The number of USB4 controllers and solutions is now entering a decisive stage, as the industry embraces the transition to the most advanced level of the technology, meeting increasing demand for faster transfer and support for Ultra HD sources. VIA Labs from Taiwan, an owned subsidiary of VIA Technologies, was one of the first companies a USB4 controller and endpoint device, short after the specification was published. USB4 is a major update to the USB architecture, enabling multiple simultaneous data and display protocols to share a single high-speed link with support for maximum aggregate bandwidth. USB4 operates at full performance when used with Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 systems, and is also backward compatible with previous-generation USB and DisplayPort devices.
The new VIA Lab VL605 is an innovative single-chip USB-C to HDMI 2.1 Protocol Converter supporting modern display features and a highly integrated, low-power design. It's optimized for USB-C video dongles and multifunction docks and integrates a two-port USB PD 3.1 controller that supports pass-through charging at up to 240W when EPR is enabled. A single VL605 can convert a DisplayPort input to HDMI 2.1 at up to 8K@60Hz or 4K@240Hz while simultaneously charging the connected host.
The VL605 supports HDR and is compatible with Adaptive Sync from the DisplayPort standard and AMD's FreeSync technology, seamlessly converting these into HDMI 2.1's VRR (Variable Refresh Rate). Products incorporating VL605 can enhance gaming experiences with higher quality and smoother visuals while expanding peripheral connectivity and enjoying faster charging.
As mainstream home game consoles and computer hosts increasingly support HDMI 2.1, many displays with HDMI 2.1 enhancements such as higher resolution and refresh rate, VRR, and HDR support have emerged. HDMI 2.1 offers up to 48Gbps of bandwidth, which is a dramatic improvement over HDMI 2.0's 18Gbps, and this allows HDMI 2.1 to handle higher 4K refresh rates such as 120Hz, 144Hz, and even up to 240Hz with Display Stream Compression (DSC). The VRR feature of HDMI 2.1 can dynamically adjust the refresh rate based on game conditions, improving smoothness while minimizing screen tearing and perceived input lag.
VL605's integrated DisplayPort receiver supports HBR3 data rates, up to 32.4Gbps in 4-lane mode. The HDMI source supports both FRL and TMDS modes with peak bandwidths of 48Gbps and 18Gbps, respectively. It also supports RGB and YCbCr color formats and surround sound audio with up to 8 channels of LPCM at 192kHz in addition to various other compressed audio formats. The VL605 has a built-in DSC decoder and supports Autonomous Mode and Source-Controlled Mode as outlined in the latest DisplayPort 2.1 specification, providing signal sources with enhanced control capabilities. Additionally, VL605 can perform secure FW updates and avoid malicious firmware code attacks by leveraging the built-in security engine supporting ECDSA verification.
"DisplayPort and HDMI are the industry's leading video standards and are intertwined with the USB-C ecosystem. When combined with VLI's diverse USB Hub controllers, the VL605 can create a multitude of USB-C multifunction dock applications with USB PD charge-through function at different USB speeds, enabling a wide range of products. Future demand for VL605's capabilities is bright. As the latest mobile chips from Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek introduce hardware ray tracing capabilities, AAA games are being adapted for mobile platforms. With the VL605's dual USB PD ports and HDMI 2.1 output capabilities, a mobile phone cannot only serve as a handheld gaming device but also seamlessly transition into a gaming console at home. It can charge the phone while projecting to a large 4K/8K TV screen, supporting a new gaming experience," explains Wayne Chang, Director of PM at VIA Labs.
The VL605 USB-C to HDMI 2.1 Protocol Converter is available now and is shipping in quantity.
www.via-labs.com
