HDMI ESD Protection Without Sacrificing Performance Adding ESD Protection to HDMI, Even at 3.4GHz, Just Became Easier
ABSTRACT The newest high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) 1.3 standard doubles the previous HDMI 1.0 - 1.2 data rate to 3.4Gbps per differential signal pair. This increased data rate introduces new challenges in implementing a solid board design with low capacitance that ensures adequate signal integrity. This is particularly important when executing a robust electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection solution. Adding ESD protection to your HDMI system design can be simplified by choosing the proper solution. Tyco Electronics’ ESD and overcurrent protection reference layout complies with the HDMI 1.3 specification at 3.4GHz, helps meet the requirements of the IEC 61000-4-2 ESD protection specification, and optimizes board space, all of which helps minimize risk for designers. This paper explores the requirements and pitfalls of designing ESD protection into HDMI 1.3 systems. OVERVIEW Adding ESD protection to high-definition video systems raises many complex and confusing issues that can increase costs and time-to-market. Often choices are made based on what looks like an easy solution to implement; however, the simplest approach may not provide adequate ESD protection performance or optimal board footprint. In other cases, what seems like the best ESD protection solution at first is later found to require multiple board spins to ensure that adequate timing is met. Providing adequate protection has usually meant making tradeoffs between size, ESD protection performance, and ease of implementation. Until now. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the principal cause of complexity in implementing robust ESD protection for HDMI 1.3 systems – operation speed – and the design criteria that must be considered to provide adequate protection.