Version 1.02.00 r0.07 30-Mar-2010 DRAFT MIPI Alliance Specification for DSI
Copyright © 2005-2010 MIPI Alliance, Inc. All rights reserved.
MIPI Alliance Member Confidential.
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receiving end, the interface collects bytes from the Lanes and merges them together into a recombined data 490
stream that restores the original stream sequence (“merger” function). 491
Protocol Layer: At the lowest level, DSI protocol specifies the sequence and value of bits and bytes 492
traversing the interface. It specifies how bytes are organized into defined groups called packets. The 493
protocol defines required headers for each packet, and how header information is generated and interpreted. 494
The transmitting side of the interface appends header and error-checking information to data being 495
transmitted. On the receiving side, the header is stripped off and interpreted by corresponding logic in the 496
receiver. Error-checking information may be used to test the integrity of incoming data. DSI protocol also 497
documents how packets may be tagged for interleaving multiple command or data streams to separate 498
destinations using a single DSI. 499
Application Layer: This layer describes higher-level encoding and interpretation of data contained in the 500
data stream. Depending on the display subsystem architecture, it may consist of pixels having a prescribed 501
format, or of commands that are interpreted by the display controller inside a display module. The DSI 502
specification describes the mapping of pixel values, commands and command parameters to bytes in the 503
packet assembly. See [MIPI01]. 504
4.2 Command and Video Modes 505
DSI-compliant peripherals support either of two basic modes of operation: Command Mode and Video 506
Mode. Which mode is used depends on the architecture and capabilities of the peripheral. The mode 507
definitions reflect the primary intended use of DSI for display interconnect, but are not intended to restrict 508
DSI from operating in other applications. 509
Typically, a peripheral is capable of Command Mode operation or Video Mode operation. Some Video 510
Mode display modules also include a simplified form of Command Mode operation in which the display 511
module may refresh its screen from a reduced-size, or partial, frame buffer, and the interface (DSI) to the 512
host processor may be shut down to reduce power consumption. 513
4.2.1 Command Mode 514
Command Mode refers to operation in which transactions primarily take the form of sending commands 515
and data to a peripheral, such as a display module, that incorporates a display controller. The display 516
controller may include local registers and a frame buffer. Systems using Command Mode write to, and read 517
from, the registers and frame buffer memory. The host processor indirectly controls activity at the 518
peripheral by sending commands, parameters and data to the display controller. The host processor can also 519
read display module status information or the contents of the frame memory. Command Mode operation 520
requires a bidirectional interface. 521
4.2.2 Video Mode Operation 522
Video Mode refers to operation in which transfers from the host processor to the peripheral take the form of 523
a real-time pixel stream. In normal operation, the display module relies on the host processor to provide 524
image data at sufficient bandwidth to avoid flicker or other visible artifacts in the displayed image. Video 525
information should only be transmitted using High Speed Mode. 526
Some Video Mode architectures may include a simple timing controller and partial frame buffer, used to 527
maintain a partial-screen or lower-resolution image in standby or Low Power Mode. This permits the 528
interface to be shut down to reduce power consumption. 529
To reduce complexity and cost, systems that only operate in Video Mode may use a unidirectional data 530
path. 531