HDMI Technology Includes:
HDMI - the basics
HDMI versions
HDMI connectors
Pinout / pin connections
HDMI cables
USB C to HDMI
HDMI & DVI
HDMI switch, splitter & matrix - the differences
HDMI extenders
HDMI repeaters
Essential HDMI products
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The HDMI system has five connector types that are defined for the system: HDMI Type A, C, D & E. Type B, although defined has not been used and therefore it is not described here.
Once defined, the pinout or pin configuration for each HDMI connector type has remained the same, meaning that there are no backwards compatibility issues.
Despite this the different HDMI connector types have different pin configurations which means that care needs to be taken when designing equipment or making cables to make sure that the right pin numbers are used for the different signals.
Fortunately as the different HDMI connector types cannot mate with connectors of a different type, there is no issue with cross connecting them and having signals on the wrong lines.
HDMI type A connector showing the 19 pin formatThe main HDMI connector types include the Type A which is used for most TVs, Type C which is a mini format, a Type D which is a micro format and the Type E which is used for automotive applications and has a retainer and dirt protection.
The Type A HDMI connector is the most widely used. It is the one that is present on most TV sets, recorders, set top boxes and the like. It is the connector that most people associate with HDMI.
The HDMI type A male connector measures 13.9mm × 4.45mm, while the female sockets are fractionally larger because they need to accommodate the male and they measure 14mm × 4.55mm.
Often the backshell for the HDMI type A connector seems to be relatively large for the connector size - this is because of the large number of pin connections required.
The type A connector pinout can be seen to consist of two rows of pins with numbering alternating down the length of the connector so that pins 1 and 2 are at one end and 18 and 19 at the other.
HDMI Connector Pinout Pin connections for Type A HDMI connectorAlthough not all the lines may be used in every applications, all cables incorporate all the lines so that they can be used for any application.
The mini-HDMI connector is not as common as the Type A, but it is often found on items like camcorders, DSLRs and other forms of photographic equipment. Here size is more of an issue and there would not be space for the full type A connector.
HDMI Type C mini plugs measure 10.42mm × 2.42mm - this makes them significantly smaller than the Type A.
The Type C mini-HDMI pinout is quite similar to that of the standard HDMI or Type A. The differences are that all positive signals of the differential pairs are swapped with their corresponding shield, the DDC/CEC Ground is assigned to pin 13 instead of pin 17, the CEC is assigned to pin 14 instead of pin 13, and the reserved pin is 17 instead of pin 14.
A complete pinout for the mini-HDMI is given in the table below.
Pin connections for Type C or mini-HDMI connectorThe micro-HDMI connector is not seen as widely as the Type A or C versions. Nevertheless it is intended for audio visual applications on much smaller electronic devices like smartphones and other similar devices that might need full HDMI capability.
The micro-HDMI is obviously much smaller than the Type A standard HDMI connector, or the Type C mini-HDMI, but it keeps keeps the same number of 19 pins in common with types A and C.
Pin connections for Type D or micro-HDMI connector** description on the pin is shown within brackets.
The pinout or pin configuration for the different HDMI connectors is not often needed for making new connectors as the cables are so freely available, but it may be useful for fault finding, or when designing new equipment.
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As can be seen from the tables above the pin configuration or pinout is different for the different types of HDMI connector. Care needs to be taken that the pinout for the correct connector style is used.
Written by Ian Poole .
Experienced electronics engineer and author.
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If you have a device that produces a video and audio output which is necessary for the operation or the enjoyment of that device, you can either display it via an on-board screen, or send the signal to a separate monitor or display. Sending it will require some type of cable system with integral connectors.
That is a simple way to look at a somewhat complex story that spans many years of interconnect technology development. It begins with the Composite RCA standard for TVs in , moves through S-Video for VCRs and home computers in and VGA for IBM PCs in , and on to Component RCA and DVI in the &#;s. With the exception of DVI, these were all analog cable standards, and the signals carried were either audio or video, but not both. In short, you needed a lot of cables to make things work.
The early history of audio and video connectorsDVI took this a step forward by supporting digital video, but users who wanted to transfer audio and video at the same time still had to use up to five separate cables. It wasn&#;t until the introduction of the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI 1.0) standard in that these multiple cables were integrated into one.
With the introduction of the new standard, HDMI cable and connector acceptance began to grow through a twenty-year period of development that made HDMI one of the most used formats for both home and workplace audio video signal transfer. Shop Same Sky's full range of HDMI connectors.
A dozen updates to the original HDMI standard have been released since offering higher speed, increased bandwidth, better resolution, support for new broadcast formats, and various connector sizes.
The original HDMI 1.0 specification was developed by the HDMI Forum mainly to clean up the mess of cables necessary to move video and audio, along with improving functionality. The specification defined the basic capabilities of a single cable, digital audio and video connector interface system. The technology worked and, according to its creators, &#;continues as the leading digital video, audio and data interface that connects ultra-high-definition displays to a wide range of consumer electronics, PC, mobile, automotive and commercial AV devices. It also has expanded into enabling solutions for industries such as healthcare, military, aerospace, security, surveillance and industrial automation.&#;
The most recent version of the standard is version 2.1, released in November of . It supports a range of higher video resolutions and refresh rates up to 10K. It also supports High Dynamic Range (HDR) formats and bandwidth up to 48Gbps. The actual connector itself, however, is not changed.
Generation HDMI 1.0 HDMI 1.3 HDMI 1.4 HDMI 2.0 HDMI 2.1 Speed 4.5 Gbps 9 Gbps 9 Gbps 18 Gbps 48 Gbps New Features p Deep Color 4K@30FPS & 3D 4K@60FPS Up to 10K, Dynamic HDR, Ethernet, Variable Refresh Rate Initial Release December June May September NovemberAn HDMI cable is composed of several shielded twisted pairs of wire that carry the video signal plus separate conductors for power, ground, and other lower-speed device communication channels. HDMI connectors terminate the cable and connect to the devices being used. Physically, these connectors are trapezoid in shape, with indents on two of the corners to allow for proper alignment when inserted. They are similar in appearance to USB connectors. There are five different types of HDMI connectors:
All of these connectors come in both male and female versions and are either straight or right-angled with horizontal or vertical orientations. Female connectors are most often built into the source device and the receiving device. Adapters and couplers are also available as well as rugged connector versions for harsh environments.
The basic and most popular feature of HDMI connectors and cables is their ability to transmit both audio and video signals with a single cable without degradation. The latest version of the HDMI standard also incorporates features that are matched to the capabilities of the output device. These include:
Other than Type B, the different HDMI connector types each house 19 pins, but the pin configuration for the signals that they carry differs from type to type. This means that within a particular type there is backwards compatibility, but care must be taken when designing or making cables that the right pin numbers are used for the different signals. Since each of the types cannot mate with those of a different type, there are no cross-connecting issues.
HDMI connector pinoutsThe above diagram shows a typical Type A pin configuration. Individual pins can carry either data signals, clock signals, low voltage power, control signals, CEC, or HEC.
HDMI cables are available in several types:
PCB layout using HDMI devices can be critical in order to minimize crosstalk and signal integrity. Care should also be taken with designs using twisted wire pairs. Cables using twisted pairs can also suffer signal loss over distances approaching 50 feet due to attenuation. HDMI extenders can be used to increase this distance up to 300 feet.
HDMI technology is also not well suited to driving multiple devices at the same time. It cannot send multiple signals to separate devices and cannot send surround and stereo audio signals simultaneously.
In theory, any device that sends audio and video signals to another device, like a monitor, can use HDMI technology for the connection. This opens up a broad range of applications and uses, from consumer devices to business and industrial systems. Some of the current applications for HDMI include, but are not limited to:
HDMI connection technology is excellent for reducing cable clutter and complexity in systems generating high quality and high bandwidth audio and video signals at the same time. Changes in the standard over the years have allowed for improved data transfer speed and bandwidth and have added significant features, like Ethernet. The connectors and cable that make up this system are currently found on devices and systems used in home entertainment, workplace communications and the commercial and industrial markets. The HDMI interconnection format is currently one of the most popular and widely-used means to carry high-quality AV signals between a source device and a display.
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