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HDMI Licensing announced the release of HDMI specification version 1.4a that features key enhancements for 3D applications including the addition of mandatory 3D formats for broadcast content as well as the addition of the 3D format referred to as Top-and-Bottom.According to the licensing group, the latest HDMI Specification adds key enhancements to support the market requirements for bringing broadcast 3D content into the home. It includes the addition of Top-and-Bottom to the Specification and the addition of two mandatory formats for broadcast content (Side-by-Side Horizontal and Top-and-Bottom).
With the addition of these two mandatory formats, the HDMI Specification Version 1.4a provides a level of interoperability for devices designed to deliver 3D content over the HDMI connection.
The mandatory 3D formats are:
For movie content:
Frame Packing: 1080p @ 23.98/24Hz
For game content:
Frame Packing: 720p @ 50 or 59.94/60Hz
For broadcast content:
Side-by-Side Horizontal: 1080i @ 50 or 59.94/60Hz
Top-and-Bottom: 720p @ 50 or 59.94/60Hz or 1080p @ 23.97/24Hz
HDMI Licensing has also added that implementing the mandatory formats of the HDMI Specification “facilitates interoperability among devices, allowing devices to speak a common 3D language when transmitting and receiving 3D content.”
The mandatory requirements for devices implementing 3D formats are:
Displays – must support all mandatory formats.
Sources – must support at least one mandatory format.
Repeaters – must be able to pass through all mandatory formats.
President of HDMI Licensing, Steve Venuti said, “We published these latest enhancements to support the market need for broadcast 3D content. When we launched 1.4 in June of 2009, we deferred the selection of mandatory 3D format(s) for broadcast content until the market direction was more clearly defined. The market has spoken and the HDMI Consortium has listened and responded to accommodate those market needs.”
HDMI Adopters will have 90 days from the publication of the Specification Version 1.4a to build and sell products that are compliant with 1.4a as well as pass the CTS Version 1.4a. This also applies to legacy set-top boxes that may have upgraded to use Specification Version 1.4 signalling.
