LVDS Cables: a simple guide

If you work with flat screens or integrate them into the products you manufacture, you will have used Low-voltage differential signalling (LVDS) cables. LVDS Cable

LVDS was introduced in 1994, and has become popular in products such as LCD-TVs, automotive infotainment systems, industrial cameras, machine vision, notebooks and tablet, and communications systems.

The cables supplied by monitor and touch-screen manufacturers are (if you get one supplied) often unusable because the PCB to which you need to connect may have different headers, or simply because they are not  the correct length and/or pin-out that you need.

Recently, we have seen a great variation in price and configurations in both simple and very complex assemblies.   The following is a simple guide to explain the fundamentals of the cables used, and it should help you understand what you need to know when asking for bespoke Cable Assemblies.

The LVDS connector is a slightly confusing name being that LVDS really refers to the way in which the data is transferred and not the connector itself.  So, for example, the connector pitch can be anywhere from 0.5mm to 1.25mm depending on the device connector.

Cable Type:

  • ŸThe typical cable used is a twisted par cable of around 28 – 32 AWG however, FCC / FPC cable is very common, especially in use with devices such as laptops or devices where space is at a premium.

Connector Type:

  • ŸThe main connector manufactures will mostly have a range to suit. However, we typically see Molex, Hirose, I-Pex and JAE & JST as the most used and copied.   The connectors will be anywhere from 20W to 80W circuits.   However, we  generally see 20W as the most commonly used.

Costs:

  • With so many choices available the cost will vary, depending on the type and configuration you need.  The good news is that if you have a requirement for a bespoke LVDS Cable, you will find them very easy to replicate and the costs shouldn’t be that high.

 

A word of warning, however : due to the fact that so many people are confused and  unsure of what they need or who to contact get the cable they need manufactured, we have seen some very high prices. For this reason, we urge you to speak directly  to  companies like ours which will not take advantage of your situation, and through   whom the costs will be in-line with most other similar assemblies.

I hope this has been useful to you, and the main message to take away here is that LVDS need not be confusing or expensive – that is, as long as you seek the right advice from people who know this product type well and who will have your best interests in mind.

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