"China used the HDMI interface more and more consumer electronics manufacturers, their number from the beginning of this year increased to 10 as of October quickly the 32, and is still growing rapidly," the U.S. Silicon Image President and CEO Steve Tirado on November 21 in Shenzhen HDMI Authorized Testing Center and the establishment of PanelLink Cinema Test Center is pleased to announce the ceremony. "Now China's Konka, Changhong, Skyworth, TTE, and Xiamen Overseas Chinese Electronic appliance maker Hisense, and so have become our customers."

Steve said that Shenzhen HDMI test centres set up, the Chinese consumer electronics manufacturers will provide the localization testing services, greatly simplify and accelerate China's consumer electronics manufacturers HDMI products to market process. According to reports, the Shenzhen HDMI Test Center is the world's fourth-HDMI Authorized Testing and Certification Center, the other three were in Osaka, Japan (under the Panasonic), France Caen (part of Philips) and California (part of Silicon Image) . In addition, Steve introduced, Silicon Image will be in mid-2006 in Shanghai before the establishment of a new HDMI test centres.

HDMI widely recognized, but not to plans submitted to international standards

HDMI, that is, high-definition multimedia interface (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), it is a uncompressed all-digital consumer electronics interface technology, Silicon Image is a joint Hitachi, Panasonic, Philips, Sony, Thomson ( Thomson) and Toshiba form joint development of the HDMI from the Union. It has high-definition video and multi-channel audio signal integration in a single digital interface connector on the synthesis of treatment, and through a small low-cost cable transmission.

HDMI standards since December 2002 has been published for the first time, has now developed to version 1.2. Steve said that with the constantly adding new properties, follow-up will continue to have a new release, which will depend on the technology industry as a whole to digest the situation. From the adoption of the company, in accordance with the mandate to provide technical HDMI HDMI Licensing corporate data, as at October 14, 2005, 298 companies worldwide have adopted HDMI standards, including the North American manufacturers accounted for 29 percent of the total, China The mainland and Taiwan accounted for 11% and 27%, Europe, Japan and South Korea accounted for 7 percent, 13 percent and 8 percent, and other areas accounted for 5 percent.

From the end products, according to Silicon Image Corporate Development Director and senior branch of the company's PanelLink Cinema (PLC) president Brett Gaines, the world has 50 million consumer electronics devices using HDMI standards, including set-top boxes, DVD Players and A / V receiver, and so on.

In addition, Brett, from a global perspective, DVD Copy Control Association has a copy protection feature HDMI earmarked for the CSS protected content authorized digital output interface in North America, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of digital cable, "Plug That is, "requires a copy protection feature HDMI; in Europe, EICTA designated a copy protection feature HDMI as" HD Ready "shows that the safety of digital input interface; in Japan, ARIB standards specify a copy-protected HDMI as a function of Authorized digital interface. In China, the major domestic digital TV has been equipped with HDMI interface. And attend the founding ceremony of the electronic Jieke representatives told the "Electronic Engineering Times," the company's export-oriented market of DVD players have adopted HDMI interface.

HDMI despite ongoing industry-recognized standards, but Silicon Image President and CEO Steve Tirado admits that, at present only as an industry standard, it has no plans to the ITU or ISO, and other international organizations to submit to international standards.

Using the new HDMI interface equipment growing

In addition to DVD players, set-top boxes, A / V receivers and audio / video monitors, HDMI interface will also be used in personal computers, Blu-ray drives, game controllers and portable electronic devices. To personal computers as an example, the market has been with HDMI interface cards, and HDMI output interface with the PC.

Apart from the PC, according to Steve, Hitachi and Sony, and other companies have five HDMI interface with the laptop computer of the market. In addition, with security features of the HDMI was the DVD Forum (DVD Forum) approval for high-definition content digital output interface, it 24/50/60 Hz circumstances support the 1080 p output.

In other aspects, Sony has announced that its PlayStation 3 game console will be out with two HDMI interface, and support the 1080 p. In addition, HDMI interface can also be used for high-definition camcorders and digital cameras (DSC) applications.

Shenzhen test center early next year to provide testing services

It is reported that Shenzhen HDMI Authorized Testing Center in Shenzhen Science and Technology Parks, from the current management took the company Sunplus Technology. The Centre family-oriented entertainment device manufacturers and opening up, including HDTV, DTV, set-top boxes, DVD players, A / V receiver, semiconductor and cable manufacturers, and so on. Sunplus Technology General Manager Chen Yang Cheng said: "HDMI testing and certification is a key element of development, Shenzhen HDMI test centres set up is of great significance." He believes that with the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to be held, Chinese manufacturers will be further In the area of enhancing the status of high-definition television.

According to Brett, in the HDMI test before vendors must obtain permission HDMI, and HDMI Licensing Company signed licensing agreements and HDMI Authorized Testing Center (ATC) signed testing agreements, access to the latter's receipt. It is learnt that the test for the first product to be tested by the ATC, and the follow-up products can be self-testing. One, DVD, STB and D-VHS with an output such as the Source of Silicon Image ATC equipment testing fee of 6,000 U.S. dollars, television sets and monitors, such as an input with the terminal equipment charges for 7500 U.S. dollars, A / V receiver and an HTIB, and so enter a zone of the output relay equipment charges for 11,000 U.S. dollars.

In addition, each HDMI products also must be tested for compatibility. PanelLink Cinema Company established a partnership project to provide enhanced HDMI test (not replace), and from the consumer's point of view to be tested for compatibility and provide other services. It is learnt that the test centre in Shenzhen HDMI compatibility testing of the charges are: an output with the source premise equipment 16,200 yuan, with an input device to receive the 22,050 yuan, with an input and output of a relay Equipment for 32,400 yuan.

As for the Chinese manufacturers are generally concerned about the cost, in addition to technology licensing and testing, the HDMI interface chips, according to Steve, the source premise equipment such as DVD, the chip cost about 3 dollars for television, and other terminal Equipment, due to the need for more interface, chip in the cost of three U.S. dollars to between eight U.S. dollars.