Understanding EDID - Extended Display Identification Dataanalog and Digital
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DIGITAL CONNECTION DVI-I Dual Link DVI-D Dual Link DVI-I Single Link DVI-D Single Link analog and digital digital only digital only Understanding EDID - Extended Display Identification Dataanalog and digital DID data exchange is a standardized means for a display to communicate its capabilities to a source device. The Epremise of this communications is for the display to relay its operational characteristics, such as its native resolution, to the attached source, and then allow the source to generate the necessary video characteristics to match the needs of the display. This maximizes the functional compatibility between devices without requiring a user to configure them manually, thus reducing the potential for incorrect settings and adjustments that could compromise the quality of the displayed images and overall reliability of the system. VGA - VESA Where is EDID Utilized? E-DDC host assignment Generally, the source device will be a Prior to the development of EDID, computer graphics card on a desktop pins 4, 11, 12, and 15 on the VGA or laptop PC, but provisions are in connector were sometimes used to place for many other devices, including define monitor capabilities. These ID bit PIN # SIgNAL NAME PIN # SIgNAL NAME pins carried either high or low values to 1 Red HDMI9 DDC 5V supply HDTV receivers and DVRs, DVD and type A Blu-ray Disc players, and even gaming define different screen resolutions. VESA 2 Green 10 Sync return consoles, to read EDID and output video extended this scheme by redefining VGA 3 Blue 11 Monitor ID bit 0 Bi-directional 4 Monitor ID bit 12 accordingly. Originally developed for connector pins 9, 12, and 15 as a serial data (SDA) use between analog computer-video bus in the form of the DDC - Display 5 Return (GND) 13 Horizontal sync devices with VGA ports, EDID is also Data Channel. This allowed for much 6 Red return 14 Vertical sync more information to be exchanged, DisplayPort Data clock now implemented for DVI, HDMI, and 7 Green returnsource-side15 (SCL) DisplayPort. so that EDID and other forms of 8 Blue return communication were possible between History the source and the display. VgA-VESA Pin Assignments EDID was developed by VESA - the Video Electronics Standards The original DDC protocol defined 128 As display types and capabilities Association, with version 1.0 introduced bytes to be sent from the display to increased, 128 bytes became insufficient, in 1994 within version 1.0 of the DDC the video source, with data formatting and both EDID and DDC were extended standard. See Table 1. defined by the EDID specification. so that multiple 128-byte data blocks could be exchanged. This is known as E-EDID and has been implemented in EDID Development History many consumer devices. In fact, the CEA - Consumer Electronics Association EDID Defines the data structures sent from a video display to a source over E-DDC lines to describe its capabilities has defined its own EDID extensions to cover additional video formats and to EDID 1.0 Defined original 128-byte data structure (Deprecated) support advanced multi-channel audio EDID 1.1 Defined some alternative uses for space in data structure capabilities. (Deprecated) EDID 1.2 Defined some alternative uses for space in data structure (Deprecated) In December 2007, VESA released DisplayID, a second generation of EDID. EDID 1.3 Current definitions for 128-byte EDID data fields It is intended to replace all previous EDID 2.0 Introduced new 256-byte data structure versions. DisplayID is a variable length E-EDID Defined optional additional 128-byte extension blocks for EDID data structure, of up to 256 bytes, that 1.3, incorporated EDID 2.0 as optional extensions conveys display-related information to DisplayID Introduced variable length data structure attached source devices. It is meant Table 1: EDID Development History to encompass PC display devices, 10 ExtroNews20.3|Fall2009 DIGITAL CONNECTION DIGITAL CONNECTION consumer televisions, and embedded Address Data general Description displays such as LCD screens within (Decimal) laptops, without the need for multiple 0-7 Header Constant fixed pattern 8-9 Manufacturer ID extension blocks. DisplayID is not directly 10-11 Product ID Code backward compatible with previous EDID/ Display product identification 12-15 Serial Number E-EDID versions, but is not yet widely 16-17 Manufacture Date incorporated in A/V products. 18 EDID Version # EDID version 19 EDID Revision # information What EDID Information is Exchanged 20 Video Input Type Basic display parameters. Video 21 Horizontal Size (cm) input type (analog or digital), Between Display and Source? display size, power management, 22 Vertical Size (cm) The base EDID information of a display sync, color space, and timing 23 Display Gamma capabilities and preferences are is conveyed within a 128-byte data 24 Supported Features reported here. structure that contains pertinent Color space 25-34 Color Characteristics manufacturer and operation-related data. definition See Table 2. The current EDID version 35-36 Established Supported Timings defines the structure as follows: 37 Manufacturer's Reserved Timing 38-53 EDID Standard Timings Supported Timing information for all resolu- 54-71 Detailed Timing Descriptor Block 1 tions supported by the display are Vendor/Product Identification Block – 72-89 Detailed Timing Descriptor Block 2 reported here The first 18 bytes identify the display 90-107 Detailed Timing Descriptor Block 3 manufacturer and product, including serial 108-125 Detailed Timing Descriptor Block 4 Number of (optional) 128-byte number and date of manufacture. 126 Extension Flag extension blocks to follow 127 Checksum EDID Structure Version & Revision – The next two bytes identify the version Table 2: EDID File Structure and revision of the EDID data within the structure. Basic Display Parameters/Features – Standard Timing Identification – The This byte indicates the number of The next five bytes define characteristics next 16 bytes define eight additional additional extension blocks available. such as whether the display accepts video resolutions supported by the Various structures for these extension analog or digital inputs, sync types, display. These resolutions must adhere to blocks have been defined, including maximum horizontal and vertical standard VESA defined timings. DI-EXT - Display Information Extension, size of the display, gamma transfer VTB-EXT - Video Timing Block Extension, characteristics, power management Detailed Timing Descriptions – The and LS-EXT - Localized String Extension. capabilities, color space, and default next 72 bytes are organized into four video timing. 18-byte blocks that describe additional CEA-861 Extension – The most video resolutions in detail, so that prevalent EDID extension is CEA-861, Color Characteristics – The next custom video timings/resolutions can be defined to support advanced capabilities 10 bytes define the RGB color space supported. The first of the four blocks of consumer devices incorporating conversion technique to be used by the is intended to describe the display’s HDMI. display. preferred video timing. The timing data can be structured according to the The general structure of CEA-861 Established Timings – The next three VESA GTF - Generalized Timing Formula extension data is shown in Table 3. bytes define the VESA-established video or CVT - Coordinated Video Timings CEA-861 allows for a variable number of resolutions/timings that are supported standards. 18-byte detailed timing descriptions to by the display. Each bit represents an be included. For example, video timing established timing such as 640x480/60. Extension Flag – EDID versions 1.3 and details for 1080i, which is popular for The last of the three bytes defines the higher allow for additional 128-byte blocks consumer displays but not for PCs, manufacturer’s reserved timing, if any. of data to describe increased capabilities. continued on page 12 www.extron.com 11 DIGITAL CONNECTION Understanding EDID-Extended Display Identification Data — continued can be communicated. CEA-861 I2C bus consists of three wires: SDA - Address general Description also specifies a variable length “CEA data, SCL - clock, and a logic “high” DC (Decimal) Data Block Collection” for describing pull-up voltage. For the DDC, the logic 0 Always “2” parameters such as display colorimetry, “high” voltage is specified to be +5V. 1 Revision number and advanced audio capabilities Pointer to detailed timing 2 including surround sound format, EDID information is typically exchanged descriptors “d” Number of detailed timing audio sampling rate, and even speaker when the video source starts up. The 3 descriptors “n” configuration and placement. The DDC specifications define a +5V supply CEA data block collection significance of the CEA-861 extension connection for the source to provide describing various capabilities is that it aims to address previous power to a display’s EDID circuitry so that 4 to d-1 including colorimetry, audio data rates, number of audio channels, operational disparities experienced communication can be enabled, even and speaker configuration First 18-byte detailed timing with integrating consumer-based if the display is powered off. At startup, d to d+17 descriptor display devices into computer-based the video source will send a request • commercial A/V systems, allowing for for EDID over the DDC. The EDID/DDC • proper conveyance of EDID information specifications support hot plug detection, • between devices. so that EDID information can also be d+18(n-1) to Final 18-byte detailed timing d+18n-1 descriptor exchanged whenever a display is re- d+18n to “0” padding EDID/DDC Protocols connected to a video source. Hot plug 126 The DDC uses a standard serial signaling detection is not supported for VGA, but 127 Checksum scheme known as the I2C bus. I2C is is supported in digital interfaces including Table 3: CEA-861-E EDID Extension used extensively where electronic devices DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort. For these and components need to exchange interfaces, the display device will supply a information, due to its simplicity, low pin voltage on an HPD - Hot Plug Detect pin, it is connected.