Video serializer/deserializer having selectable multi-lane serial interface

A video serializer device comprising:

• a plurality of differential input serial lanes for receiving a plurality of input serial data streams, wherein each input serial lane comprises a differential pair of electrical lines, and each input serial data stream comprises a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) that comprises a pair of complementary signals conducted over the differential pair of electrical lines of a corresponding one of the input serial lanes;
• a pseudo-parallel to serial converter configured to serialize the input serial data streams to generate a single output serial data stream that includes data from all of the input serial data streams;
• and
• a lane-select input configured to receive a lane-select signal that sets the number of the input serial data streams to be serialized by the pseudo-parallel to serial converter.

A method performed by a video deserializer device, the method comprising:

• receiving an input serial data stream containing video data;
• deserializing the input serial data stream to generate a plurality of output serial data streams through a plurality of differential output serial lanes, wherein each output serial lane comprises a differential pair of electrical lines, and each output serial data stream comprises a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) that comprises a pair of complementary signals conducted over the differential pair of electrical lines of a corresponding one of the output serial lanes, and each output serial data stream includes a portion of the video data contained in the input serial data stream;
• and
• receiving a lane-select signal for setting the number of the output serial data streams to be generated.

A method performed by a video serializer device, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of input serial data streams through a plurality of differential input serial lanes, wherein each input serial lane comprises a differential pair of electrical lines, and each input serial data stream comprises a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) that comprises a pair of complementary signals conducted over the differential pair of electrical lines of a corresponding one of the input serial lanes;
• serializing the input serial data streams to generate a single output serial data stream that includes data from the input serial data streams;
• and
• receiving a lane-select signal that sets the number of the input serial data streams to be serialized.