Audio Video News

Last week Broadcom, Genesis Microchip, and Texas Instruments announced the introduction of what they describe as a cross-platform digital interconnect standard for the consumer electronics industry and an extension of the Digital Visual Interface (DVI) version 1.0. The companies say that this new standard encompasses the necessary requirements for a "superior digital interconnect technology" used in a variety of consumer electronics such as DVD players, high definition television, and digital set-top boxes.

The companies say that their new consumer electronics extension maintains backwards compatibility with the current DVI 1.0 standard and is designed for a wider range of use by allowing both digital video and audio transmission over the same cable while permitting the use of cost-efficient connectors.

To encourage widespread adoption of the standard, the companies believe the consumer electronics extension of DVI 1.0 should be royalty-free. The extension has already been released to the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG) and the companies say they are planning to make presentations to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), DVD Forum and other key consumer electronics trade organizations.

Ultimately, the group feels that the extension proposal can unify the industry behind "one, technically superior, secure, easy-to-use digital interface solution." TI's C. C. Chen says that his company believes that the open specification will "increase supply options for manufacturers wanting to use this new DVI technology, and will help to decrease risk and system costs as well." Genesis' Anders Frisk adds, "It would be really exciting to see the industry gather around this open specification, enabling high definition video and cinema-quality surround audio over a single cable."