A Technical Overview

Byron Buie for, Telonix Communications Inc.

Introduction
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) What is it ? HDMI v1.3 vs. existing technologies such as Component, S video and DVI. Active devices that are available to facilitate and distribute HDMI. Introduction to HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection). Opportunities for HDMI

What is HDMI ?
HDMI is the first & only industry supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface. HDMI provides an interface between any A/V source, such as a settop box, DVD player, or A/V receiver and an audio and/or video monitor, such as a digital television (DTV), over a single cable. HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. Transmits all ATSC HDTV standards and supports 8-channel, 192kHz, uncompressed digital audio, all currently-available compressed formats & lossless digital audio formats with bandwidth to spare to accommodate future enhancements and requirements HDMI acts like Cat5, it passes a data signal not an RF signal like CATV.

Typical HDMI Cables

Typical Component Set-Up

Typical HDMI Set-Up

HDMI over existing analog interfaces

Because HDMI is a digital interface, it provides the best quality of the video since there are no lossy analog to digital conversions as are required for all analog connections (such as component or S-Video). Digital video will be sharper than component, and eliminates the softness and ghosting found with component. Small, high contrast details such as text bring this difference out the most. Single cable for both video and audio is the most effective format ! HDMI devices supporting HDCP have the comfort of knowing they will have access to premium HD content now and in the future.

DVI Versus HDMI

HDMI Connector

DVI Connector

HDMI Connector

DVI Connector

DVI is HDMI without the audio Separate cable needed for audio !

HDMI over DVI

HDMI is DVI with the addition of: - Audio (up to 8-channels uncompressed) - Smaller Connector - Support for YUV Color Space - CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) - CEA-861B Info Frames HDMI is fully backward compatible with DVI compliant devices. HDMI DTVs will display video received from existing DVI-equipped products, and DVI-equipped TVs & will display video from HDMI sources. Make sure your DVI device supports HDCP.

The HDMI Cable

The Cable
TMDS - Transition Minimized Differential Signaling
refers to the high speed signal data, audio and video are multiplexed, eliminating the need for audio channels

DDC - Display Data Channel

is a digital connection between a display and a graphics adapter that allows the display to communicate its specifications to the adapter serial data intelligence supply channel, provides power to DDC whether on/off simply put plug and play

CEC- Consumer Electronics Control

industry standard protocol, is used for remote control functions, universal remote

HDMI Signal Configuration

HDMI v1.3 What does it deliver?

Bandwidth more than doubled from 165 MHz (4.95 Gbps) to 340 MHz (10.2 Gbps) to support Higher Resolution, Faster Refresh, and Deep Color. HDMI is a conduit or pipe that moves data. With more bandwidth we have more room for more goodies today and in the future. Backward compatible with legacy versions.

Increased Bandwidth

HDMI 1.0/1.2 Versus 1.3

Greater Bandwidth for Deep Color In the Future

Current world: limited to 24 bits/ pixel color - 16 million colors Deep Color allows 24, 30, 36 and 48 bits/pixel color depth Billions of colors Eliminates artifacts that appear as bands or contours Increases contrast ratios for sharper images & greater detail More accurately represents original material

Deep Color
Deep Color increases the number of bits available for transmission for each channel. So, for example, a TV that accepts the 24 or 12bit form can mix together any one of 4,096 shades (levels of brightness) of each primary color for 68.7 billion possible colors. 4,096 red x 4,096 green x 4,096 blue = 68,719,476,736 colors!!

xvYCC Extended Color Gamut for Realistic and Natural Color xvYCC is the next generation HD color. Space standard IEC 619966-2-4 vs. older ITU BT.709-5. Takes full advantage of color rendering capabilities of modern digital displays vs. older CRT technology. Simply, it allows for more room around the current RGB cube.

HDMI Problems - Cable Equalization

Cables are just a big filter. Receivers can compensate for that filter by applying an equal but opposite filter. Different lengths change slope of attenuation receiver can target particular cable lengths. HDMI 1.3 measures Cat2 cable output after applying an ideal Reference Cable Equalizer HDMI 1.3 measures receiver performance against this same spec.

HDMI Problems - Termination

In a serial transmission line changes in impedance are bad and can cause reflections back to the source signal. (RL problems). Connectors frequently have impedance mismatches and cause some reflection and will affect the signal quality.

HDMI Problems - Termination

HDMI Problems - Bit Transition Analysis

Masks help highlight digital data waves. Good symmetry going around the mask and keeping clear spacing between the signal and mask are necessary for a signal integrity. Touching the mask or kissing the dirt is where bit errors will occur and cause sporadic sparkles on the screen. HDMI cables with good masking have a greater mask margin.

Other HDMI Problems Areas

Manufacturing, non-approved HDMI cables can produce poor results Poor installation, long cable runs, improper active devices, lack of knowledge Conglomerations of circuit boards, twisted cables, interconnects, connectors, and electronic components can create a maze of signal loss

(High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection)

What is HDCP?
High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection encrypts data over HDMI. HDCP helps bring high-definition digital content to consumers by providing copy protection over HDMI

History of HDCP
Developed by Intel Corporation to prevent copying of digital audio and video content as it travels across HDMI, DVI etc. Supported by the majority of CE manufacturers, government and content providers Emphasizes that HDMI is a smart cable

How it works

Handshaking
Handshaking is making sure that all of your HDMI devices can recognize each other Source: The source sends the content to be displayed. Examples include set-top boxes, DVD and Blu-Ray players, and computer video cards. A source has only an HDCP/HDMI transmitter. Sink: The sink renders the content for display so it can be viewed. Examples include TVs and digital projectors. A sink has one or more HDCP/HDMI receiver. Repeater: A repeater accepts content, decrypts it, then re-encrypts and retransmits the data. It may perform some signal processing, such as upconverting video into a higher-resolution format, or splitting out the audio portion of the signal. Repeaters have both HDMI inputs and outputs an example would be a AV receiver

Good and Bad

HDCP along with HDMI protects content. Handshaking can be a problem with setting up an AV install. Installer or consumer needs to ensure that their devices are HDCP enabled. DVD players, DVI HDTV present problems. Screen and source will want to get the highest resolution, will downgrade if screen cannot accommodate, older TVs primarily.

HDCP/HDMI Problems
Cable flexibility, this helps, avoid 90 degree kinks, you may degrade data transfer. Better results with broad turns if possible. If you can use exact cable lengths. Too much wire, sloppy wire management and low quality products will degrade the install.. Everything you add to the system will affect the margin of headroom.

Problems DDC Failure (Display Data Channel

DDC failure comes from accumulation of capacitance from all parts that make up the system. Failures such as no audio, picture, pink screen or flashing. If the DDC line has larger rise time issues it will not pass HDCP There are conditioners available to help raise the allowable capacitance

Going the Distance

Currently the answer is to have an equalizer. Cables of long lengths have equalizers in them, easy solution, cable life is shortened. Equalizers can be fixed, adjustable and adaptive.

Cat5 extenders, allow for meters of added distance using Cat5 cable, but requires a transmitter and receiver.

Troubleshooting
Be Pro-active, use products you are familiar with that have consistently worked in the past. Use quality products, do research & check specifications. If available look at mask margin percentage, skew timing, and DDC rise time numbers. Check for a flexible and well made cable, the signals may be the same but the components may not & look for cable bends. Look for a strong outer mould connector, metal or plastic. DDC can cause issues, HDCP and capacitance.

HDMI Opportunities
HDMI is growing with the advancement of high definition programming and DVDs. Video Games and PC are also integrating HDMI for optimization of their products. Commercially companies are choosing HDMI, sports and entertainment, video displays, airports, restaurants the list goes on.

Commercial
Increased revenue streams. Refurbishment projects of commercial buildings i.e.. offices, airport terminals, restaurants. Less set top boxes due to extenders and HDMI active devices. Perfect for new builds using cat5e cable to extend your HDMI signal.

What can we do with HDMI Product

Split it Switch it Extend it
Repeaters

For the Home

Currently end users are eating up bandwidth for multiple reasons. Customers want maximum bandwidth for HDTV, internet and gaming. Fiber to the home will put increased demand for high end HD content. Help the customer before he/she has to go out and find their own solution, they will call you first. Your first on site why give the business to someone else. The end user gets what they paid for.

Typical HDMI Set Up

Thank you
For more information please visit www.hdmi.org

Byron Buie for: TELONIX Communications 15-305 Industrial Parkway South Aurora, Ontario L4G 6X7 Canada

Richard Hazell President Titan HDTV Accessories Corp. 13511 Crestwood Place, Suite 10 Richmond British Columbia V6V 2G1 Canada