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PRESS RELEASE
News announcements from Intel Developer Forum, Palm Springs, CA. - August 31, 1999
SILICON IMAGE ENABLES INDUSTRY'S FIRST DIGITAL CRTS
Acer, ADI, NEC, Samsung and ViewSonic Show New Digital CRTs at Intel Developer Forum
IINTEL DEVELOPER FORUM, Palm Springs, Calif, Aug. 31, 1999-- The last, remaining holdout in the desktop digital revolution - the ubiquitous CRT (cathode ray tube) monitor - is going digital. At this week's Intel Developer Forum in Palm Springs, Calif, leading CRT makers including Acer, ADI, NEC, Samsung and ViewSonic are demonstrating their new, industry-first digital CRTs - all made possible by technology from Silicon Image, Inc.
A digital CRT uses a high bandwidth, all-digital communications link between the computer and monitor called a "Digital Visual Interface" (DVI). This is in contrast to legacy CRTs, which are driven by analog signals generated by a graphics controller card in the computer, and carried over an analog cable. Silicon Image technology, including two new chips being announced today, provide the first end-to-end, all digital solution for CRTs.
"The DVI specification opens the door for an entire new class of consumer-priced, 'intelligent' displays with improved quality and exceptional utility," said Steve Spina, Strategic Initiatives Manager at Intel Corporation and administrator of the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG). "Silicon Image's delivery on its promise of end-to-end, DVI silicon solutions for digital CRTs will help accelerate the adoption of the DDWG's DVI specification."
Part of that "improved quality" is a crystal-clear, sharp image, which is independent of the host computer or connecting cable. And unlike analog displays, the digital CRT is inherently stable. This latter characteristic makes for a much more user-friendly product as complex and arcane setup controls are no longer necessary. Finally, the digital interface permits the addition of new features to the CRT such as image processing and content protection. The Digital CRTs, based on the DVI specification, are being demonstrated at this week's Intel Developer Forum are powered by two Silicon Image chips. These include the new SiI 164 transmitter chip, (see separate press release), and a new CRT-specific receiver/controller chip, the SiI 901 Digital Visual Controller™ for Digital CRTs. These chips uniquely provide the 5 gigabits-per-second bandwidth required for popular SXGA and leading-edge UXGA CRT resolutions. Additionally, they support the addition of vendor-specific user features to the displays.
"Silicon Image's technology enables a consumer-priced digital CRT for the first time," said John Hall, Director of Marketing Acer Peripherals America, Inc. "Going digital provides improved image quality, simplified CRT architecture with associated cost savings, and easy integration of new features. We hope the launch of digital CRTs will raise awareness that Acer is a supplier of the latest stand alone CRT and flat panel display technologies. Acer plans to launch our first DVI-compliant, digital versions of our 17", 19", and 21" natural flat CRTs in Q2, 2000."
"Silicon Image has enabled the digital display market with PanelLink̉ technology including digital CRTs. Digital displays deliver a sharper image, have increased reliability and enable elegant display architecture to reduce costs and provide new functionality," said Marc McConnaughey, vice president of technology and sourcing for ViewSonic Corp. "As the leading worldwide provider of advanced display technologies, ViewSonic plans to launch our first DVI-compliant, digital CRT display in Q4 1999 and deliver digital CRTs at cost parity with analog CRTs by the end of year 2000."
Silicon Image, Inc, whose PanelLink Digital and newer Digital Visual Controller (DVC) technologies underlie these new offerings, first introduced the all-digital video interface in connection with flat panel monitors. The DDWG subsequently adopted the PanelLink protocol as a fundamental component of the newly established DVI standard. Since Silicon Image has always had its sights on the broader market, Digital CRTs have been a key part of its business strategy from the beginning.
PanelLink technology is Silicon Image's proprietary implementation of the DVI specification, which provides a high-speed, synchronous digital link between hosts and digital displays. The DVC architecture is Silicon Image's platform for developing display controllers, which integrate PanelLink receiver technology with additional functionality to enable intelligent displays for the mass market.
Key features of Silicon Image's technologies include: a high-speed, 5.0 gigabits per second interface over twisted-pair copper wire, low system implementation costs, system-level integration, scaleability over the entire range of display resolutions, mass-market pricing, ease of use, improved visual experience, ability of manufacturers to add market-differentiating features to their products and an accelerated time to market.
About Silicon Image
Silicon Image designs, develops and markets semiconductor solutions for applications that require cost-effective, high-bandwidth, integrated solutions for high-speed data communications. The company's PanelLink technology implements the industry's only specification, scaleable, end-to-end, serialized, all-digital physical connectivity between PCs, graphics add-in boards, or other sources of digital video, and display devices such as flat-panel monitors or digital CRTs.
PanelLink technology is available from Silicon Image in families of low-cost ICs which are used in numerous mass market PCs, graphics add-in boards, and digital flat panel monitors. Customers include IBM, Compaq, Fujitsu, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, NEC, ATI, Matrox, Diamond, Gainward, Elsa, I-O Data, Melco, Promixa, Sanyo, Spectrah, ViewSonic, Mag Innovision, Princeton Graphics, LG Electronics, Samsung, Siemens-Nixdorf, and Toshiba. The PanelLink protocol has been adopted by the DDWG for the newly established DVI specification.
Additional Quotations
ADI
"The goal of the joint effort between ADI and Silicon Image is to make mass-market digital CRT monitors to consumers a reality. Digital CRTs provide many benefits such as superior image quality, fewer adjustments, and the ability to reduce costs and add new compelling features. As a leading provider of CRT monitors worldwide, ADI plans to introduce its DVI-compliant digital CRT monitors to the general public soon."
- Stephen Chou, president of ADI Corp.
NEC
"We are excited to offer digital display technology that will support the new DVI digital standard. More than fifteen years ago, we were the first company to develop the industry's first multi-scanning monitors. With the creation of the DVI digital standard and long-term relationship with Silicon Image, we are excited to be one of the first companies to demonstrate a new digital CRT monitor. As the industry moves from an analog to digital interface, NEC Technologies' complete product portfolio bridges the gap to the digital future by providing a solution for any need."
- Al Giazzon, director of marketing for NEC Technologies' Personal Display Division.
Samsung
"Samsung, the world's number one maker of CRT monitors has chosen Digital Visual Interface (DVI) as a digital interface specification for its future digital displays. The DVI specification will be promoted by Samsung in partnership with Silicon Image, whose technology enables digital CRTs and digital displays in general. Samsung believes that it will bring benefits to CRT display users by providing new features as well as better image quality."
- S.Y. Kwak, Senior Marketing Manager of Samsung Display Division
Silicon Image, Inc, is based in Cupertino, CA. The company's Web address is www.siimage.com.
All trademarks and registered trademarks are those of their respective companies. The text of this release as well as additional background information may be downloaded from our Web site at www.roederj.com.
About the Digital Display Working Group
The Digital Display Working Group was formed last fall to define a universal industry standard for the digital interface between PCs, consumer electronic devices and digital displays. The DDWG is a cooperative effort by Intel (Nasdaq:INTC), Compaq (NYSE:CPQ), Fujitsu, Hewlett Packard (NYSE:HWP), IBM (NYSE:IBM), NEC and Silicon Image. DDWG membership information can be found at www.ddwg.org.
All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
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