1 files changed, 72 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/Documentation/fb/modedb.txt b/Documentation/fb/modedb.txt
index e04458b319d5..4fcdb4cf4cca 100644
--- a/Documentation/fb/modedb.txt
+++ b/Documentation/fb/modedb.txt
@@ -20,12 +20,83 @@ in a video= option, fbmem considers that to be a global video mode option.
 
 Valid mode specifiers (mode_option argument):
 
-    <xres>x<yres>[-<bpp>][@<refresh>]
+    <xres>x<yres>[M][R][-<bpp>][@<refresh>][i][m]
     <name>[-<bpp>][@<refresh>]
 
 with <xres>, <yres>, <bpp> and <refresh> decimal numbers and <name> a string.
 Things between square brackets are optional.
 
+If 'M' is specified in the mode_option argument (after <yres> and before
+<bpp> and <refresh>, if specified) the timings will be calculated using
+VESA(TM) Coordinated Video Timings instead of looking up the mode from a table.
+If 'R' is specified, do a 'reduced blanking' calculation for digital displays.
+If 'i' is specified, calculate for an interlaced mode.  And if 'm' is
+specified, add margins to the calculation (1.8% of xres rounded down to 8
+pixels and 1.8% of yres).
+
+       Sample usage: 1024x768M@60m - CVT timing with margins
+
+***** oOo ***** oOo ***** oOo ***** oOo ***** oOo ***** oOo ***** oOo *****
+
+What is the VESA(TM) Coordinated Video Timings (CVT)?
+
+From the VESA(TM) Website:
+
+     "The purpose of CVT is to provide a method for generating a consistent
+      and coordinated set of standard formats, display refresh rates, and
+      timing specifications for computer display products, both those
+      employing CRTs, and those using other display technologies. The
+      intention of CVT is to give both source and display manufacturers a
+      common set of tools to enable new timings to be developed in a
+      consistent manner that ensures greater compatibility."
+
+This is the third standard approved by VESA(TM) concerning video timings.  The
+first was the Discrete Video Timings (DVT) which is  a collection of
+pre-defined modes approved by VESA(TM).  The second is the Generalized Timing
+Formula (GTF) which is an algorithm to calculate the timings, given the
+pixelclock, the horizontal sync frequency, or the vertical refresh rate.
+
+The GTF is limited by the fact that it is designed mainly for CRT displays.
+It artificially increases the pixelclock because of its high blanking
+requirement. This is inappropriate for digital display interface with its high
+data rate which requires that it conserves the pixelclock as much as possible.
+Also, GTF does not take into account the aspect ratio of the display.
+
+The CVT addresses these limitations.  If used with CRT's, the formula used
+is a derivation of GTF with a few modifications.  If used with digital
+displays, the "reduced blanking" calculation can be used.
+
+From the framebuffer subsystem perspective, new formats need not be added
+to the global mode database whenever a new mode is released by display
+manufacturers. Specifying for CVT will work for most, if not all, relatively
+new CRT displays and probably with most flatpanels, if 'reduced blanking'
+calculation is specified.  (The CVT compatibility of the display can be
+determined from its EDID. The version 1.3 of the EDID has extra 128-byte
+blocks where additional timing information is placed.  As of this time, there
+is no support yet in the layer to parse this additional blocks.)
+
+CVT also introduced a new naming convention (should be seen from dmesg output):
+
+    <pix>M<a>[-R]
+
+    where: pix = total amount of pixels in MB (xres x yres)
+           M   = always present
+           a   = aspect ratio (3 - 4:3; 4 - 5:4; 9 - 15:9, 16:9; A - 16:10)
+          -R   = reduced blanking
+
+          example:  .48M3-R - 800x600 with reduced blanking
+
+Note: VESA(TM) has restrictions on what is a standard CVT timing:
+
+      - aspect ratio can only be one of the above values
+      - acceptable refresh rates are 50, 60, 70 or 85 Hz only
+      - if reduced blanking, the refresh rate must be at 60Hz
+
+If one of the above are not satisfied, the kernel will print a warning but the
+timings will still be calculated.
+
+***** oOo ***** oOo ***** oOo ***** oOo ***** oOo ***** oOo ***** oOo *****
+
 To find a suitable video mode, you just call
 
 int __init fb_find_mode(struct fb_var_screeninfo *var,