Epson Enhances Line of Color STN Display Control LSI for European Handsets

Seiko Epson Corporation has developed a color STN display control LSI that is capable of displaying 65,536 colors while consuming very little power. The new driver, named the S1D15G17 and aimed primarily at the European mobile phone market, is already shipping in sample quantities.

Epson successfully scaled down the chip by employing a quarter-micron design rule, the state of the art for a high-voltage wafer process. Moreover, with the power supply circuits, frame memory, segment driver, and common driver all integrated into a single chip, this driver enables the display of up to 132 by 132 dots. The driver consumes a mere 500 fea of power when 65,536 colors are displayed. The addition of the new product gives Epson an even more extensive lineup of color STN display control LSIs for mobile phones,helping ensure that Epson will maintain a firm grip on the top share of the color STN display control LSI market.

The new product is scheduled to enter volume production in September 2003. Production volume, which will start out at 300,000 units per month, is expected to grow to 2,000,000 units per month next year. The sample price is Y1,300.

Product Overview
The new S1D15G17 is a higher-end alternative to the S1D15G14, a 104 x 82 dot, 4,096-color, STN display control LSI currently in volume production. The new driver enables higher resolution and the display of more colors.

Features
Number of dots 132 (RGB) segment x 132 common Number of colors 65,536 (normal mode) / 8 (idle mode) Drive scheme PWM grayscale drive by conventional driving Partial display available Display RAM 132 x 16 x 132 = 278,784 bits MPU interface Serial / parallel Built-in power circuits Voltage booster, step-down circuit regulator, temperature gradient circuits Supply voltage I/F voltage = 1.6-3.3V, booster voltage = 2.6-3.3V Liquid crystal driving voltage 16.9 - 36.0V Package type Gold-bumped chip or TCM (COF with terminals) Low power consumption 500 A in Normal mode, and 250 A in Idle mode (Conditions: Vdd = 3.0V, 1/11 bias, frame frequency = 85 Hz)

Sample Applications: Mobile phone main panels primarily for European markets.