Silicon Line has announced the availability of the MIPI Alliance based D-PHY optical bridge IC, the SL83014 for mobile phone applications. It optically connects cameras, displays and application processors, thus making traditional electrical connectors redundant.
High data rates within a mobile phone are increasing due to the rising demand for full HD video cameras, high-resolution displays and 3D displays, Such high data rates create significant electromagnetic interference when data is transferred using standard electrical cables. Damage to the radio frequency can be avoided with the use of optical connectors. Additionally, because of the flexibility offered by the thin optical connectors, it is possible to design phones with sliders or hinges.
The SL83014 optical bridge has a dual use. As a serializer the IC can accept a clock lane and a maximum number of four data lanes from a master D-PHY device. It then transfers the data through an express optical link.
When the SL83014 functions as a de-serializer, it receives data from high speed optical links before it de -serializes the data into clock and data lanes that are connected to a slave D-PHY device.
It supports both low power and high speed data transfer modes. A galvanic link enables two-way LP data transfer. Since the SL83014 consumes very low power, it is well-suited for mobile phones.
Source: http://www.silicon-line.com/