Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today announced an 8K display driver IC (DDI) that helps deliver true-to-life 8K resolution in sleek TV designs with industry-leading intra-panel data transfer speed at up to 4-gigabit-per-second (Gbps).

Samsung’s new DDI (S6CT93P) adopts the company’s Unified Standard Interface for TV (USI-T) 2.0 that doubles the previous USI-T 1.0’s intra-panel speed of 2Gbps. The boost in the DDI’s data transfer capability greatly enhances the efficiency of a display’s system performance and reduces the need for additional components. This also allows more streamlined product designs for slim bezel-less TVs with display sizes 65-inches and above.

“To deliver true 8K resolution, it is essential for today’s DDIs to support a high-speed 4Gbps intra-panel interface,” said Ben K. Hur, senior vice president of System LSI marketing at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung’s 8K DDI (S6CT93P) with USI-T 2.0 will bring stunning 8K images to premium displays that can take visual experiences on large-screen TVs to the new level.”

As more consumers seek immersive viewing experiences with highly detailed clarity and realistic colors on big-screen TVs, its displays require higher pixel densities on larger panels. Given that 8K resolution has four times the number of pixels than 4K UHD, the amount of image data to be transferred within a panel must increase accordingly, as well as the number of components to support that task. The 8K DDI’s advanced performance at 4Gbps intra-panel interface speed minimizes the added clutter around the display panel that offers more freedom in premium 8K TV designs.

The updated interface also supports a smart equalizer (EQ) feature that utilizes two-way channels between the timing controller (TCON) and individual DDIs. Rather than calibrating each and every DDI manually, the smart EQ can program all DDIs in a panel simultaneously, reducing the possibility of bit errors and resources that are required for panel production.

The 8K DDI samples as well as licensing for the USI-T 2.0 intra-panel interface are currently available.

Currently, customers are working closely with Samsung to utilize the company’s cutting-edge 8-inch technology offerings in various applications. All 8-inch offerings, ranging from 180nm to 65nm, are processed at Line 6, a highly automated facility in Giheung, Korea.

“Customers’ interests are very high given the industry’s needs for alternative 8-inch solutions.” said Ryan Lee, Vice President of Foundry Marketing at Samsung Electronics. “By expanding our technology offerings into the RF/IoT and fingerprint segments, we will enable our customers to take advantage of Samsung’s state-of-the-art 8-inch solutions in a broader range of applications”.

Samsung’s 8-inch process technology offerings now include the following solutions;

• eFlash : 130nm, 65nm
• Power: 130nm, 90nm (BCD+eFlash)
• Display Driver IC : 180nm, 130nm, 90nm, 70nm
• CMOS Image Sensor: 90nm
• RF/IoT : 90nm (Ultra low leakage device)
• Fingerprint Sensor: 180nm

The 8-inch foundry market has been one of the focal points since Samsung Foundry became a separate business last May. In this regard, Samsung has firmly established customer centric 8-inch service capabilities with great multi project wafer (MPW) programs as well as intellectual property (IP), and launched the Samsung Advanced Foundry Ecosystem (SAFE^TM) program this year.

For more information about Samsung Foundry, please visit https://www.samsungfoundry.com