FPD-Link

Flat Panel Display Link, more commonly referred to as FPD-Link, is the original high-speed digital video interface created in 1996 by National Semiconductor (now within Texas Instruments).

National Semiconductor immediately provided interoperability specifications for the FPD-Link technology in order to promote it as a free and open standard, and thus other IC suppliers were able to copy it.

It enables longer cable lengths because of a built-in DC balance coding to reduce the effects of intersymbol interference.

Because the signal is DC balanced the application can use AC coupling, which eliminates the ground current problem between data source and destination.

This is critical in the automotive applications because of the potential for large transient currents that can damage sensitive electronic equipment.

This bidirectional channel transfers control signals between source and destination in addition to the clock and streaming video data.

This approval enables the FPD-Link III chipsets to include the highly confidential HDCP keys and state machines to encrypt the content.