Electronics vendor likely to introduce more DisplayPort-equipped devices

Nov 11, 2009 13:31 GMT  ·  By

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has announced that the Apple-developed Mini DisplayPort (mDP) is now a connector standard, “defining the new, small connector that supports the full range of power, signaling and protocol capabilities defined in the DisplayPort Standard Version 1, Revision 1a,” according to VESA. VESA is an international non-profit corporation that supports and sets industry-wide interface standards for the PC, workstation, and consumer-electronics industries.

“Mini DisplayPort meets the need for a smaller form factor connector for devices such as thin portable computers and add-in cards with multiple display interfaces,” the company says in an official report issued yesterday. “The mDP connector can be used as an alternative to the standard DisplayPort connector defined in Version 1, Rev. 1a,” VESA continues to explain.

“The mDP standard defines the mechanical dimensions of the mDP connector and the cable assemblies and adaptors that are supported. Devices using the mDP connector will meet all the electrical and protocol specifications required by DisplayPort 1.1a, and cable assemblies incorporating an mDP connector at either or both ends must meet the cable assembly electrical specifications required by the standard.”

The company stresses that the Mini DisplayPort is much smaller than the DVI (Digital Video Interface) or VGA connectors, making it a better display output on ultrathin notebooks and netbooks. VESA doesn’t forget to mention that it could only make this announcement thanks to Apple agreeing to license the mDP interface to VESA for inclusion in the DisplayPort standard. The company is now finalizing DisplayPort 1.2, which incorporates mDP and doubles the available bandwidth to 21.6 Gb/second, according to the report.

New capabilities will be enabled, such as multi-monitor support via a single output connector, higher resolutions, refresh rates and color depths, along with high-performance 3D displays, thanks to the increased bandwidth. For those interested in learning more about the mDP standard, a free download is available from www.vesa.org or www.displayport.org.