Abstract :
The Digital Visual
Interface (hereinafter DVI) specification provides a high-speed digital
connection for visual data types that is display technology independent. The
interface is primarily focused at providing a connection between a computer and
its display device. The DVI specification meets the needs of all segments of
the PC industry (workstation, desktop, laptop, etc) and will enable these
different segments to unite around one monitor interface specification.
The DVI interface
enables:
1. Content to remain in
the lossless digital domain from creation to consumption
2. Display technology
independence
3. Plug and play
through hot plug detection, EDID and DDC2B
4. Digital and Analog
support in a single connector
Scope and Motivation
The purpose of this
interface specification is to provide an industry specification for a digital
interface between a personal computing device and a display device. This
specification provides for a simple low-cost implementation on both the host
and monitor while allowing for monitor manufacturers and system providers to
add feature rich values as appropriate for their specific application.
The DDWG has worked to
address the various business models and requirements of the industry by
delivering a transition methodology that addresses the needs of those various
requirements. This is accomplished by specifying two connectors with identical mechanical characteristics: one that is digital
only and one that is digital and analog. The combined digital and analog
connector is designed to meet the needs of systems with special form factor or
performance requirements. Having support for the analog and digital interfaces
for the computer to monitor interconnect will allow the end user to simply plug
the display into the DVI connector regardless of the display technology. The
digital only DVI connector is designed to coexist with the standard VGA
connector. With the combined connector or the digital only connector the
opportunity exists for the removal of the legacy VGA connector. The removal of
the legacy VGA connector is anticipated to be driven strictly by business
demands.
A digital interface for
the computer to monitor interconnect has several benefits over the standard VGA
connector. A digital interface ensures all content transferred over this
interface remains in the lossless digital domain from creation to consumption.
The digital interface is developed with no assumption made as to the attached
display technology. This specification completely describes the interface so
that one could implement a complete transmission and interconnect solution or
any portion of the interface. The T.M.D.S. protocol and associated electrical
signaling as developed by Silicon Image is described in detail. The mechanical
specification of the connector and the signal placement within the connector
are described.
A device that is
compliant with this specification is should be interoperable with other
compliant devices through the plug and play configuration and implementation
provided for in this specification. The plug and play interface provides for
hot plug detection and monitor feature detection. Additionally, this
specification describes the number of T.M.D.S. links available to the display
device and the method for configuring the T.M.D.S. links. Additionally the DVI
specification provides for alternate media implementations.
Power management and
plug and play configuration management are both fully described. To ensure
baseline functionality, low-pixel format requirements are included. As
appropriate, this interface makes use of existing Video Electronics Standards
Association (VESA) specifications to allow for simple low-cost implementations.
Specifically VESA Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) and Display Data
Channel (DDC) specifications are referenced for monitor identification and the
VESA Monitor Timing Specification (DMT) is referenced for the monitor timings.
Some new DVD players,
TV sets (including HDTV
sets) and video projectors
have DVI/HDCP (High band width digital content protector) connectors;
these are physically the same as DVI connectors but transmit an encrypted signal
using the HDCP protocol for copyright protection. Computers with DVI video
connectors can use many DVI-equipped HDTV sets as display.
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