpp interface and a 24-bpp panel:

Figure 1. LVDS Connection Between 18-bpp Interface and 24-bpp Panel

For more information on LVDS data formats, refer to

Using 24-bpp LVDS Panels with Intel

Mobile Chipsets for Embedded Applications, Section 3.2 “24-bpp

Panel On A 18-bpp Interface”.