TFP503
PanelBus HDCP DIGITAL RECEIVER
SLDS149 AUGUST 2004
12
POST OFFICE BOX 655303
DALLAS, TEXAS 75265
fundamental operation
The TFP503 is a DVI-compliant digital receiver that is used in digital display systems to receive and decode
transition-minimized differential-signaling (T.M.D.S.) encoded RGB pixel data streams. High-bandwidth digital
content protection (HDCP) receiver functionality provides decryption of the DVI input data streams encrypted
at the transmitter, such as TI’s HDCP TFP510 or TFP513 transmitter, to prevent unauthorized viewing or
copying of digital content. In a digital display system, a host, usually a PC or consumer electronics device,
contains a DVI-compatible transmitter that receives 24-bit pixel data along with the appropriate control signals.
The HDCP TFP510 or TFP513 transmitter encrypts and encodes the signals into a high-speed, low-voltage,
differential serial bit stream optimized for transmission over a twisted-pair cable to a display device. The display
device, usually a flat-panel monitor, requires a DVI- and HDCP-compatible receiver like the TI TFP503 to
decode and decrypt the serial bit stream back to the same 24-bit pixel data and control signals that originated
at the host. This decoded data can then be applied directly to the flat panel drive circuitry to produce an image
on the display. Since the host and display can be separated by distances up to five meters or more, serial
transmission of the pixel data is preferred. To support modern display resolutions up to UXGA, a high-bandwidth
receiver with good jitter and skew tolerance is required.
The TFP503 incorporates high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP). This provides secure data
transmission for high-definition video. The TFP503 comes with embedded preprogrammed HDCP keys, thus
eliminating the need both for an external storage device to store the HDCP keys and for the customer to
purchase HDCP keys from the licensing authority. An encryption scheme ensures that the embedded HDCP
keys are encrypted, thus providing highest level of key security.
T.M.D.S. pixel data and control signal encoding
Only one of two possible T.M.D.S. characters for a given pixel is transmitted at a given time. The transmitter
keeps a running count of the number of 1s and 0s previously sent, transmits the character that minimizes the
number of transitions, and approximates a dc balance of the transmission line.
Three T.M.D.S. channels receive RGB pixel data during active display time, DE = high. These same three
channels also receive HSYNC, VSYNC, CTL3, and two user-definable control signals, CTL[2:1], during inactive
display or blanking interval (DE = low). The following table maps the received input data to the appropriate
T.M.D.S. input channel in a DVI-compliant system.
RECEIVED PIXEL DATA
ACTIVE DISPLAY DE = HIGH
T.M.D.S. INPUT CHANNEL
OUTPUT TERMINALS
(VALID FOR DE = HIGH)
Red[7:0]
Channel-2 (Rx2
±)
QE[23:16] QO[23:16]
Green[7:0]
Channel-1 (Rx1
±)
QE[15:8] QO[15:8]
Blue[7:0]
Channel-0 (Rx0
±)
QE[7:0] QO[7:0]
RECEIVED CONTROL DATA
BLANKING DE = LOW
T.M.D.S. INPUT CHANNEL
OUTPUT TERMINALS
(VALID FOR DE = LOW)
CTL[3:2] (see Note 14)
Channel-2 (Rx2
±)
CTL2
CTL[1:0] (see Note 14)
Channel-1 (Rx1
±)
CTL1
HSYNC, VSYNC
Channel-0 (Rx0
±)
HSYNC, VSYNC
NOTE 14: Some DVI transmitters transmit a CTL0 signal. The TFP503 decodes and transfers CTL[2:1] and ignores CTL0 characters. CTL3
is used internally to enable HDCP decryption. CTL3 and CTL0 are not available as TFP503 outputs.
The TFP503 discriminates between valid pixel T.M.D.S. characters and control T.M.D.S. characters to
determine the state of active display vs blanking, i.e., state of DE.
high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP) overview
TI’s HDCP transmitters and receivers use up to three cipher engines to protect information that may be
externally accessible to the user.