Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNPS)
, a world leader in software and IP for semiconductor design, verification and
manufacturing, today announced the availability of high-quality DesignWare®
High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI(TM)) 1.4 transmitter (Tx) and receiver
(Rx) digital controllers and PHY IP solutions that are compliant to the standard
specification.
With full support for new features of the HDMI 1.4 specification including
HEAC 3D formats, real-time content signaling, 4K x 2K resolution and 10.2 Gbps
aggregate bandwidth, the DesignWare HDMI IP enables designers to quickly incorporate
differentiated functionality into their digital TV (DTV) and home theater applications
with less risk and improved time-to-market.
With designers incorporating networking capabilities in next-generation home
entertainment devices, the HEAC block in the DesignWare HDMI 1.4 solution helps
simplify the connectivity between internet-enabled digital home devices by enabling
the transfer of Ethernet and audio frames through a single HDMI cable. The DesignWare
IP for HDMI 1.4 also incorporates all 3D formats, which allows device manufacturers
to heighten the viewing experience by supporting 3D techniques such as full
side-by-side, half side-by-side and frame alternative. The real-time content
signaling capability enables televisions to automatically optimize the picture
setting with no user intervention. Support for 4K x 2K resolution delivers up
to four times the resolution of 1080p, providing the same resolution as state-of-the-art
digital cinema systems.
"With a strong focus on innovation, DisplayLink continues to incorporate
the latest technologies into our leading network display products," said
Jonathan Jeacocke, vice president of engineering at DisplayLink. "When
we wanted to incorporate HDMI IP into our SoC, we turned to Synopsys to provide
us with a silicon-proven IP solution that had all the required features. We
knew that Synopsys, a trusted IP vendor, would be there to not only provide
us with a high-quality product, but also the expert technical support if and
when we needed it."
The DesignWare HDMI IP solution includes a comprehensive set of IP deliverables
including baseline software drivers for system development, which help designers
quickly embed this complex interface into next-generation multimedia system-on-chips
(SoCs). Furthermore, the solution provides the following:
- Compliance with HDMI and HDCP specifications with certification from
the NXP HDMI authorized testing center and successful interoperability
results from HDCP plugfest events.
- A superior analog front end that supports up to 20 foot category
2-certified HDMI cables, while maintaining high performance.
- Digital controllers delivered in configurable RTL allow designers to
optimize gate count and power consumption by choosing only the
features required in their application.
- PHY offering low power consumption and small die area.
- Numerous optional features such as HDCP encryption engine, audio
formats, audio DMA engine and system-bus interfaces which help ease
the integration effort.
- System validation based on the Synopsys Confirma TM HAPS-51 rapid
prototyping platform.
"HDMI is a rapidly evolving standard that continues to revolutionize digital
home theater systems and other portable multimedia devices," said John
Koeter, vice president of marketing for the Solutions Group at Synopsys. "Synopsys'
DesignWare HDMI IP solutions have been adopted by major OEMs, semiconductor
companies, IDMs and foundries worldwide. The availability of the DesignWare
HDMI 1.4 digital controller and PHY IP further enables SoC designers and system
integrators to introduce the latest features to the market rapidly and with
less risk."