A DVI/HDMI Interface Using Low Cost FPGAs

By  Mourad Zakhama, Dan Schaffer and Ted Marena Lattice Semiconductor

DVI and HDMI transmit and receive interfaces are usually implemented in ASSPs. This article proposes an alternative solution using an FPGA. Major advantages are that FPGA technology allows a designer to integrate the ASSP SERDES with back-end customizable design-specific functionality, reducing board space and increasing the reliability. Moreover it allows the designer to utilize the latest technology and to benefit from leading edge process technology.

Over the past few years the number of products that have a high definition visual display either incorporated within them, or needing such a display externally, has increased substantially. OEMs are looking to leverage standard flat panel displays and interface technology to lower their costs and offer long term supply solutions. The growth of flat panel display technology in the consumer market has helped consolidate the interface choices and drive down costs. Whereas the first high definition displays used an analog Component Video interface (YCrCb), digital technologies such as DVI (Digital Visual Interface) and more recently HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) have supplanted most analog mediums. DVI requires a bulky connector, has limited support for Digital Rights Management (DRM) and lacks support for single or multi-channel audio.

To satisfy these requirements the HDMI standard evolved, which uses the same basic signaling as DVI, supports a smaller connector, wider bandwidth (1080P resolution) over fewer connectors, DRM and 8 channels of multi-format audio. With the dominance of the DVI and HDMI protocols in the flat panel arena, OEMs are increasingly pursuing their own product developments that incorporate either or both of these technologies…

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