MHL Data Converter for HDMI Receivers

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional HDMI receivers require a dedicated MHL media access control (MAC) circuit in addition to the HDMI MAC circuit, increasing chip area and production cost when receiving MHL data.

Innovation Solution

A Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) data converter that includes a data decoding circuit to decode input data according to the MHL specification and a data parsing circuit to parse out output data, allowing HDMI receivers to process MHL data without the need for additional hardware, using control periods and guard bands to identify data boundaries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a dedicated MHL MAC circuit is added to the HDMI receiver, then MHL data reception capability is improved, but chip area and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMHL data reception capabilityVSAvoidchip area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The HDMI MAC circuit is designed to perform both conventional HDMI data reception and MHL data reception functions. By making the MAC circuit universal, the patent eliminates the need for a separate dedicated MHL MAC circuit, thus maintaining MHL compatibility while avoiding additional hardware costs and chip area consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the MHL data reception functionality into the existing HDMI MAC circuit. The data decoding circuit and data parsing circuit are integrated with the HDMI MAC circuit, combining multiple functions into a single unified circuit structure, which reduces overall device complexity and component count.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a dedicated MHL MAC circuit is added to the HDMI receiver, then MHL data reception capability is improved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMHL data reception capabilityVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The HDMI MAC circuit is designed to perform both conventional HDMI data reception and MHL data reception functions. By making the MAC circuit universal, the patent eliminates the need for a separate dedicated MHL MAC circuit, thus maintaining MHL compatibility while avoiding additional hardware costs and chip area consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the MHL data reception functionality into the existing HDMI MAC circuit. The data decoding circuit and data parsing circuit are integrated with the HDMI MAC circuit, combining multiple functions into a single unified circuit structure, which reduces overall device complexity and component count.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9521359B2Mobile high-definition link data converter and mobile high-definition link data converting method

Publication Date: 2016.12.13 REALTEK SEMICON CORP

AI summary

An exemplary Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) data converter includes: a data decoding circuit, arranged for decoding an input data according to an MHL specification, and outputting a decoded data; and a data parsing circuit, coupled to the data decoding circuit, arranged for parsing out a plurality of output data from the decoded data. An MHL data converting method includes: decoding an input data according to an MHL specification, and outputting a decoded data; and parsing out a plurality of output data from the decoded data.