HDMI

High-Definition Multimedia Interface, commonly known as HDMI, is a digital audio/video connectivity interface that supports transmitting uncompressed streams, high definition audio or video, or both. The HDMI standard is also compatible with the High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) digital rights management technology. This allows for playback of digital rights enabled audio/video content to be played back without any glitches.

The HDMI interface also provides a connectivity interface between any compatible digital audio/video source like set-top boxes, HDMI enabled DVD players, PC or even Apple Mac, next-generation video game consoles, an AV receiver unit and a compatible digital audio and/or video monitor such as a digital television (DTV). The standard has been developed for replacing the ageing analogue connectivity standards like RF (coaxial cable), composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video and VGA. It is also aimed at replacing consumer electronics digital standards such as DVI (DVI-D and DVI-I). Amongst the computing arena, HDMI is fast gaining acceptance by numerous hardware and peripheral manufacturers and even next-generation video/graphics acceleration cards.

HDMI standard is capable of carrying any TV/PC video format like standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio over a single cable. The standard also supports transmitting uncompressed 8-channel digital audio at 192 kHz sample rate with 24 bits/sample. There are numerous versions (1.0 to 1.3) of HDMI released over the past few years. Although, the connectivity interface and cable structure remains the same, each successive version allows for increased throughput and/or capabilities for transmitting different digital content. Numerous DVI to HDMI connectors are available for interconnecting devices featuring either of the two standards.