displaysignals

Display signals (also referred to as displaysignals) are the electrical and data signals used to drive a display device. They comprise video data, timing information, and control channels that coordinate image refresh and negotiate capabilities between a source and a display. In early systems, analog signals carried color information along with horizontal and vertical synchronization. Modern displays rely on digital signaling, separating data from timing to support higher resolutions, color depths, and features.

Key components of display signals include pixel data, a pixel clock, horizontal and vertical synchronization pulses, and a data enable signal that marks active video. The pixel clock sets the data rate and bandwidth; higher resolutions, higher refresh rates, or greater color depth require faster clocks and more capable interfaces.

Interface families vary by era and application. Analog interfaces such as VGA and component carry both video and timing in an analog form. Digital interfaces include DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, and embedded DisplayPort (eDP). TMDS is used in HDMI and DVI to transmit video data, while DisplayPort uses a packetized data stream. In panel-level connections, interfaces like LVDS or eDP deliver high-speed differential pairs to LCD panels. Color data may be encoded in RGB or YCbCr and delivered with various sampling formats (for example, 4:4:4 or 4:2:2) and color depths.

Testing and signal integrity are important in display systems. Engineers monitor jitter, skew, crosstalk, and impedance matching, and employ proper terminations and shielding. Typical measurement tools include oscilloscopes and protocol analyzers to verify timing, bandwidth, and data integrity.