DisplayLink
Encyclopedia
DisplayLink is a semiconductor
and software startup company
. DisplayLink USB graphics technology is designed to connect computers and displays using USB and Wireless USB, allowing multiple displays to be connected to a single PC. DisplayLink's primary customers are LCD monitor manufacturers (Samsung
, LG
, ASUS
), notebook OEMs (HP, Toshiba
, Sony
, Lenovo), Thin Client OEMs (HP), and projector manufacturers (InFocus
). DisplayLink has seen rapid adoption of their USB graphics solutions and have shipped over two million USB graphics chips into the peripherals market.
DisplayLink operates worldwide with offices in the United States
, the United Kingdom
, Poland
, and Taiwan
. The company is privately funded and to date has raised $51 million in financing from venture capital organizations Atlas Venture
, Balderton Capital, DAG Ventures
and DFJ Esprit.
and Martin King
. The Newnham Research team invented NIVO (Network In, Video Out) designed for low cost thin client computing over Ethernet
networks. The company referred to these thin-client computers as network displays.
In 2006, Newnham Research launched its first commercially-available product in partnership with the Kensington Computer Products Group: a USB
2.0 universal laptop docking station designed for the retail market.
In November 2006, Newnham Research renamed itself to DisplayLink, a name that better described their display connection technology.
DisplayLink launched its first semiconductor
product family, the DL-120 and DL-160 USB
2.0 graphics devices, in January 2007, signaling an important change in the company's business plan from FPGA-based systems to semiconductors. The DL-120 and DL-160 allow up to six additional monitors to be added to a PC through USB 2.0.
In 2008, DisplayLink announced the first Wireless USB
products powered by their technology. To date they have announced products or partnerships with Wireless USB technology vendors Alereon
, Realtek
, and WiQuest.
At the Intel Developer's Forum in August 2008, DisplayLink announced a partnership with Intel to accelerate DisplayLink USB graphics technology on the Intel GMA
X4500 integrated graphics platform.
In May 2009, DisplayLink launched its second semiconductor
product family, the DL-125, DL-165, and DL-195 USB
2.0 graphics devices. This DL-1x5 family brings improved performance, an increase in maximum resolution to 2048x1152, and the integration of a DVI
transmitter and video DAC
. The first products to ship with the new DL-1x5 chips were the Samsung
Lapfit
LD190G and LD220G monitors.
On November 17, 2009, DisplayLink announced their first Thin Client
product based on their USB 2.0 virtual graphics technology, designed for Microsoft
Windows MultiPoint Server.. Thin client manufacturer HP was the first to announce a product based on DisplayLink USB Graphics technology with the launch of the t100 Thin Client.
At the Consumer Electronics Show
(CES) in 2010, DisplayLink became the first company to demonstrate video and graphics over a USB 3.0
"SuperSpeed USB" connection, showing substantial improvements in performance, resolution support, and video quality. DisplayLink intends to have SuperSpeed USB versions of its USB graphics products available by the end of 2010.
, and Wi-Fi
), DisplayLink has to date only designed products around USB
2.0 and Wireless USB
connectivity.
Products with DisplayLink technology are supported on Windows 7, Windows Vista
, Windows XP
, Windows 2000
, and Mac OS X
. There is a DisplayLink-supported open source project called libdlo with the goal of bringing support to Linux
and other platforms. There are also unofficial reverse-engineered specifications available.
Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity due to electron flow intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter...
and software startup company
Startup company
A startup company or startup is a company with a limited operating history. These companies, generally newly created, are in a phase of development and research for markets...
. DisplayLink USB graphics technology is designed to connect computers and displays using USB and Wireless USB, allowing multiple displays to be connected to a single PC. DisplayLink's primary customers are LCD monitor manufacturers (Samsung
Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
, LG
LG
LG may refer to:*LG Corp., a South Korean electronics and petrochemicals conglomerate*LG Electronics, an affiliate of the South Korean LG Group which produces electronic products* Lawrence Graham, a London headquartered firm of business lawyers...
, ASUS
ASUS
ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated is a multinational computer technology and consumer electronics product manufacturer headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Its product range includes motherboards, desktops, laptops, monitors, tablet PCs, servers and mobile phones...
), notebook OEMs (HP, Toshiba
Toshiba
is a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and...
, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
, Lenovo), Thin Client OEMs (HP), and projector manufacturers (InFocus
InFocus
InFocus Corporation is a privately owned American company based in the state of Oregon. Founded in 1986, the company develops, manufactures, and distributes DLP and LCD projectors and accessories as well as LCD flat panel displays. Formerly a NASDAQ listed public company, InFocus was purchased by ...
). DisplayLink has seen rapid adoption of their USB graphics solutions and have shipped over two million USB graphics chips into the peripherals market.
DisplayLink operates worldwide with offices in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. The company is privately funded and to date has raised $51 million in financing from venture capital organizations Atlas Venture
Atlas Venture
Atlas Venture is an international early-stage venture capital firm that invests in communications, information technology, and life sciences companies. From the late 1990s through the mid-2000s the firm was leading investor in startup companies in both the U.S. and Europe...
, Balderton Capital, DAG Ventures
DAG Ventures
DAG Ventures is an American venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California. It is known as a "coattail" fund for co-investing in later-stage private financing rounds alongside more prominent top-tier venture funds such as Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital, Benchmark Capital, and Accel Venture...
and DFJ Esprit.
Company history
DisplayLink was founded in 2003 as Newnham Research by Dr. Quentin Stafford-FraserQuentin Stafford-Fraser
James Quentin Stafford-Fraser was instrumental in the creation of the Trojan room coffee pot: the first webcam. He wrote the XCoffee client program which allowed the state of the coffee pot to be displayed on a screen....
and Martin King
Martin King
Martin King may refer to:*Martin Luther King, Jr. , Baptist minister and civil rights activist*Martin Luther King, Sr. , Baptist minister and the father of Martin Luther King, Jr....
. The Newnham Research team invented NIVO (Network In, Video Out) designed for low cost thin client computing over Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
networks. The company referred to these thin-client computers as network displays.
In 2006, Newnham Research launched its first commercially-available product in partnership with the Kensington Computer Products Group: a USB
Universal Serial Bus
USB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
2.0 universal laptop docking station designed for the retail market.
In November 2006, Newnham Research renamed itself to DisplayLink, a name that better described their display connection technology.
DisplayLink launched its first semiconductor
Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity due to electron flow intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter...
product family, the DL-120 and DL-160 USB
Universal Serial Bus
USB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
2.0 graphics devices, in January 2007, signaling an important change in the company's business plan from FPGA-based systems to semiconductors. The DL-120 and DL-160 allow up to six additional monitors to be added to a PC through USB 2.0.
In 2008, DisplayLink announced the first Wireless USB
Wireless USB
Wireless USB is a short-range, high-bandwidth wireless radio communication protocol created by the . Wireless USB is sometimes abbreviated as "WUSB", although the USB Implementers Forum discourages this practice and instead prefers to call the technology "Certified Wireless USB" to distinguish it...
products powered by their technology. To date they have announced products or partnerships with Wireless USB technology vendors Alereon
Alereon
Alereon, Inc, is a fabless semiconductor company. It uses ultrawideband radio technology to develop Certified Wireless USB and WiMedia Alliance compliant UWB integrated circuits . Headquartered in Austin, Texas, United States, Alereon also has offices in Korea and Hong Kong...
, Realtek
Realtek
Realtek Semiconductor Corp. , a fabless IC design house situated in the Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan, was founded in October 1987, and subsequently approved as a listed company on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in 1998...
, and WiQuest.
At the Intel Developer's Forum in August 2008, DisplayLink announced a partnership with Intel to accelerate DisplayLink USB graphics technology on the Intel GMA
Intel GMA
The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator, or GMA, is a series of Intel integrated graphics processors built into various motherboard chipsets....
X4500 integrated graphics platform.
In May 2009, DisplayLink launched its second semiconductor
Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity due to electron flow intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter...
product family, the DL-125, DL-165, and DL-195 USB
Universal Serial Bus
USB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
2.0 graphics devices. This DL-1x5 family brings improved performance, an increase in maximum resolution to 2048x1152, and the integration of a DVI
Digital Visual Interface
The Digital Visual Interface is a video interface standard covering the transmission of video between a source device and a display device. The DVI standard has achieved widespread acceptance in the PC industry, both in desktop PCs and monitors...
transmitter and video DAC
Digital-to-analog converter
In electronics, a digital-to-analog converter is a device that converts a digital code to an analog signal . An analog-to-digital converter performs the reverse operation...
. The first products to ship with the new DL-1x5 chips were the Samsung
Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
Lapfit
Lapfit
Lapfit is a second screen for laptops introduced by Samsung in February 2009.These monitors include DisplayLink USB graphics technology to allow a video connection using USB only.- Feature :* Monitor specially designed for laptops* USB Plug & Play!...
LD190G and LD220G monitors.
On November 17, 2009, DisplayLink announced their first Thin Client
Thin client
A thin client is a computer or a computer program which depends heavily on some other computer to fulfill its traditional computational roles. This stands in contrast to the traditional fat client, a computer designed to take on these roles by itself...
product based on their USB 2.0 virtual graphics technology, designed for Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
Windows MultiPoint Server.. Thin client manufacturer HP was the first to announce a product based on DisplayLink USB Graphics technology with the launch of the t100 Thin Client.
At the Consumer Electronics Show
Consumer Electronics Show
The International Consumer Electronics Show is a major technology-related trade show held each January in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Not open to the public, the Consumer Electronics Association-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new...
(CES) in 2010, DisplayLink became the first company to demonstrate video and graphics over a USB 3.0
USB 3.0
USB 3.0 is the second major revision of the Universal Serial Bus standard for computer connectivity.USB 3.0 has transmission speeds of up to 5 Gbit/s, which is 10 times faster than USB 2.0 . USB 3.0 significantly reduces the time required for data transmission, reduces power consumption, and...
"SuperSpeed USB" connection, showing substantial improvements in performance, resolution support, and video quality. DisplayLink intends to have SuperSpeed USB versions of its USB graphics products available by the end of 2010.
Technology
The DisplayLink network graphics technology is composed of Virtual Graphics Card (VGC) software that is installed on a PC and a Hardware Rendering Engine (HRE) embedded or connected to a display device. The DisplayLink VGC software is based on a proprietary adaptive graphics technology. The VGC software runs on a Windows or Mac OS X host PC and takes information from the graphics adapter and compresses the changes to the display from the last update and sends it over any standard network including USB, Wireless USB, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi. After receiving the data, the HRE then transforms it back into pixels to be displayed on the monitor. While the basic network graphics technology can be used on a variety of network interfaces (EthernetEthernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
, and Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
), DisplayLink has to date only designed products around USB
Universal Serial Bus
USB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
2.0 and Wireless USB
Wireless USB
Wireless USB is a short-range, high-bandwidth wireless radio communication protocol created by the . Wireless USB is sometimes abbreviated as "WUSB", although the USB Implementers Forum discourages this practice and instead prefers to call the technology "Certified Wireless USB" to distinguish it...
connectivity.
Products with DisplayLink technology are supported on Windows 7, Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
, Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
, Windows 2000
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
, and Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
. There is a DisplayLink-supported open source project called libdlo with the goal of bringing support to Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
and other platforms. There are also unofficial reverse-engineered specifications available.