AJA HDP User Manual

HDP

HD-SDI/SDI To DVI-D

and Audio Converter

User Manual

April 6, 2007 P/N 101657

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Trademarks

AJA, Io, and Kona are trademarks of AJA Video, Inc. DVI is a registered trademark of DDWG.
E-DDC and E-EDID are registered trademarks of VESA. All other trademarks are the property of
their respective holders.

Notice

Copyright © 2006 AJA Video, Inc. All rights reserved. All information in this manual is subject to
change without notice. No part of the document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form,
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, without the
express written permission of AJA Inc.

FCC Emission Information

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful
interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by AJA Video can effect emission compliance
and could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.

Contacting Support

Limited Warranty

To contact AJA Video for sales or support, use any of the following methods:

443 Crown Point Circle, Grass Valley, CA. 95945 USA

Telephone: [phone] or 530.274.2048
Fax: [phone]

Web: http://www.aja.com
Support Email: [e-mail]
Sales Email: [e-mail]

When calling for support, have all information on the product (serial number etc.) at hand prior to
calling.

AJA Video warrants that this product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of five years from
the date of purchase. If a product proves to be defective during this warranty period, AJA Video, at its option, will either
repair the defective product without charge for parts and labor, or will provide a replacement in exchange for the defective
product.

In order to obtain service under this warranty, you the Customer, must notify AJA Video of the defect before the expiration
of the warranty period and make suitable arrangements for the performance of service. The Customer shall be responsible
for packaging and shipping the defective product to a designated service center nominated by AJA Video, with shipping
charges prepaid. AJA Video shall pay for the return of the product to the Customer if the shipment is to a location within
the country in which the AJA Video service center is located. Customer shall be responsible for paying all shipping charges,
insurance, duties, taxes, and any other charges for products returned to any other locations.

This warranty shall not apply to any defect, failure or damage caused by improper use or improper or inadequate
maintenance and care. AJA Video shall not be obligated to furnish service under this warranty a) to repair damage resulting
from attempts by personnel other than AJA Video representatives to install, repair or service the product, b) to repair
damage resulting from improper use or connection to incompatible equipment, c) to repair any damage or malfunction
caused by the use of non-AJA Video parts or supplies, or d) to service a product that has been modified or integrated with
other products when the effect of such a modification or integration increases the time or difficulty of servicing the
product.

THIS WARRANTY IS GIVEN BY AJA VIDEO IN LIEU OF ANY OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED. AJA VIDEO AND ITS VENDORS DISCLAIM ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. AJA VIDEO’S RESPONSIBILITY TO
REPAIR OR REPLACE DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS IS THE WHOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY PROVIDED TO
THE CUSTOMER FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER AJA VIDEO OR THE VENDOR HAS ADVANCE NOTICE OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

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Introduction

AJA HDP HD-SDI/SDI to DVI-D and Audio Converter User Manual — Introduction

The HDP is a miniature HD-SDI/SDI to DVI-D converter for LCD or Plasma
monitors. Using a very high quality scaling engine, the HDP will automatically size
4 x 3 or 16 x 9 inputs to many DVI-D monitors. For appropriate monitor
configurations, scaling is automatically 1 to 1—for example, displaying 1920 x 1080
video on a WUXGA (1920x1200) monitor. The HDP will also automatically adapt
the input frame rate for monitor compatibility. In addition, the HDP provides 2
channel RCA style audio monitoring and 2 looping outputs of the SDI inputs.

The HDP is designed for use as a general monitoring device, perfect for use in
applications such as:

General post-production reference monitoring

Client monitoring

Presentation

Projection

Corporate displays

Kiosk applications

...and much, much more!

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Features

The scaling engine in the HDP makes it a simple and effective way to get full-screen
images from a myriad of SD and HD sources.

Note:

as color-correction, etc. We recommend professional/broadcast grade monitors for
such critical applications.

The HDP is not intended as a critical viewing device, for applications such

Converts HD-SDI/SDI to DVI-D for LCD/Plasma monitors

Automatically adapts to most LCD monitors up to 1920 x 1200

High quality scaling engine for proper display of 4 x 3 or 16 x 9 content

Scaling is 1 to 1 for appropriate user-selectable monitor configurations

2 channel “RCA-Jack” audio output

2 HD-SDI/SDI looping outputs

Flexible 5-18V power supply

External Dipswitch Configuration

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About Monitor Compatibility

The HDP is designed to work with most DVI-D monitors. The HDP uses the industry
standard EDID communication protocol (within the DVI link) to communicate with
the monitor, and then adjust the DIP’s internal scaling engine to scale the input video
to the native resolution of the monitor. However, due to the hundreds of variations of
DVI formats currently in use, proper operation with all monitors cannot be
guaranteed.

The HDP has 2 modes of operation that occur automatically, depending on what
monitor it is attached to: Recommended Monitor Mode and VESA Mode.

Recommended Monitor mode

For recommended monitors, there is custom firmware that will provide an accurate
frame-locked image for all supported SDI and HD-SDI input formats. The HDP
automatically determines the monitor it is connected to.

Recommended Monitors

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Apple 23" HD Cinema, model M9178LL/A (aluminum bezel)

Sony 23", model SDM-P234

Viewsonic VP231wb

Dell 2405FPW

Barco LC-42 (supported on HDP serial numbers H05019 or higher)

Barco LC-47 (supported on HDP serial numbers H05019 or higher)

Westinghouse LVM-37wl

Automatic 1080p Support

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Monitors that report 1920x1080 in their “Prefered Timing Mode” section of EDID
readback will receive a 1920x1080p signal from the HDP.

Manual 1080p Support

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The HDP can be configured manually for 1080p. This is discussed under “User
Controls” later in this manual.

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Many manufacturers claim to display 1080p50 or 1080p60. This is often misleading.
While it is true that the image they present is at 1080p50 or 1080p60, this does not
necessarily mean that the DVI input will accept a 1080p50 or 1080p60 signal. The
Recommended monitors

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noted here (Barco LC-43, LC47, and Westinghouse

LVM-37wl) are known to accept 1080p at 50/59.94/60Hz.

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Video Scaling

AJA HDP HD-SDI/SDI to DVI-D and Audio Converter User Manual — Video Scaling

VESA Mode

For DVI-D monitors not on the recommended list, the HDP will use standard VESA timing
based on the particular monitors “preferred timing”—as determined by the EDID
communication with the monitor. Because VESA timing standards are not based on video
formats, the HDP cannot frame lock to the input video and will operate like a frame
synchronizer - it will frame rate convert by adding or dropping frames as needed. If a
particular monitor reports a preferred timing mode that is not supported by the HDP, the
HDP will default to standard XGA (1024 x 768 60Hz) timing.

Monitors tested for Compatibility in VESA Mode:

HP HPL2335

Samsung 170T

Samsung 213T

Samsung 243T

Samsung 173P

As shown in the graphic below, the HDP will scale the input video to the best fit for a given
monitor and video input. In cases where the input video and the monitor are already the same
or similar, the HDP automatically turns off scaling. For example, a 1920 x1080 video and a
1920 x1200 monitor will not be scaled.

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Note:

Full Screen

16 x 9 Monitor

16 x 9 Video

“Pillarbox”

16 x 9 Monitor

4 x 3 Video

The HDP also properly supports 16:10 and 5:4 monitors.

“Letterbox”

4 x 3 Monitor

Full Screen “Widez

4 x 3 Monitor

“Wide

16:9

4:3

If the HDP scaling is turned off with user control Dipswitch 1, the input raster will be
displayed unscaled. This means that input rasters smaller than the monitor appear as a
“floating” image surrounded by black. For example, a 1280 x 720 image on a
1920 x 1200 monitor only fills about 40% of the screen. Standard definition inputs unscaled
on a 1920 x 1200 monitor only fill about 20% of the screen. This mode will only work when
the input raster is smaller than the monitor resolution.

The Full Screen mode, controlled by Dipswitch 2, causes the scaler to fill the monitor screen
when the input and monitor aspect ratios do not match. This is done with a combination of
horizontal stretch and zoom (for 4 x 3 video on a 16 x 9 monitor) or a combination of
horizontal squeeze and zoom (for 16 x 9 video on a 4 x 3 monitor). Both of these operations
crop part of the image and slightly distort the aspect ratio.

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Vertical Locking

Frame Rates

Depending on the input frame rate and the capabilities of the monitor in use, the HDP will
provide a vertically locked signal to the monitor. Because most DVI monitors have their
own internal scaling, the internal scaler of the monitor may or may not lock vertically to the
HDP output. The recommended monitor list shown below lists only monitors which have
been tested for proper vertical lock. The HDP works with many LCD and Plasma monitors
not shown on the recommended monitor list—however, these monitors may have one of
two types of issues associated with not being vertically locked:

Frame add/drop: The monitor occasionally adds or drops a frame of video which

appears as discontinuous motion. For example, a moving object may appear to
briefly pause or jump ahead.

Motion tearing: The monitor displays video from 2 different fields or frames on

screen. This appears as a horizontal discontinuity in the video during motion.
For example, a moving object may appear to be split horizontally with the upper
part ahead or behind the lower part.

50/59.94/60Hz
Video

23.98/24Hz Video

Block Diagram

When the HDP is either automatically, or manually configured for video standard timing,
the output frame rate is based on the following incoming frame rates:

The HDP will generate a vertically locked output at that same frequency.

The HDP will frame rate convert to either 59.94 or 60Hz, respectively.

SDI/HD-SDI

Input

SDI/HD-SDI

Output

SDI/HD-SDI

Output

SDI Receiver

SDI Transmitter

Video Scaler

and

Framebuffer

Audio

Disembedder

Audio

D/A

DVI

Transmitter

DVI-D Output

2-Channel
Analog Audio
Output

HDP Converter, Simplified Block Diagram

I/O Connections

SD/HD-SDI Input

SD/HD-SDI

SD/HD-SDI

BNC

Loop

Output 1

Loop

Output 2

+ 5-18VDC

Power

AJA HDP HD-SDI/SDI to DVI-D and Audio Converter User Manual — I/O Connections

2 Channel
Unbalanced
Analog
Audio
(RCA Jacks)

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Output
DVI Connector

Input

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User Controls

HDP Converter

The user interface for the HDP is a 4-switch DIP accessible
through a cut-out in the bottom of the unit. Use the DIP
switches to enable/disable and configure scaling modes, and
assign which AES audio channels are disembedded. An internal
Jumper block with 3 jumpers allows further configuration
possibilities in the event your application doesn’t require the

HDP DIP Switches

factory defaults.

The exact function of each DIP switch and the jumpers are

described on the following pages.

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Switch 1 SCALE—Turns Scaling On or Off

:

ON OFF

Normal Operation Turns scaling off; the picture will output 1:1.

Note: only works when it is possible to display

the entire unscaled raster
For example, it is not possible to display a 1920
x 1080 input on a 1600 x 1200 monitor.

Use a 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA) monitor for
optimal performance. 1:1 scaling will then
be supported for all input formats.

Switch 2 FULLSCRN—Selects Scaling Mode (when SW1 is ON)

:

OFF ON

Normal Operation (aspect ratio preserved) Scaler always fills screen as described in “Video

Scaling”

Switch 3 AUDIO—Selects Two AES Channels for Disembedding

:

1/2 3/4

Selects AES Channels 1 and 2 for
disembedding from the SDI stream.

Switch 4 AUX—Forced 720p, 1080p, or Normal Output

OFF ON

Normal Operation. Forces output to 720p or 1080p as determined by

Selects AES Channels 3 and 4 for disembedding
from the SDI stream.

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the internal jumper #2. With jumper#2 removed
(default) it forces 720p. With jumper#2 installed, it
forces 1080p. Jumpers are described later in this
manual.

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For HDPs with Serial Number H05019 and later: Internal Jumpers #1, #2 and #3

The 3-position jumper information (shown on the following page) does not apply to HDPs
with serial numbers below H05019.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

AJA HDP HD-SDI/SDI to DVI-D and Audio Converter User Manual — Installation

Internal Jumper

Jumper #1 (default = removed) Jumper #2 (default = removed) Jumper #3 (default = installed)

Installed: Anamorphic SD.

SD sources will be scaled
appropriately based on 16x9 original
content.

Removed: Normal SD(default)

SD sources will be scaled
appropriately, based on 4x3 original
content.

Installed: 1080p Mode

1080p will be output when DIP switch 4
is in the ON position. This jumper has
no effect when switch 4 is in the OFF
position.

Removed: 720p Mode (default)

720p will be output when switch 4 is in
the ON position. This jumber has no
effect when switch 4 is in the OFF
position.

This jumper is provided as a spare.
Whether installed or removed, it has
no effect.

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To access this jumper, remove the four phillips screws securing the back side of the HDP case
(the side having the DIP switch access hole in it). Once the case cover is removed, locate the
jumpers next to the two stereo RCA audio jacks. Jumper positions 1 through 3 are clearly
marked on the circuit board next to the jumper.

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Installation

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Defaults Shown Here
1=OFF, 2=OFF, 3=ON

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Typically, HDP installation consists of the following steps:

Ensure the HDP is disconnected from power.

Configure the DIP switch for the desired configuration and video scaling.

Connect video equipment to the convertor BNCs and DVI connector.

Connect audio equipment to RCA connectors (optional)

Apply +5 to +18VDC power to the converter (AJA power supply model DWP or
DWP-U).

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Specifications

Item Specification

Inputs SMPTE-259/292/296 SDI/HD-SDI

Input Formats 1080i, 1080p, 720p, 525i, 625i

Video Input HD-SDI/SDI, SMPTE-259/292/296/274

Outputs DVI-D (E-DDC and E-EDID compatible)

Audio (2 channel RCA-style outputs) @ -10dBV nominal
2 Looping SDI outputs of the SDI inputs

Supported Output Displays
(native resolution)

Note: for resolutions not listed

here, the HDP defaults to
1024 x 768

Maximum DVI resolution 1920 x 1200 @ 60Hz

Size 5.8” x 2.4” x 1” (131 x 61 x 25mm)

Power
(AJA power supply model DWP or
DWP-U)

800 x 600 — SVGA
848 x 480 — Plasma
852 x 480 — Plasma
1024 x 600 — WSVGA
1024 x 768 — XGA
1280 x 720 — HDTV (720p)
1280 x 768 — WXGA
1280 x 960 — 4:3 SXGA
1280 x 1024 — SXGA
1360 x 768 — Plasma
1366 x 768 — Plasma
1400 x 1050 — Projector
1600 x 1024 — WSXGA
1600 x 1200 — UXGA
1680 x 1050 — Apple 20” Cinema HD
1920 x 1080 — HDTV (1080p)
1920 x 1200 — WUXGA

+5 to +18v DC regulated, 5 watts