Tektronix Provides HDMI Version 1.3 Test Solution

BEAVERTON, Ore. - Sept. 27 - Tektronix, Inc., a leading worldwide provider of test, measurement and monitoring instrumentation, announced the availability of its second generation integrated sink, source and cable test solution for the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) V1.3 including 1080P, deep color formats and new test requirements up to 3.4 Gb/s. HDMI is a high-speed serial data interface between any audio/video source, such as a set-top box, DVD player, next generation gaming console or A/V receiver and an audio and/or video monitor, such as a digital television (DTV), over a single cable. Tektronix is demonstrating the total test solution at the CEA 861/HDCP PlugFest7 this week in Milpitas, California. It will be also demonstrated at the Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies (CEATEC) in Japan starting October 3, 2006.

The complete test solution for HDMI 1.3 includes high-performance hardware and comprehensive software for design and test engineers in consumer electronics, semiconductor and cable manufacturers. Key elements of the V1.3 test solution include the new DPO70804 real-time oscilloscope with a new version of TDSHT3 HDMI compliance test software, new AWG7000 arbitrary waveform generator released this week, TDS8200B sampling oscilloscope for time domain reflectometry (TDR) with IConnect software for serial data network analysis, DTG5334 data timing generator, and new HDMI test fixtures from Efficere Technologies.

As the market for HDMI accelerates, designers need an automated standards compliance test system such as that provided by Tektronix to rapidly improve and validate HDMI designs. According to the HDMI standard organization, new high-definition DVD formats (HD-DVD and Blu-ray) and game machines (including the Sony PLAYSTATION(R) 3) will make use of capabilities added in HDMI 1.3. Digital televisions will be able to present images that are closer to real life than previously has been possible. These will include LCD TVs, plasma displays and rear projection TV. The PS3 is expected to be the first source product to provide such high quality imagery to these displays. It is expected that hi-def DVD players will follow early in 2007 with HDMI 1.3 support. A/V Receivers that can decode DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD will start to show up early in 2007 as well.

"Tektronix is the leading provider of serial data test solutions and the pioneer of compliance testing for HDMI," said Gary Richmond, Manager of Technology Solutions, Instruments Business, Tektronix, Inc. "Tektronix has been the sole provider of compliance test equipment for the industry meeting the requirements of the HDMI compliance test specification (CTS) through V1.2a. While other vendors are just now putting together their first HDMI test offering, Tektronix is raising the bar yet again with this second generation test solution. Tektronix is committed to providing engineers the industry- leading serial data test capabilities to speed their HDMI 1.3 tests and improve time to market."

New 3rd Generation HDMI Test Capabilities
Tektronix is also demonstrating at the CEA 861HDCP PlugFest7 a third generation HDMI test capability featuring a breakthrough methodology for receiver test based on direct analog synthesis of impaired waveforms at full data rates with the new AWG7000 Series arbitrary waveform generator. This methodology offers the ultimate in flexibility of waveform creation, the lowest cost of test, and more precise repeatability from test station to test station than other solutions that use complex collections of signal generation boxes and modules. Direct synthesis can emulate all forms of channel impairments with the same hardware and even provides capability to pre- compensate for losses in the overall test setup and cabling, something no digital signal generation product can do. Direct synthesis will eliminate the need for expensive and difficult to obtain cable emulators.

About Tektronix
Tektronix is a leading supplier of test, measurement, and monitoring products, solutions and services for the communications, computer, and semiconductor industries -- as well as military/aerospace, consumer electronics, education and a broad range of other industries worldwide. With 60 years of experience, Tektronix enables its customers to design, build, deploy, and manage next-generation global communications networks, advanced and pervasive technologies. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Tektronix has operations in 19 countries worldwide. Tektronix' Web address is www.tektronix.com .