HDMI ICs boost picture quality

HDMI v1.3-compatible multiplexer, receiver and transmitter circuits help the HD video market achieve new levels of picture quality and power efficiency.

Analog Devices is continuing to expand its broad line of HDMI ICs with the availability of HDMI v1.3-compatible multiplexer, receiver and transmitter circuits that are helping the high-definition (HD) video market achieve new levels of picture quality and power efficiency.

The industry's broadest portfolio of HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) components now includes devices that address the increasing consumer demand for HD content in multimedia products ranging from 1080p "deep colour" HDTVs to low-power portable applications, including digital video and still cameras, portable media players and cellphones.

Announced today, the multiplexers, receiver and transmitters support the updated HDMI v1.3 standard, which defines the delivery of uncompressed HD content using a single cable to transmit super-high-quality video and audio.

Included in today's announcement are devices for the industry's key advanced television and video applications: "The breadth of Analog Devices' HDMI product suite underscores the role that ADI's analogue and mixed-signal processing expertise is playing in creating an HDTV viewing experience that faithfully converts, conditions and regulates the signals that result in superior, cinema-grade sound and images", said John Hussey, Vice President of High-Speed Signal Processing, Analog Devices.

"ADI's ability to support HD transmission and reception across multiple end products further emphasises the system-level understanding that has enabled the company to develop HD solutions for the world's most recognised consumer electronics brands".

The AD8196 and AD8197 are the industry's first buffered multiplexers to support 1080p "deep colour" technology defined by the HDMI v1.3 specification.

Deep colour technology increases HDMI's datarate to 2.25Gbit/s, allowing the transmission and display of more than a billion colours.

The resulting palette provides dazzling levels of detail and colour depth supported by next-generation consumer electronics products, such as the newest game consoles.

The new multiplexers also feature proprietary technology that allows them to equalise more than 20m of HDMI v1.3-compliant cable, affording consumers the flexible location of their TVs and home entertainment components without loss of video.

The AD9388A single chip, advanced TV interface combines an integrated dual-port HDMI v1.3 receiver with an analogue interface that can digitise high-quality video from HD and legacy inputs.

This new advanced TV interface supports multiple analogue and HDMI v1.3 inputs to enable HDTV connections to VCRs, set-top-boxes, DVD players/recorders, game consoles, A/V receivers and digital video recorders (DVRs).

The AD9388A also includes on-chip adaptive cable equalisation that ensures signal integrity for cable lengths up to 30m, and advanced audio muting prevents "pops" and "clicks" on the audio output.

The AD9387 tiny, low-power HDMI v1.3 transmitter is specifically designed for portable multimedia applications and supports high-definition video up to 1080i resolution.

As HD formats migrate to handheld consumer electronics, end users will be able to create a high-definition network by viewing, recording and sharing HD content using personal video recorders, digital still cameras and other portable multimedia devices that can be connected to their HDTVs or home A/V equipment.

The AD8196 and AD8197 are the world's first buffered multiplexers to support the incorporation of HDMI v1.3 2.25Gbit/s "deep colour" inputs into HDTV designs and increase the resolution of colours that can be displayed on-screen to 12bit.

The AD8196 and AD8197 also provide 12dB equalisation of TMDS (transition minimised differential signalling) signals over HDMI cable lengths more than 20m.

The new devices additionally feature on-chip auxiliary multiplexers, which enable display data-channel signal switching, and include integrated TMDS buffers and 50ohm termination, which combine to reduce parts counts and board space and improve overall signal integrity.

The AD9388A receiver extends ADI's support for the HDMI v1.3 standard by integrating a 12-channel analogue input component digitiser with a dual-port HDMI v1.3 receiver to support multiple analogue inputs and HD signals up to 1080p and UXGA resolutions (1600 x 1200 at 60Hz).

In addition to the on-chip adaptive cable equalisation feature, the AD9388A integrates 10bit ADCs to digitise RGB and HDTV sources at up to 170MHz with 8 or 10bit output formats.

The device also embeds HDCP (high-bandwidth digital content protection) key storage and an EDID (extended display identification data) RAM to reduce overall system complexity and cost relative to discrete solutions.

Versions of the receiver without internal keys are available for customers who prefer to use their own external EEPROM.

The AD9387 is the first low-power transmitter for video-enabled portable consumer electronics that meets HDMI v1.3 specifications.

Optimised for high-quality video formats from 720p to 1080i, the transmitter supports both S/PDIF (Sony/Philips digital interface) and eight-channel I2S (inter-IC sound) audio recording formats and transmits either stereo or 7.1-channel surround audio at 192kHz.

This enables digital video cameras, cellphones and other handheld electronics to carry stereo LPCM (linear pulse-code modulation) audio or compressed audio, including Dolby Digital, DTS and THX.

The AD9387 consumes just 100mW at 80MHz and 20uW during power down, a 55 to 90% reduction as compared with other transmitters.

A version of the new transmitter, the AD9387NK, further reduces cost and system design complexity by allowing for external implementation of HDCP keys.

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