HDMI 1.0 to HDMI 2.1: Specification Evolution

■HDMI 1.0

Support for Blue-ray and all high-rise 1080/60HZ

HDMI 1.0 was published on 9 December 2002 as a single-line digital audio/video connector interface. The link structure is based on DVI and uses exactly the same video transmission format, but sends audio and other supporting data during the interval between the stream. HDMI 1.0 allows a maximum TMDS clock of 165 MHz (with a bandwidth of 4.95 Gbit/s per link), the same as DVI. It defines two connectors called Type A and Type B, which use single-chain DVI-D and double-chain DVI-D connectors, respectively, although Type B connectors have never been used for any commercial product. HDMI 1.0 uses 8 b / 10 b coded video transmissions to give 3.96 Gbit/s video bandwidth (1920 x 1080 or 1920 x 1080 60 Hz) and 8 channel LPCM/ 192 kHz/24-bit audio. HDMI 1.0 requests support for the RGB video, with options Y'CBCR 4:4 and 4:2 (forcibly if equipment supports Y'CBCR other interfaces). Colour depth 10 bpc (30 bits/pixels) or 12 bpc (36 bits/pixels) allows the use of 4:2:2 subsamling, but only 8 bpc (24 bits/pixels) allows the use of RGB or Y'CBCR 4:4. Only Rec. 601 and Rec. 709 colour spaces are supported. HDMI 1.0 allows only specific predefined video formats, including all formats defined in EIA/CEA-861-B, as well as some other formats listed in HDMI specifications themselves. All HDMI sources/receivers must also be able to send/receiv the DVI video, which is a single link to the machine, and fully meets the DVI specifications.

The earliest version of HDMI, launched in December 2002, may be described as a full-scale high-resolution software such as Blu-ray for the year, the largest feature of which is the simultaneous integration of video and audio transmissions, which are more suitable for audio and video devices than the DVI, DisplayPort pure image transfer interface on the computer, where HDMI 1.0 already supports DVD and Blu-ray video, with a maximum frequency width of 4.95 Gbps, of which 3.96 Gbps are used to transmit video streams that support 1080/60p or UXGA resolution; The audio-supported LPCM 24bit/192kHz, in other words, the multi-channel Hi-Res, which compares the cable specifications over the same period, is quite strong.

■HDMI 1.1

HDMI 1.1 was published on 20 May 2004, increasing support for DVD-Audio

Support for DVD-Audio was added in May 2004. DVD-Audio stores 16bit/44.1kHz to 24bit/192kHz music in DVD-Audio as a follow-up to the SCD format, but unfortunately neither format is universal.

■HDMI 1.2

Support SACD

Launched in August 2005, support for 1-bit audio, or SCD audio stream was added to support up to eight channels. DMI CEC can easily control all compatible devices by remote control.

HDMI 1.2 was launched on 8 August 2005 with the addition of a bit audio option for super audio cd, up to eight channels. In order to make HDMI more suitable for use on PC equipment, version 1.2 also eliminates the requirement to use only visible support formats. It increases the ability of manufacturers to create supplier-specific formats, allowing for arbitrary resolution and refreshing speeds, not limited to predefined support format lists. In addition, it added visible support for some new formats, including 720 p in 100 and 120 HZ and relaxed pixel support needs, so that only local RGB output sources (PC) would not be required to support Y'CBCR outputs.

■HDMI 1.2a

Compatible CEC Multiple Devices Control

HDMI 1.2a was published on 14 December 2005 and fully designated the Consumer Electronic Control (EC) feature, the command set and the CEC compliance test.

A small version of HDMI 1.2, launched in December of the same year, supports all CEC (Consumer Electronic Control) features, so that compatible devices can be connected to HDMI with one remote control.

■HDMI 1.3

Increase bandwidth to 10.2 Gbps, support Deep Color and high-resolution streams

A major adaptation, launched in June 2006, increased the bandwidth to 10.2 Gbps to support xvYCC, sRGB or DeepColor technologies for 30bit, 36bit and 48bit. In addition, the flow of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA is supported, which can be decoded by the Blue-ray machine through the HDMI stream to the support machine, followed by only minor changes in HDMI 1.3a, 1.3b, 1.3b1 and 1.3c.

■HDMI 1.4a、1.4b

Add a minor 3D modification

The 3D boom that has been carried out by Avatar continued, so small adaptations of HDMI 1.4a and 1.4b were launched in March 2010 and October 2011 respectively, mainly for 3D, such as two additional 3D formats for broadcasting, 3D images supporting 1080/120p, etc.

■HDMI 2.0

True 4K version, bandwidth to 18 Gbps

HDMI 2.0, launched in September 2013, is also known as “HDMI UHD” and although HDMI 1.4 already supports 4K video, only the lower specification of 30p is supported. HDMI 2.0 increases the bandwidth from 10.2 Gbps to 18 Gbps to support 4K/60p video, compatible with Rec. 2020 dark. This version of the HDMI is used for a number of devices, including television, the projector and the Blue-ray machine.

■HDMI 2.0a

Support for HDR

A small version of the HDMI 2.0 was launched in April 2015 with HDR support. This version will be used by most of the new generation of HDR-supported televisions and will also have HDMI 2.0a terminals in the new HUD Blue-ray machine. The HDMI 2.0b was then added to the HDR format for this broadcast, Hybrid Log-Gamma, by a specification that originally supported HDR10.

HDMI 2.1 Increase bandwidth to 48Gbps.

■HDMI 2.1

Support 8K/60Hz, 4K/120Hz video, Dynamic HDR (Dynamic HDR)

The latest version of HDMI, launched in January 2017, has been significantly increased to 48Gbps, which can support images up to 7,680 x 4,320/60Hz (8K/60p), or 4K/120Hz with a higher frame rate. HDMI 2.1 will continue to design back-to-back HDMI A, C and D plugs. And the new Dynamic HDR technology is supported, and the "dynamic " HDRs can further increase the contrast to the dark-level expression of light, as compared to the current "static" HDRs. On the sound side, HDMI 2.1 supports new eARC technologies, which can be returned to the object-based audio of Dolby Atmos and others compared to the existing ARC (Audio Return Channel).

HDMI Alternate Mode for USB Type-C

The USB-C HDMI replacement model allows the HDMI support source using the USB-C connector to connect directly to the standard HDMI display device instead of the adaptor. [176] The standard was issued in September 2016 and supports all HDMI 1.4b properties, such as the video resolution of ultra-high resolution 30 Hz and consumer electronic control (CEC). Prior to this, similar alternative modes of showing ports could be used to connect from USB Type-C sources to the HDMI monitor, but in this case, conversion from the display port to the HDMI active adapter is required, and the HDMI alternative mode is directly connected to the monitor.