The Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) is the standard for connecting cameras (CSI-2) and displays (DSI) in mobile and embedded systems. Accurately calculating the required data rate is critical for selecting the right processor, determining the number of lanes required, and ensuring signal integrity.
The Formula
The calculation involves determining the total amount of raw pixel data generated per second and adding overhead for horizontal and vertical blanking periods.
H_Res & V_Res: The active resolution of the sensor or display.
FPS: Frames Per Second.
Bits Per Pixel (bpp): Dependent on the color format (e.g., RAW10 uses 10 bits, RGB888 uses 24 bits).
Overhead: The blanking intervals (H-Blank and V-Blank) required for timing. A safe estimation is usually 20-25% if exact timing parameters are unknown.
Data Rate Per Lane
MIPI interfaces scale bandwidth by using multiple differential data lanes. To find the frequency required per lane, divide the Total Bandwidth by the number of lanes:
Lane Rate = Total Bandwidth / Number of Lanes
D-PHY vs C-PHY
This calculator primarily models D-PHY behavior, which uses a clock lane and data lanes. Typical limits for D-PHY v1.1 are 1.5 Gbps/lane, and D-PHY v1.2 can reach 2.5 Gbps/lane. If your calculated "Data Rate Per Lane" exceeds 2.5 Gbps, you may need to increase the number of lanes, reduce the frame rate, or switch to C-PHY technology.
function calculateMipiRate() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var hRes = parseFloat(document.getElementById('mipi_h_res').value);
var vRes = parseFloat(document.getElementById('mipi_v_res').value);
var fps = parseFloat(document.getElementById('mipi_fps').value);
var bpp = parseFloat(document.getElementById('mipi_format').value);
var lanes = parseFloat(document.getElementById('mipi_lanes').value);
var overhead = parseFloat(document.getElementById('mipi_overhead').value);
// 2. Validate Inputs
if (isNaN(hRes) || isNaN(vRes) || isNaN(fps) || isNaN(overhead) || hRes <= 0 || vRes 1000 Mbps, otherwise Mbps
var totalDisplay = totalMbps > 1000 ? totalGbps.toFixed(2) + " Gbps" : totalMbps.toFixed(0) + " Mbps";
var laneDisplay = laneMbps > 1000 ? laneGbps.toFixed(2) + " Gbps" : laneMbps.toFixed(0) + " Mbps";
document.getElementById('res_total_rate').innerText = totalDisplay;
document.getElementById('res_lane_rate').innerText = laneDisplay;
// 5. Status / Recommendation Logic
var statusBox = document.getElementById('mipi_status');
var limitDphy1_2 = 2.5; // 2.5 Gbps per lane limit for D-PHY v1.2
var limitDphy1_1 = 1.5; // 1.5 Gbps per lane limit for D-PHY v1.1
statusBox.style.display = 'block';
if (laneGbps <= limitDphy1_1) {
statusBox.className = "mipi-alert mipi-alert-success";
statusBox.innerHTML = "Standard D-PHY: This configuration fits comfortably within D-PHY v1.1 limits (< 1.5 Gbps/lane).";
} else if (laneGbps <= limitDphy1_2) {
statusBox.className = "mipi-alert mipi-alert-success";
statusBox.innerHTML = "High Speed D-PHY: Fits within D-PHY v1.2 limits (< 2.5 Gbps/lane). High-quality PCB routing required.";
} else {
statusBox.className = "mipi-alert mipi-alert-warning";
statusBox.innerHTML = "Warning: " + laneGbps.toFixed(2) + " Gbps/lane exceeds standard D-PHY v1.2 limits. Consider increasing lanes, reducing FPS, or using C-PHY.";
}
// Show result container
document.getElementById('mipi_results').style.display = 'block';
}