Epson and Renesas Technology to Develop Open Standard for Mobile Application High-Speed Interface

- TOKYO, Japan, September 29, 2003 -

Seiko Epson Corp. ("Epson") and Tokyo-based Renesas Technology Corp. will jointly develop open-standard specifications for a high-speed interface optimized for the display requirements of next-generation mobile applications.

The two companies will develop a totally new interface, to be called "Mobile Video Interface", and work together to accelerate its market dissemination.

Background
The next-generation mobile phone market is moving toward increasingly sophisticated capabilities. New features include multi-megapixel cameras built into handsets, applications to smoothly display moving images, and high-resolution liquid-crystal displays(LCD). In addition, flip-top models with rotating screen sections are becoming common. To support such features, manufacturers need to reduce the number of interface lines. The increased demand for sophisticated functions has also created a need for technologies for high-speed data transmission, fewer interface lines, and electromagnetic interference countermeasures.

To meet these challenges, Epson and Renesas Technology have formulated specifications for a totally new interface for high-speed serial transfers between devices. The specifications envisage the use of Epson's Mobile Graphics Engine, a display control LSI that has become an industry standard, with Renesas Technology's SH-Mobile multimedia-application processor as host. The system will employ LCD drivers developed by both companies, who have begun work on drafting specifications for a new type of a high-speed, serial transmission interface between devices.

As a result, "Mobile Video Interface" will be able to support increasingly sophisticated mobile applications. Both Epson and Renesas Technology claim leading market positions in mobile phone LCD drivers, controllers, and application processors (based on Epson's market research). This partnership will thus be an effective way of promoting "Mobile Video Interface" as an industry standard.

Key Characteristics
1. Designed for High-Speed Transmission of Digital Imaging Data for Display and Camera
Because "Mobile Video Interface"specifications are being tailored for the high-speed transmission of display images, the composition of circuits can be simplified and further miniaturized.

2. Support for Full Duplex Transmission
"Mobile Video Interface"will support full duplex transmission, allowing high-speed, two-way transmissions between devices. The maximum data transfer rate will be 200 Mbps per channel in both directions. In addition, the "Mobile Video Interface"standard will establish a fixed host-target relationship between devices. Since the "Mobile Video Interface"circuit on the target side will receive a clock signal from the host side, there will be no need for a Phased Locked Loop (PLL) to synchronize output signals and frequencies with input signals and base frequencies. This will reduce power requirements.

3. To Be Supplied as a License-Free Open Standard
Epson and Renesas Technology plan to make the high-speed specifications defined in "Mobile Video Interface"available openly and on a license-free basis, not only to mobile application developers, mobile device manufacturers, and other industry participants, but also to other LSI manufacturers.

Future Activities
Epson and Renesas Technology will actively work toward the establishment of standard, "Mobile Video Interface"-based specifications for a wider range of products, including camera modules and mobile devices, by a target date of the 1st quarter of 2004. They also aim to invite other companies, especially leading firms in Japan and overseas, to become partners in order to accelerate the establishment of a more open development environment.

Epson and Renesas Technology expect to begin releasing their respective "Mobile Video Interface"-compliant products starting in the 3rd quarter of 2004.