Video Electronics Standards Association

Video Electronics Standards Association
AbbreviationVESA
FormationJuly 1989 (1989-07)
PurposeStandards organization
HeadquartersSan Jose, California, USA
MembershipSee list
Websitewww.vesa.org

VESA (/ˈvsə/), formally known as Video Electronics Standards Association, is an American technical standards organization for computer display standards. The organization was incorporated in California in July 1989[1] and has its office in San Jose.[1][2] It claims a membership of over 300 companies.[3]

In November 1988, NEC Home Electronics announced its creation of the association to develop and promote a Super VGA computer display standard as a successor to IBM's proprietary Video Graphics Array (VGA) display standard. Super VGA enabled graphics display resolutions up to 800×600 pixels, compared to VGA's maximum resolution of 640×480 pixels—a 56% increase.[4]

The organization has since issued several additional standards related to computer video displays. Widely used VESA standards include DisplayHDR, DisplayPort, and Flat Display Mounting Interface.

Standards

  • Feature connector (VFC), obsolete connector that was often present on older videocards, used as an 8-bit video bus to other devices
  • VESA Advanced Feature Connector (VAFC), newer version of the VFC that widens the bus to either a 16-bit or 32-bit bus
  • VESA Local Bus (VLB), once used as a fast video bus (akin to the more recent Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP))
  • VESA BIOS Extensions (VBE), used for enabling standard support for advanced video modes
  • Display Data Channel (DDC), a data link protocol which a host device can use to control an attached display and communicate EDID, DPMS, MCCS and similar messages
  • Extended Display Identification Data (EDID), a data format for display identification data
  • Monitor Control Command Set (MCCS), a message protocol for controlling display parameters such as brightness, contrast, display orientation from the host device
  • DisplayID, display identification data format, which is a replacement for E-EDID
  • VESA Display Power Management Signaling (DPMS), which can be used to invoke power saving modes in monitors
  • Digital Packet Video Link (DPVL), a display link standard that can be used to update only portions of the screen
  • VESA Stereo, a standard 3-pin connector for synchronization of stereoscopic images with LC shutter glasses
  • Flat Display Mounting Interface (FDMI)
  • Generalized Timing Formula (GTF), video timing standard
  • Coordinated Video Timings (CVT), a replacement for GTF
  • VESA Video Interface Port (VIP), a digital video interface standard
  • DisplayPort (DP), a digital display interface standard
  • VESA Enhanced Video Connector, an obsolete standard for reducing the number of cables around computers
  • DisplayHDR, a standard to simplify HDR specifications for the display industry and consumers

History

At the time DisplayPort was announced, VESA was criticized for developing the specification in secret and having a track record of developing unsuccessful digital interface standards, including Plug & Display and Digital Flat Panel.[5]

Members

The following major companies are members of VESA.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b California Secretary of State. "Business Entity Detail: Video Electronics Standards Association". Entity Number C1645094. Archived from the original on March 15, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2016.To retrieve the information, search for Entity Number C1645094.
  2. ^ Video Electronics Standards Association. "Contact VESA". VESA.org. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  3. ^ Video Electronics Standards Association. "Mission/Vision". VESA.org. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  4. ^ Brownstein, Mark (November 14, 1988). "NEC Forms Video Standards Group". InfoWorld. Vol. 10, no. 46. p. 3. ISSN 0199-6649. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  5. ^ "Commentary: Will VESA survive DisplayPort?".
  6. ^ "Member Companies". VESA. Retrieved 10 July 2019.