Synaptics samples display driver IC for dual 2K HMDs

By Warren Miller, contributing writer

The race for higher resolution and a better interactive experience in virtual reality (VR) head-mounted displays (HMDs) is on, and Synaptics Inc. might just have gotten a head start on the competition. The company recently announced the sampling of its ClearView R63455 display driver IC (DDIC), touted as the first display driver to feature dual-display 2K resolution combined with foveal transport support for HMDs.

Synaptics also revealed the VXR7200 VR Bridge, a high-speed DisplayPort connectivity solution tethered over USB Type-C cables capable of supporting full VESA DP1.4 bandwidth. The company hopes that, together, these two components will represent a big leap forward in the HMD user experience for applications including gaming, movies, and medical.

Working in harmony, the DDIC and VR Bridge will allow the user to track 2K resolution images in both eyes (1,000 ppi) at once. The DDIC provides foveal transport support, a term for increased resolution at the center of an image where the eye is focused most intently and lower resolution on the peripheries of the image. Not only is this concept similar to the way the human eye naturally processes visual information, but it allows HMDs to function with lower computing power, making them less bulky and power-greedy.

Key features:

• R63455 VR DDIC optimized for 2,160 × 2,400 @ 90-Hz HMD
• 1,000 ppi, 2K per-eye superior image quality
• Foveal Transport provides crystal-clear visual where you need it most
• VXR7200 VR Bridge supports full DP1.4 bandwidth using AMD/Nvidia GPUs over USB-C
• Support panels >2K resolution or faster refresh rates without image loss due to cabling

“While virtual reality devices are becoming more common, issues remain with maintaining high-resolution graphics and avoiding motion sickness and the screen-door effect,” according to Huibert Verhoeven, senior VP and general manager of Synaptics’ IoT division. “These display and connectivity issues can hinder even the best user experience, which is why Synaptics is focused on tackling these challenges for new generations of HMDs and a superior HMI experience.”

The R63455 display driver is optimized for 2,160 × 2,400 resolution @ 90 Hz, while the VXR7200 supports >2K resolution or faster refresh rates without any image loss thanks to the cabling.