HDMI Backgrounder

November 09, 2009

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a digital standard that delivers quality video and content that doesn't require a conversion from analog to digital signals. The current standard, HDMI 1.4 (Compliance Test Specification CTS 1.4), is presently being implemented in devices such as high-definition televisions, set-top-boxes and personal computers.

HMDI -- transmitted via a single cable -- addresses bandwidth requirements, improves audio and video quality and supports multimedia content. It builds upon the electrical specifications of the Digital Visual Interface (DVI) standard (video only) by including audio, using a smaller connector plug and supporting a longer distance range.

HDMI features two-way communication between a video source and a device, creating consumer ease-of use by decreasing complex technology processes and reducing the cost of having multiple cables. HDMI 1.4 supports a number of new features, including HEAC (HDMI Ethernet and Audio Return Channel), 3D content, 4k2k video support, additional color spaces, HDMI micro connector targeted for mobile applications, and an automotive connection system.

Agilent Technologies has been involved with HDMI since the standard was first established to help companies meet compliance testing and address the challenges presented by this technology. "We are committed to contributing our expertise to advance HDMI and continue working with the Authorized Test Centers (ATCs) to provide a complete and reliable test platform, which will ultimately help build better consumer electronics products," states Thomas Dippon, HDMI Program Manager, Agilent Technologies.

According to In-Stat, 229 million consumer devices featuring HDMI have been shipped in 2008, with a projection of 1 billion products by 2010. HDMI was developed when a group of leading technology companies started a consortium, HDMI.org, to address the growing needs of the consumer electronics industry to conduct physical, data link and protocol test layer testing before delivering products.

The product manufacturers are concerned about the interoperability and performance of how digital content is driven from one instrument via a cable to a receiving device such as a television. Therefore, testing of devices is necessary for companies to help meet specification standards set by the ATCs, which are managed by HDMI.org, and conduct compliance testing for consumer devices, including MP3 players, DVDs and televisions.

Almost every ATC utilizes Agilent's HDMI platform to test products and identify problems, measure data and determine whether tests have passed or failed. There are four areas of HDMI characterization methods that are followed: source testing; sink testing; media physical layer evaluation and protocol test. Agilent offers solutions in each of these areas to determine what signals can be captured, how to analyze data and how to deliver a clearer picture. All of the new HDMI 1.4 features are addressed by Agilent's test equipment.

The source tests measure standard waveform parameters, evaluate eye diagrams to correlate with receiver performance and conduct jitter analysis for accuracy. HDMI sink testing requires a source such as a television receiving a signal that can generate a range of patterns and provide precise jitter signal. A successful sink test includes injecting controlled and calibrated jitter signals to determine jitter tolerance and accurate signals. In terms of the HDMI media test, this is done to determine the display quality, and it is conducted on cables and printed circuit boards to preserve superiority. The HDMI protocol test has to properly evaluate output patterns, process complex patterns, automatically identify errors and troubleshoot the source.

Agilent has developed tools in the physical, data link and protocol layers to meet the challenges posed by the standard. The solutions are designed to reduce development costs, provide accurate test results and simplify the measurement processes for test engineers in the consumer electronics, cable manufacturer and semiconductor industries. Agilent's HDMI solutions are different than its competitors due to its full automation software testing capabilities, which speeds up testing; efficient electrical performance of the devices and fast test throughput, increasing productivity up to 50 percent. Furthermore, Agilent offers scalable solutions, considered an improvement in the HDMI market because companies now have the flexibility to test from 3 to 7 Gb per second. 

Agilent's complete HDMI solution platform includes:

N5990A Test Automation Software Platform - designed to automate overall HDMI compliance testing and for in-depth device characterization. It controls It controls Agilent and 3rd party instruments (Quantum Data 882EA) from a PC, providing test integration, minimum calibration time, maximum test throughput and ease-of-use.

80000B Series Infiniium 13GHz Bandwidth Oscilloscope - offers the highest performance real-time measurement, lowest noise floor, jitter noise floor and trigger jitter, all essential capabilities for signal integrity and jitter measurements.

90000A Series Infiniium Oscilloscope - offers the deepest acquisition memory (1Gpts) and the first hardware/software integrated triggering system (InfiniiScan Plus). It also features the industry's lowest noise floor, fastest Off-Load Speed (remote), the largest front-panel display and the fastest measurement speed.

N5399A HDMI Electrical Compliance Test Software - provides a fast and simple way to verify and debug HDMI designs. The software makes it possible to automatically execute HDMI electrical checklist tests and displays the results in a flexible report format. The program's measurement data provides an analysis report to show if a device passes or fails each test.

N5998A HDMI Protocol/Audio/Video Analyzer and Generator - controlled by HDMI analysis software running on an external PC, the solution offers patterns required for source tests, analysis tools and can capture up to 4GB of data. The N5998A is the CTS listed protocol compliance test solution for HDMI 1.3. It supports new capabilities in HDMI 1.4 on both the generation and the analysis side, including 3D, Colorimetry, and new content types. Extended validation capabilities through integration with the logic analysis applications allow to debug through a waveform view or listing view, giving much more insight to captured data. The new API interface to the test the device enables faster testing though automation.

E4887A HDMI TMDS Generator - provides parallel signals with low intrinsic jitter and fast edges up to 7 Gb/s. The software can be used for manual testing and debugging and can be configured with various HDMI video frames. It can also test for jitter tolerance and source testing.

E5071C ENA RF Network Analyzer - offers high RF performance, fast speed and 8.5 GHz to 9kHz frequency range. The solution features low trace noise and a wide range of accuracy measurements on low level signals. Calibration is performed rapidly and differential measurements can be easily made.

86100C Infiniium DCA-J Wide Bandwidth Oscilloscope with TDR - can view optical and electrical waveforms with bandwidths up to 80 GHz electrical and 65 GHz optical. Jitter analysis is simplified and random and deterministic jitter components can be reviewed.

Test Point Access Fixtures for standard HDMI connectors (Type A), Micro Connectors (Type D) and Automotive connection system (Type E) allow measurements to be performed with excellent signal fidelity

Agilent 81150A Arbitrary function generator - provides clean and distorted HEAC (Ethernet and Audio Return channel) stimulus signals for HEAC receiver testing. Combined with the 81150AU-EHD HEAC Physical Test Board, a N1080B test point adapter and a 80000 or 90000 series scope, this provides a complete HEAC Physical Layer Receiver and Transmitter Test solution

Agilent's solutions for digital applications are driven and supported by Agilent experts that are involved in the various international standard committees. We call it the Agilent Digital Test Standards Program. Our experts are active in the Joint Electronic Devices Engineering Council (JEDEC), PCI Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG®), Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO), USB-Implementers Forum (USB-IF), Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) Alliance, Ethernet standards (IEEE 802.3), Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF), and many others. Our involvement in these standards groups and their related workshops, plugfests and seminars enables Agilent to bring the right solutions to the market when our customers need them.

Agilent's involvement in these standards gives Agilent and its customers, the computing and communication component vendors to the electronics consumer market, two main advantages:

• First, it enables us to bring the right products to the market when our customers need them. We aim to be first to market with our solutions so you as our customer can be first to market with your products ensuring standard compliance.
• Second, with Agilent's involvement in plug-fests, workshops and seminars we are in the unique position to develop solutions that evolve with the standards, giving you the ability to design the best products with the highest confidence.

PCI Express, PCIe and PCI-SIG are registered trademarks and trademarks respectively of the PCI-SIG.

HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.