Agilent Selected As HDMI Test Solution Provider

Simplay Labs, which operates four of the eight HDMI Authorized Test Centers (ATCs), has selected Agilent Technologies as its high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) test solution provider. Agilent's test solution meets, or exceeds, the requirements of the HDMI Compliance Test Specification (CTS) Version 1.4 and is listed as recommended test equipment. The Agilent test solution addresses four sectors: source testing, sink testing, media physical layer evaluation and protocol test.

The test solution was designed to reduce development costs while providing accurate test results with greater flexibility. Agilent's HDMI solution offers full automation software, which speeds up testing, providing efficient electrical performance of the devices and fast test throughput, which increases productivity; and the HEAC (HDMI Ethernet and Audio Return Channel) sink test setup, which is independent of the TMDS signal generator, often heavily used for high-speed electrical sink testing.

Agilent has been involved with the HDMI specification since the standard was first established to help companies meet compliance testing and address the challenges presented by this technology. Agilent has developed tools in the physical, data link and protocol layers to meet the challenges posed by the standard. They 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. ATCs are using Agilent's HDMI platform to test products, identify problems, measure data and determine whether tests have passed or failed.

Agilent's modular HDMI test platform is said to help customers improve the quality of their consumer electronics products and meet the demand of this rapidly advancing market. 'Upgrading our US, Korean and two China facilities will enable us to serve our customers with all HDMI Specification Version 1.4 test services,' said Joseph Lias, president of Simplay Labs. 'Continuing to work with Agilent and its partner Bitifeye Digital Test Solutions ensures that our customers' products can be effectively tested in our ATCs for HDMI 1.4 features such as 3D over HDMI, 4K video format, content type and the new colour spaces,' he added.

The Agilent HDMI 1.4 complete test platform includes: modular HEAC test upgrade using Agilent's 81150A pattern generator platform and Infiniium oscilloscopes; single high-speed N5998A audio/video timing and video picture analyser recommended in the CTS Version 1.4; TMDS electrical test coverage with a single E4887A TMDS signal generator, which covers all high-speed digital tests; and test automation with broadest test coverage using the N5990A software controlling TMDS signal generator, the N5998A, an oscilloscope and complementary Quantum Data 882EA (for EDID, CEC and HDCP test).

It also includes: Infiniium 90000A Series oscilloscopes with N5399A compliance test software; Parbert 81250-based E4887A TMDS signal generator; N5998A protocol/audio/video generator and analyser; N5990A test automation software platform from Bitifeye; E5071C network analyser; and N1080A Type A test-point access fixtures.

NXP Smart Switches Support HDMI 1.4 Specification

NXP Semiconductors has unveiled intelligent switches supporting the HDMI 1.4 specification. The NXP TDA19997 and TDA19998 smart switches support the Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature, an option introduced in the HDMI 1.4 release, which reduces the number of cables required to deliver audio upstream for processing and playback.

Building on the success of previous HDMI smart switches from NXP, the TDA19997 and TDA19998 include support for all mandatory 3D over HDMI features. NXP is the one of the first semiconductor companies to deliver silicon supporting HDMI 1.4. The Audio Return Channel specified in HDMI 1.4 enables HDTVs directly receiving audio and video content to send the audio stream to an amplification system over the HDMI cable, eliminating the need for an extra cable.

The NXP TDA19997 and TDA19998 smart switches also include built-in auto-adaptive equalisers that can handle up to four HDMI 1.4 inputs, automatically maintaining audiovisual quality over HDMI cables up to 30m in length. Their highly integrated design eliminates the need for external components, reducing the overall Bill of Materials for TV manufacturers, while delivering an enhanced viewing experience. The TDA19997 and TDA19998 are embedded with five EDID extensions for HDMI and VGA, as well as high levels of ESD protection.

The TDA19998 smart switches take advantage of NXP's F3 architecture, which guarantees fast port switching between HDMI devices while keeping a secured HDCP-protected HDMI stream at the output. The F3 architecture also enables best-in-class power efficiency of all systems in active and standby modes.

The NXP TDA19997 and TDA19998 comprise the second generation of NXP's HDMI smart switches, and are part of a portfolio of scalable solutions for the digital home, enabling TV makers to target a broad audience. The TDA19997 and TDA19998 are pin-to-pin compatible with previous generation smart switches from NXP and provide TV makers with flexibility in adapting to end-user demand. Engineering samples of the TDA19997 are available immediately from NXP.

HDMI Active Enhances Viewing And Sound Quality

Chord has introduced the HDMI Active, which enhances picture and sound quality. This product features heavy gauge silver-plated oxygen-free signal conductors. Signal attenuation has been reduced with the use of 26AWG conductors. Overlapped foil shielding around all critical signal paths minimises crosstalk.

Double outer foil and high-density braid combine to minimise the levels of external interference. The exciting aspect of the Chord HDMI Active is the inclusion of a high-frequency filter on all lengths. The filter reduces the intra/inter channel skew between the four pairs of TDMS signals. The HDMI Active cable improved all aspects of the picture in tests using Denon, Arcam, Yamaha and Playstation 3 DVD and Blu-ray players.

When compared with the Chord HDMI Silver plus 1.3, the Chord Active produced a more detailed, dynamic and musically coherent sound. The improvement in performance was such that in tests, participants consistently chose a 15-metre Chord Active HDMI cable over a similarly priced one-metre cable.