LVDS technology

Low-Voltage Differential Signalling, abbreviated LVDS, is a method for transmitting digital data at high speed over a pair of wires. Rather than representing a bit by a large voltage measured against a common ground, LVDS sends a small current down one wire and back along the other, and the receiver reads the tiny voltage difference between the two. This differential approach is the key to its performance and is widely used inside electronic equipment to move data quickly between components.

The differential scheme brings two main advantages. First, electrical noise tends to affect both wires of the pair almost equally; because the receiver looks only at the difference between them, this shared interference largely cancels out, allowing reliable communication even in noisy conditions and over modest distances. Second, the voltage swing used is small, which means each bit can be sent and the signal settled very quickly, supporting high data rates, while the low swing and the current-based design keep power consumption and electromagnetic emissions low.

These properties have made LVDS a common choice wherever a lot of data must travel between parts of a device. A familiar example is the connection between a laptop's graphics circuitry and its flat-panel display, which must carry a continuous stream of pixel data. LVDS also appears in many other high-speed digital interfaces and serves as the basis for several standardised buses. Compared with older single-ended signalling, it offers a favourable combination of speed, noise immunity and efficiency, which is why it became a standard technique in modern electronics.

Frequently asked questions

What does differential signalling mean?

It means data is sent over two wires and the receiver reads the voltage difference between them, rather than measuring one wire against a shared ground.

Why is LVDS resistant to noise?

Interference usually affects both wires of the pair equally. Since the receiver looks only at the difference between them, that shared noise largely cancels out.

Where is LVDS commonly used?

In high-speed connections inside electronic devices, such as the link between a laptop's graphics circuitry and its flat-panel display, and in various standardised data buses.