The world of television has evolved in a rather impressive manner. Television manufacturers are always the first to pick up on a new technological innovation in order to build products that are more exciting, user-friendly, and up-to-date. The latest innovation that is ultimately changing the face of TVs is DDIC, also known as a display driver integrated circuit. The global shipment of DDICs for TVs reached 3.48 billion in 2015, and, according to analysts at Technavio, is expected to reach 16.03 billion by 2020, with a CAGR of 36%.
DDIC is an integrated circuit that acts as an interface between an LCD (liquid crystal display) and a microprocessor to control and ultimately improve the display system in TVs, desktops, mobile phones, etc.
Why DDIC?
Better Resolution
Resolution is a key component when it comes to the performance of DDICs. The higher the resolution, the better the precision level of an image. In cases where the display area is very large, the resolution can be improved by using more DDICs, resulting in better image quality.
Improved Colour Depth
The colours displayed on a TV panel tend to be more vibrant and higher in number than what we are accustomed to. DDIC offers natural colour tones that are easy on the eyes. It also provides an independent white-point, along with a colour adjustment feature.
Flexible Packaging
DDIC typically uses a chip-on-film or chip-on-glass package, thereby providing immense flexibility for industrial designers.
Television and DDIC
The demand for televisions with large screens has drastically increased, even more so with the introduction of 4K2K TVs. A 4K2K TV has four times the resolution off a full HD TV, which has led to the proliferation of DDICs. Typically, vendors focus on high-speed transmission interfaces, premium display quality, less power consumption, and reduced parts on the panel side so that the quality of the TV is not compromised and the cost is kept efficient. All of these requirements can be fulfilled with the use of DDICs, allowing consumers to get better picture resolution formats, higher clarity, and greater functionality.
Another way in which DDICs have impacted the world of television is through the integration of touch sensors into a single IC (integrated chip). With this integration, television will no longer require external routing along the sides or on the top of the display panel. Further, DDIC provides other benefits such as full-size, edge-to-edge displays, longer battery life, and the elimination of electrical noise interference.
When it comes to smart TVs, DDICs assist in the incorporation of gesture and voice recognition features.
Some of the leading vendors in the global DDIC market for TVs are Novatek Microelectronics, Himax Technologies, Fitipower, Lusem and Samsung Electronics.
