By Hezi Saar

The evolution of standards-based interfaces in mobile semiconductor markets and the maturity of the Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) standard is driving increased adoption rates for mobile applications. So why only now?

While the benefits of system-level standardization are evident, MIPI comprises a family of standards that have been developing over the past few years. It’s not just a single standard. It’s a collection of them, and included in those standards are display and camera interfaces.

To some extent, this is like the semiconductor industry keeping pace with the added functionality of mobile devices. While Moore’s Law has allowed additional functionality, the industry that benefited from that functionality has yet to embrace the standards that have followed. In addition, the MDDI standard was developed in parallel, and that could be perceived as a competing standard. These days, the path to MIPI adoption is clear at least on the mainstream needs that were developed in past years. MIPI has reached maturity level on the D-PHY specifications as well as Camera Serial Interface and Display Serial Interface controllers, as these are the most popular interfaces in mobile electronics and soon will be a “must have” standard for any mobile semiconductor device–especially on the camera and display interfaces.

The question is how a semiconductor device can quickly get these standards supported, especially when high-speed, low-power SerDes (such as D-PHY) is not their core competency. One thing that will help is proven IP that covers the MIPI D-PHY and controller camera and display standards on common processes.  This will allow easy, rapid, low-risk implementation that will enable semiconductor vendors to jump on the MIPI bandwagon and capture market share in this evolving market.

–Hezi Saar is the SiPro senior product marketing manager at Virage Logic.