Can Silicon Image extend its HDMI success to handsets?

Tag : silicon materials

Just when you thought the industry had settled on which digitalinterface to use whereHDMI for HDTV, USB for cameras andphonesHDMI chip leader Silicon Image Inc. is looking to upend theconventional wisdom.

In an ambitious move to extend its HDMI dominance to the mobileworld, Silicon Image today will announce a dual-mode, HDMI/MHLsolution that promises to reduce the bill of materials, powerconsumption and time-to-market for interfacing handsets to digitalTVs. The company is pushing its proprietary MHL (mobilehigh-definition link) interface as a smaller-form-factor option toHDMI.

MHL was developed to ease mobile devices' digital TV connectivity,offering a "reduction in I/O, cable and connector size," accordingto a Silicon Image statement.

MHL promises to bring the number of system-on-chip (SoC)audio/video I/Os down to five from the 19 currently needed forHDMI.