FAQ for HDMI 1.4
Overview of HDMI 1.4
HDMI Ethernet Channel
Audio Return Channel
3D
Support for 4K
Support for sYCC601,
Adobe®RGB, and Adobe®YCC601
Micro Connector
Automotive Connection
System
Cables
Miscellaneous
Overview of HDMI 1.4
What's new in the HDMI 1.4
specification?
- HDMI Ethernet Channel
The HDMI 1.4 specification adds
a data channel to the HDMI connection, enabling high-speed, bi-directional
communication. Connected devices that include this feature can
send and receive data via 100 Mb/sec Ethernet, making them instantly
ready for any IP-based application. The HDMI Ethernet Channel
allows internet-enabled HDMI devices to share an internet connection
via the HDMI link, with no need for a separate Ethernet cable.
It also provides the connection platform that will allow HDMI-enabled
components to share content between devices.
- Audio Return Channel
The new specification adds an audio
channel that will reduce the number of cables required to deliver audio
"upstream" from a TV to an A/V receiver for processing and playback.
In cases where a TV features an internal content source, such as a built-in
tuner or DVD player, the Audio Return Channel allows the TV to send
audio data upstream to the A/V receiver via the HDMI cable, eliminating
the need for an extra cable.
- 3D
The 1.4 version of the specification
defines common 3D formats and resolutions for HDMI-enabled devices,
enabling 3D gaming and other 3D video applications. The specification
standardizes the input/output portion of the home 3D system, facilitating
3D resolutions up to dual-stream 1080p.
- 4K Resolution Support
The new specification enables HDMI
devices to support extremely high HD resolutions, effectively four times
the resolution of a 1080p device. Support for 4K allows the
HDMI interface to transmit digital content at the same resolution as
the state-of-the-art Digital Cinema systems used in many movie theaters.
- Expanded Support For
Color Spaces
HDMI now supports color spaces
designed specifically for digital still cameras, enabling more accurate
color rendering when viewing digital photos. By supporting sYCC601,
Adobe®RGB, and Adobe®YCC601, HDMI display devices are capable of displaying
more accurate, life-like colors when connected to a digital camera.
- HDMI Micro Connector (Type D)
The HDMI Micro Connector is a significantly
smaller 19-pin HDMI connector supporting up to 1080p resolutions for
portable devices such as cell phones, portable media players, and digital
cameras. This new connector is approximately 50% smaller than the size of the existing HDMI Mini connector.
- Automotive Connection
System (Type E)
The Automotive Connection System
is a cabling specification designed to be used for in-vehicle HD content
distribution. The HDMI 1.4 specification provides a solution designed
to meet the rigors and environmental issues commonly found in automobiles,
such as heat, vibration and noise. Using the Automotive Connection
System, car manufacturers now have a viable solution for HD distribution
within a vehicle.
When should we expect to see products
with some of these new features?
While the HDMI Licensing authority
has no special insight into manufacturers' product plans, prior experience
tells us that when a new version of the specification is released, products
featuring the new capabilities typically start to reach the market within
six to nine months. A number of products featuring HDMI 1.4 functionality
are likely to be introduced at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in
Las Vegas.
Are manufacturers required to implement
all of the new HDMI 1.4 features?
No. HDMI technology is designed
to enable a wide variety of manufacturers in different markets to implement
the feature sets that work best for their customers.
How will I know which HDMI 1.4 features
are implemented in a device?
Shop for the specific features
that interest you, rather than shopping for an HDMI version number and
assuming that a certain feature is supported. Since many of the
capabilities detailed in the HDMI 1.4 specification are optional implementations,
it's the responsibility of the manufacturer to tell you what features
are supported in any given device.
Will any of the new HDMI 1.4 features
require a new cable?
The HDMI Ethernet Channel feature
will require a new cable that supports this functionality, either a
Standard HDMI Cable with Ethernet or a High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet,
depending on the maximum resolution to be supported. The Automotive
Connection System will also employ a new class of cable, the Standard
Automotive HDMI cable, which is designed specifically for automotive
use. All of the other new HDMI 1.4 features will be compatible
with the existing categories of cables.
Are HDMI 1.4 devices going to be
backwards-compatible with older HDMI (v.1.0 - 1.3) devices?
Yes, devices built to the HDMI
1.4 specification will be fully backwards-compatible with existing HDMI
devices and their features.
Can older HDMI (v.1.0 - 1.3) devices
be firmware-upgraded to take advantage of the new features
introduced in HDMI 1.4?
Probably not. Most of the new features
introduced in HDMI 1.4 will require a new HDMI chip to enable, and cannot
be upgraded via firmware.
Back to Top
HDMI Ethernet Channel
What will I be able to do with
an HDMI Ethernet Channel -enabled device?
The HDMI Ethernet Channel enables a
number of new possibilities via the HDMI link, including:
- Sharing an internet connection
– The HDMI Ethernet Channel feature allows your internet-ready entertainment
devices, from gaming consoles to Blu-ray Disc players and more, to share
an internet connection without any need for a separate Ethernet cable.
- Content distribution
– Devices connected by the HDMI Ethernet Channel will be able to exchange
digital content in its native format, enabling recording, storage, and
playback options across a connected system, with no need for a separate
Ethernet cable.
- Home entertainment networking
– The HDMI Ethernet Channel accommodates current and future IP-based
networking solutions for consumer electronics, such as UPnP, LiquidHD,
and DLNA. HDMI with Ethernet is the ideal one-cable solution for
connecting devices in these advanced home-networking environments.
What network protocols are supported
over the HDMI Ethernet Channel?
The HDMI Ethernet Channel feature
supports any networking protocol that can run over an existing Ethernet
connection, including TCP/IP, UPnP, DLNA, LiquidHD, and so forth.
What is the maximum available bandwidth
of the HDMI Ethernet Channel?
Up to 100 Mb/sec of bi-directional
(full-duplex) bandwidth is available over the HDMI Ethernet Channel.
Will devices connected via the HDMI
Ethernet Channel be able to share an Internet connection?
Yes. Provided there is a routing
device somewhere in the network – either a stand-alone router or a
device with integral router functionality – the HDMI Ethernet Channel
will enable linked devices to share an Internet connection.
Will content distribution and recording
be possible in a system connected via the HDMI Ethernet Channel?
Yes. The HDMI Ethernet Channel
allows connected devices to share digital content in its native format.
For instance, if it is protected by HDCP encryption, it will stay in
its encrypted format, and can only be accessed if all the devices in
the system are HDCP-compliant. Unprotected content, such as digital
HD broadcast programming or user-generated HD video, will of course
be free of any content protection.
Will I need a new cable to support
HDMI Ethernet Channel functionality?
Yes. The HDMI Ethernet Channel
feature will require a new type of cable, either a Standard HDMI Cable
with Ethernet or a High-Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet, depending on
the maximum resolution to be supported.
Back to Top
Audio Return Channel
What will I be able to do with an
Audio Return Channel -enabled device?
If your HDTV has a built-in tuner,
DVD player, or other digital content source, the Audio Return Channel
allows the TV to send audio data "upstream" to your A/V receiver,
eliminating the need for a separate audio cable in this type of configuration.
Audio Return Channel-enabled TVs can either send or receive audio via
the HDMI link, giving you greater flexibility in how you set up your
home theater equipment and making a separate upstream audio link unnecessary.
Which audio formats are supported
over the Audio Return Channel?
The Audio Return Channel supports
all the same audio formats that can be sent through a traditional S/PDIF
audio connection, including Dolby Digital, DTS, and PCM audio.
Is the HDMI LipSync feature compatible
with the Audio Return Channel?
Yes. Whether the TV is sending
audio to the sound system or vice-versa, devices featuring LipSync functionality
(introduced in HDMI 1.3) will be able to track and correct for any processor
lags, and adjust the delivery of audio and video so that the two signals
stay in sync.
Will I need a new cable to support
Audio Return Channel functionality?
No. Audio Return Channel
-enabled devices can be connected via the existing categories of HDMI
cables.
Back to Top
3D
Which 3D video formats are
contained in HDMI 1.4?
The HDMI 1.4 specification includes
information on a wide range of 3D display formats at up to 1080p resolution,
including:
- field alternative
- frame alternative
- line alternative
- side-by-side half
- side-by-side full
- L + depth
- L + depth + graphics + graphics
depth
What kind of cable will I need to use for 3D?
3D video requires substantial data
throughput, so you'll want to use a High Speed HDMI cable (with or
without Ethernet).
Are there any 3D displays available
today? What about 3D content?
A number of displays on the market
are already 3D capable, including many DLP models. Likewise, there
are already some content sources, such as gaming consoles that are 3D-capable.
The 3D support introduced in HDMI 1.4 fills an important role by providing
an input/output connection that can handle 3D content, and this could
help launch consumer 3D video into the mainstream.
Back to Top
Support for 4K format
What does 4K
refer to?
4K is a term used to describe displays
with resolutions that are essentially four times that of a 1080p device
or roughly 4,000 lines wide by 2,000 lines high. The HDMI 1.4 specification
supports multiple 4K formats:
- 3840 pixels wide by 2160
pixels high @ 24Hz | 25Hz | 30Hz
- 4096 pixels wide by 2160
pixels high @ 24Hz
What kind of cable will I need to
use for a 4K display?
A High Speed HDMI Cable (with or
without Ethernet).
Are there any 4K displays available
today? What about 4K content?
The first 4K displays were showcased
at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show. We expect them to be more
widely available by the end of 2009, and we hope to see 4K source devices,
such as up-scaling Blu-ray Disc players, introduced in roughly the same
time frame.
Back to Top
Support for sYCC601, Adobe®RGB,
and Adobe®YCC601
What do these color spaces refer
to?
These are color formats used in
many digital still cameras, providing an extended range of available
colors that is wider than what's available in the traditional RGB
color model. By providing native support for these color spaces,
HDMI 1.4 enables HDTV manufacturers to deliver better and more accurate
color to users when they view their digital photos.
What exactly is a color space?
A color space, also known as a
color gamut or color model, defines the total palette of colors available
to the display. The traditional RGB color space, developed in
the days of analog broadcast TV, delivers a relatively limited subset
of what the human eye can actually perceive. Extended color spaces
like sYCC601, Adobe® RGB, and Adobe® YCC601 define a broader
palette of colors that is closer to the full visible spectrum.
Does this require a new cable?
No. Support for these extended
color spaces is compatible with the existing categories of HDMI cables.
Back to Top
HDMI Micro Connector
What kinds of products will use
an HDMI Micro Connector?
Mobile phones, portable media players,
digital cameras, or any portable device where space is at a premium
and HDMI quality is desired.
When will products be available
in the market with an HDMI Micro Connector?
Past experience tells us that when
a new version of the HDMI specification is released, products featuring
the new capabilities typically start to reach the market within six
to nine months. And when new products appear, cable manufacturers
are usually quick to support them with compliant cables and connectors.
Is the HDMI Micro Connector a 19-pin
connector just like the Standard and Mini HDMI connectors?
Yes. The HDMI Micro Connector does
everything a standard connector does - it's just smaller.
Will the HDMI Micro Connector support
all the new HDMI 1.4 features?
Yes.
Back to Top
Automotive Connection System
What exactly is the Automotive Connection
System?
It consists of two elements:
- A specification designed
for the cabling requirements for distribution of HD data over HDMI in
embedded systems within an automobile. The specification covers cables,
a latching connector as well as relays. These components will all be
used internal to an automobile and are designed to meet the requirements
of an environment that is subject to noise, vibration and heat unique
to an automobile.
- A new cable, called a Standard
Automotive HDMI cable, designed to connect external devices (camcorders,
digital still cameras, portable Blu Ray players, etc.) to an in-vehicle
HDMI-enabled system.
If I want to connect an external
device to my in-vehicle, HDMI-enabled system, which cable should I
use?
To connect your camcorder, portable
media player, or other content source device to an in-vehicle video
system, you'll want to use an Automotive HDMI cable. We anticipate
that these will feature various connector types - Standard, Mini, or
Micro - depending on the intended application.
How is a Standard Automotive HDMI
cable different from other Standard HDMI cables?
The Standard Automotive HDMI cable
is a robust cable designed to handle the unique requirements of connecting
to an embedded HDMI Automotive Connection System. Since an automotive
video system may be wired with one or more internal relays that can
effect signal strength, the Standard Automotive HDMI cable needs to
send a strong and reliable signal, so it will be tested to higher performance
standards than other cables.
Will the Automotive Connection
System support all the new HDMI 1.4 features?
No. Video resolution via the Standard
Automotive HDMI cable will be limited to 720p/1080i, and there are no
plans at this point to support HDMI Ethernet Channel functionality.
What are the new cables that have
been introduced as part of HDMI 1.4?
HDMI Ethernet Channel functionality
adds a new data channel, so new cables are required to support Ethernet
connectivity. These two new cable types are Standard HDMI with Ethernet
and High Speed HDMI with Ethernet, with the former supporting resolutions
up to 1080i/720p, and the latter built for resolutions of 1080p or higher.
Both cable types support a full-duplex 100 Mb/sec Ethernet connection.
The other new cable type is the
Standard Automotive HDMI cable, designed for use in automotive video
systems. It is a robust cable designed to handle the unique stresses
of the motoring environment, such as vibration and temperature extremes,
and will be tested to higher performance standards than other cables.
Back to Top
Miscellaneous
Where can I find more information
about HDMI 1.4?
For general questions about HDMI,
please visit www.hdmi.org. For complete details on the HDMI 1.4 specification,
please go to http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4.aspx.
Back to Top
Skip to content
Return to Help Index