NXP brings HDMI 1.4 to mobile phones

SINGAPORE: NXP Semiconductors announced a new HDMI 1.4 transmitter solution, TDA19989, which enables consumers to transfer HD multimedia content from their mobile phones directly to a television via the TV remote control.

The TDA19989 features ultra-low power consumption, a small form factor, and support of full HD (1080i/p). The device supports the newly introduced HDMI 1.4 Type D micro-connector and provides an additional embedded Consumer Electronic Control feature, which enables users to control their mobile phones through their TV remotes.

With the explosion of high-definition (HD) multimedia content, it is common for devices to support 10M pixels+ camera sensors. HD content support is becoming one of the major criteria when selecting a mobile phone or electronic devices.

In addition, with over 90 percent HDMI attachment rate on TV, the integration of HDMI on PC platforms, and the wide adoption on HD digital camcorders and cameras, HDMI is the “must-have” HD video and audio interface that enables 100 percent interoperability for portable companions with displays.

“With its tiny footprint and support for the newly introduced HDMI 1.4 Type D micro-connector, the TDA19989 HDMI transmitter is the ideal solution for bringing the HDMI interface to mobile phones. Broad market support for full HD makes it easier to transfer content with no loss from a mobile phone to a television display,” said Patrick Lejoly, marketing and system architecture manager, Product Line Media Interfaces, NXP Semiconductors.

“NXP has also reduced the HDMI low-power transmitter budget to sub-100mW, allowing for more than 7 hours’ HD video streaming on battery via HDMI. In addition, the introduction of this new interface is a key element for Open Source developers to leverage HD availability on mobile phones.”

To further reduce BOM cost and ease of design, the TDA 19989 provides additional embedded features such as CEC (Consumer Electronic Control). This feature eliminates the need of any additional device to handle CEC and enables CEC-connected devices to be controlled by only one remote control.

NXP worked on a Zoom OMAP34x-II mobile development platform (MDP) from Texas Instruments (TI) to demonstrate the Consumer Electronic Control (CEC) feature. The Zoom OMAP34x-II MDP is based on TI’s proven OMAP3430 applications processor.

Fred Cohen, director of the OMAP wireless ecosystem at TI, said: “The CEC feature takes ease of use to the next level by allowing the control of portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, through existing TV remote controls. Sitting on a couch, for example, a user can play, stop or fast forward a movie on an HD phone connected through HDMI to an HD TV. This capability brings new use cases to the mobile market, and helps consumers connect to their phones and other consumer electronic devices in a whole new way.”