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The MHL™ (Mobile High-Definition Link) Consortium was formed to develop a new mobile audio/video interface standard for directly connecting mobile phones and other portable consumer electronics (CE) devices to high-definition televisions (HDTVs) and displays. The MHL standard features a single-cable with a low pin-count interface able to support up to 1080p high-definition (HD) video and digital audio while simultaneously providing power to the mobile device.

Features

• MHL provides HD audio/video with a low pin count, enabling high definition audio and video using the mobile device’s existing multipurpose connector.
• MHL supports high-quality digital HD video up to 1080p.
• MHL supports audio up to 7.1 channel LPCM, at sample rates up to 192K.
• MHL simultaneously provides power to the mobile device from the connected TV. This allows the TV side to keep the content flowing from the mobile device while not discharging the battery. The power flow allows the TV to re-charge the mobile device as well. An MHL Sink can provide 500mA of power at 5 volts.
• MHL supports High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection.
• MHL includes a control bus which allows, among other functions, a TV to control a mobile device with the TV's remote control.

By transporting the digital content in digital form, the full impact of the picture (whether still images or video) can be seen on HDTVs.

History

Silicon Image originally demonstrated a mobile interconnect, based on its TMDS technology, at the January 2008 Consumer Electronics Show.. This interface was termed "Mobile High Definition Link" at the time of the demonstration, and is a direct precursor of the implementation announced by the MHL Consortium.

The company is quoted as saying it did not ship that original technology in any volume, but used it as a way to get the working group started.

A Working Group was announced in September 2009 to develop a specification based on MHL Technology..

The MHL Consortium was announced by the companies of the Mobile High-definition Working Group on April 14, 2010. Nokia, Samsung, Silicon Image, Sony and Toshiba had been working on a specification since the Working Group announcement in September, 2009..

MHL, LLC is the Agent for overseeing the licensing and promotion of the MHL Specification.

Introduction

An abridged version of the specification was made available for download on April 14, 2010 from http://www.mhlconsortium.org. A nonrefundable fee of $100 is charged.

The MHL 1.0 Specification was announced on June 30, 2010.

Details on adopter agreement are also available on the MHL Consortium web site.

The Compliance Test Specification (CTS) was announced on December 21, 2010.

Critical Reception

Almost immediately after the specification was announced, articles appeared highlighting the use of the industry-standard micro-USB connector to send high-definition video and audio, as well as take in power, and use a command bus between the mobile device and the TV.

Some writers confuse the origins of MHL with that of HDMI, while also stating that MHL is based on Silicon Image's technology released in 2008.

Products

Samsung announced at the 2011 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona their Galaxy S2 mobile device, with MHL output.

Future

Tim Wong, President of the MHL, LLC, mentioned in a video interview at the 2011 Mobile World Congress that MHL will continue to evolve, with a 2.0 possibly including new features.

• networking
• 3D
• compressed, multi-channel high-end audio

External Links

• Interview with President of MHL, LLC at 2011 CES.
• Whathifi.com Review
• Twitter address for MHL Consortium
• Video interview with President of MHL, LLC at 2011 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

References and notes

1. "HDMI plugs into cameras, cellphones". EE Times. January 8, 2008. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
2. "Consortium backs mobile interface for high def video". EE Times. April 14, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
3. "Leading Companies Form Mobile High-Definition Interface Working Group to Drive Industry Standard for Mobile Wired Connectivity". Silicon Image. September 28, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
4. "Leading Companies Form MHL Consortium to Advance Standard for Wired Mobile Connectivity". MHL, LLC. April 14, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
5. "Leading Companies Form MHL Consortium to Advance Standard for Wired Mobile Connectivity". Business Wire. April 14, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
6. "MHL 1.0 SPECIFICATION AND ADOPTER AGREEMENT NOW AVAILABLE". MHL, LLC. June 30, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
7. "Adopter Information". MHL, LLC. June 30, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
8. "MHL CONSORTIUM RELEASES COMPLIANCE TEST SPECIFICATION TO GROWING ADOPTER BASE". MHL, LLC. December 21, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
9. "HDMI: getting simpler, or on the way out?". What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision. July 2, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
10. "MHL Consortium Releases High-Definition Link Specs for Mobile Devices". Infotech Spotlight. July 2, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
11. "MHL Consortium rolls out HDMI-lite spec for portables". CAT-iq Blog. July 2, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
12. "MHL High-definition Link". YouTube. February 15, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-15.
13. "The Samsung Galaxy S2 is Announced". MobileReview. February 15, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-15.
14. "MHL High-definition Link". YouTube. February 15, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-15.

• Digital display connectors
• Television technology
• Film and video technology
• High-definition television