Claimed to be the industry’s lowest power 14-channel programmable gamma buffer for automotive TFT-LCD displays, the buffer delivers the highest accuracy gamma calibration, says the company, for consistent brightness and colour matching of LCD panel inside a vehicle. It can be used for LCDs designed for infotainment displays, advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) smart mirrors and instrument cluster displays.

It provides one Vcom and 14 gamma channels with 10bit resolution to fine-tune the gamma curve. It can be used to calibrate and store the gamma curve, guaranteeing that each LCD powers up for clear images. The internal EEPROM stores the factory-calibrated gamma and Vcom reference values, and enables significantly higher reliability than competitive devices, claims the company, by offering 10,000 write cycles and 20 years of data retention at 105°C.

There is no power-supply sequencing required, either analogue or digital power supplies can start up first by virtue of the circuit architecture. At initialisation, all gamma buffer and Vcom output channels monotonically start up together, preventing an LCD panel lock-up. This is a benefit for ADAS and safety systems, such as back-up cameras that rely on LCD panels to start up immediately. The high 75dB PSRR prevents power supply noise from reaching the gamma buffer outputs and becoming visible in the LCD panel.

Another claim is that the device provides the industry’s lowest power consumption at 56.6mW, which is five times lower than the closest competitor. Its low maximum output current for analogue, digital, and Vcom supplies simplifies power supply and thermal design. The device’s low power dissipation also eliminates the need for heatsinks, prevents junction temperature overheating, and allows engineers to use lower cost LDOs instead of switching regulators.

Analog supply operating range is from 6.3 to 19V and digital supply operating range is 2.25 to 3.6V. Power consumption is 56.6mW, with typical quiescent current power of 12mW at 8V.