HDMI 2.1 Compliance Test Solutions

HDMI 2.1 is Happening Now

The HDMI 2.1 standard has been released since Nov 2017 and every major player in HDMI will need to support it. There are some radical changes in the latest standard such as doubling of the data rate of each data channel to 12 Gbps, introduction of new video transport method (fixed rate link), the new ultra-high-speed Category 3 connector and cable specifications requiring new test regimen, and enhanced audio return channel (eARC) capability. As transmission speeds of HDMI standard continue to increase, validation engineers need a measurement solution with high bandwidth and <25 picosecond rise-time specifications, complete with the right fixture and automation software to perform all the tests quickly and accurately in HDMI Forum CTS (Compliance Test Specification) documents.

Your HDMI test challenges

Is your company ready to bring HDMI 2.1 products to the market? Whether your product is a Blu-ray player, a graphic card, an audio device or a HDMI cable or connector, your first article will need to be compliance tested by an authorized test center (ATC). What is your thought of the turnaround time? Are you confident that your product will pass the first time?

Do you have concerns on having enough test data? How many units do you need to test to know the performance of your design? One, ten or hundreds?

Keysight is here to help. Our superiority in oscilloscope performance, our dominance in authorized test centers, our test time advantages and our experts in the HDMI Forum will help you to confidently test your latest HDMI products and allow you to bring your product to the market faster.

Keysight HDMI 2.1 test solutions at a glance

Keysight’s certified HDMI 2.1 test solutions cover all physical layer compliance tests for source, cable and connector, sink and eARC tests.

Source test

Keysight source test solution is a fully automated test solution that enables the source device to output the required data rates. The Keysight D9021HDMC HDMI Electrical Performance Validation and Compliance Software controls the contents of the EDID/SCDC controller so that the source device is forced to operate at the required data rate. The probe amplifier and probe head are required to terminate the tested and untested lanes into 50 ohms pulled up to 3.3 V. BitifEye switch system can be added to achieve full measurements on the device under test without reconnections. The D9021HDMC compliance test software operates on Keysight’s Infiniium oscilloscope family and provides a complete test execution environment for validating and troubleshooting the electrical performance of HDMI 1.4b and HDMI 2.1 source devices. This software is one of the measurement tools accepted in the methods of implementation (MOI) of HDMI components and is already well-established globally through HDMI ATCs. Offline analysis software is available to double the productivity of your oscilloscope. The Keysight D9021HDMC software performs all the tests as per the HDMI Compliance Test Specifications (CTS 1.4b and 2.1) as documented in the respective base specifications.

Category 3 cable and connector test

Two solutions are available from Keysight for the new Category 3 cable and connecter test.

The M937x PXI Multi-Port VNA supports full 16-port VNA testing. With only one connection, this solution can measure all four differential lanes in 15 minutes. This solution increases the lifetime of system accessories and provides more reliable test results due to fewer operator errors.

The E5080B ENA 4-port VNA is the industry workhorse solution for cable and connecter tests. This solution requires 15 reconnections to measure all four differential lanes and will take approximately 90 minutes to complete the test. The ENA test solution performs all the cable’s S-parameter measurements. From the S-parameters, processing software included inside the instrument calculates a stressed eye diagram.