DVI to HDMI with Audio

I´m planning to use Beagleboard as a HD video setupbox,
To do this I think it´s missing a real HDMI interface, considering it
have a DVI digital portion in a HDMI connector format. Is it possible
to plan and deploy and enhacement using the same approach others, like
ATI and NVidia, are doing with their medium to high end video cards
having a DVI with Audio into an HDMI interface ?

Extracted from Wikipedia
DVI to HDMI
Unlike HDMI, DVI usually carries no audio data in its TMDS channel.
However, as DVI is for the most part compatible with HDMI (see
Compatibility with DVI), it is just as possible to support including
audio data by incorporating the audio in the TMDS signal. Because DVI
displays typically have no sound capabilities, a DVI to HDMI adapter/
cable can then be used to connect the device to an HDMI display. For
instance, this feature allows PCs to send audiovisual data to a high
definition television. It is increasingly found on modern computer
graphics cards (e.g. cards by Nvidia[2] and ATI[3]) and certain
motherboards with integrated graphics.

You can use the LCD interface along with the McBSP on the expansion connector for audio to do this. Having done such a design myself, while it is technically not that difficult, there are issues. To get your hands on a HDMI framer, you must sign an NDA with the companies that supply them. Then to use it you must pay a license fee. If this is just for your use, getting samples of these devices won’t be easy. If this is for an actual product, the task might be easier. I have not looked, but there may be some devices out there that take DVI-D and analog audio to HDMI.

Gerald

Gerald Coley <gerald@beagleboard.org> writes:

You can use the LCD interface along with the McBSP on the expansion
connector for audio to do this. Having done such a design myself, while it
is technically not that difficult, there are issues. To get your hands on a
HDMI framer, you must sign an NDA with the companies that supply them. Then
to use it you must pay a license fee. If this is just for your use, getting
samples of these devices won't be easy. If this is for an actual product,
the task might be easier. I have not looked, but there may be some devices
out there that take DVI-D and analog audio to HDMI.

Is it any easier/cheaper if you don't need HDCP?

It is MUCH easier. That is the reason fo rthe NDA and license. DVI-D is the digital component of HDMI, so from a display standpoint, you are already there. As to the digial audio, I think there are SPDIF converters out there, but I don’t see it improving the quality of the audio unless you are full digital. Most Displays that have HDMI also have sperate audio input. So in reality, th ecapability is laready there to drive a HDMI display, just via a different path for the audio.

Gerald

2009/8/19 Måns Rullgård <mans@mansr.com>

Gerald Coley <gerald@beagleboard.org> writes: