Aug/090
HDMI Type D (Micro) connector
Molex Inc. has introduced the next generation HDMI* Type D (Micro) connector, recently announced by the HDMI Licensing Committee, to meet the digital interface requirements of consumer electronic products.
The HDMI Type D (Micro) connector is the industry’s first miniaturised connector solution for delivering high definition video and images from mobile devices to flat panel screens. The connector, which meets all the electrical and mechanical specifications of the HDMI Specification 1.4, will provide significant benefits to the digital still camera and mobile device markets.
The HDMI Type D connector standard was developed by the HDMI Consortium. As an integral part of this team for the HDMI Type D concept, Molex was responsible for proposing the connector design and connector specification.
“The new HDMI Type D Micro Connector is designed to meet the needs of portable devices by providing these products with a fully functioning, smaller 19-pin connector. We are pleased to see companies like Molex leading the way by providing the market with these new, innovative HDMI solutions,” says Steve Venuti, president of HDMI Licensing, LLC.
The new Type D (Micro) connector is abouthalf the size of the current Type C (Mini)HDMI connector on the market today. Despite its smaller size, the new Type D version delivers equivalent mechanical strength and electrical characteristics. Mobile phone and consumer manufacturers have expressed strong interest in this new technology that will enable users to display higher definition video, photos and other content from their mobile devices onto full-size flat panel TV screens.
“In addition to our recent Emmy® Award win for the HDMI Type A connector, our next generation Type D connector is further evidence of Molex’s leadership in innovative I/O technology development,” said Scott Sommers, group manager, new product development, Molex Incorporated. “Molex continues to drive market innovation with the world’s smallest I/O connector, providing consumers with higher definition video and images.”
Jul/090
Mini HDMI ( HDMI Type D) cables on the way
Several companies have prototyped miniature High Definition Multimedia Interface cables, bringing the size near or below that of USB.
The smallest cable, developed by US-based Molex Inc., uses the same 19-pin connection as existing HDMI cables but in roughly half the size, Nikkei Electronics Asia reports. Japan’s Yakazi Corp. and an unnamed third firm have also created prototypes. Meanwhile, Japan Aviation Electronics Industry is working a larger HDMI connector for cars.
All these cables are based on the next HDMI standard, due for release this quarter with products hitting the market in the second half of the year. Smaller connectors retain the 19-pin design of their predecessors, ensuring backwards compatibility.
Molex’s cable uses a type D connector that’s about the same size as a Micro USB connector. The small size suggests that we could see more HDMI outputs coming from mobile devices, such as smartphones. As a reader in our forums noted, this opens the door for easy HD video feeds from phone to TV.
I hope this development leads to that sort of implementation. Being able to plug a phone into a TV to watch all of its stored content is just what downloadable HD video needs to really take off. Something tells me content producers wouldn’t like this, because it’s just another way to circumvent traditional television, but it’s worth a shot.