Active and Programmable HDMI Cable & Method

A method for improving signal quality in an active HDMI cable, comprising:

• a. providing an active HDMI cable, including,
• i. a positive TMDS D0 conductor,
• ii. a negative TMDS D0 conductor,
• iii. a positive TMDS D1 conductor,
• iv. a negative TMDS D1 conductor,
• v. a positive. TMDS D2 conductor,
• vi. a negative TMDS D2 conductor,
• vii. a positive TMDS clock conductor,
• viii. a negative TMDS clock conductor,
• ix. a digital data bus that is separate from said TMDS conductors,
• b. providing an active cable compensator in said active HDMI cable, said active cable compensator including,
• i. a first equalizer on said positive TMDS D0 conductor, said first equalizer including variable gain and variable frequency distribution, with said gain and said frequency distribution being set by programmable parameters,
• ii. a second equalizer on said negative TMDS D0 conductor, said second equalizer including variable gain and variable frequency distribution, with said gain and said frequency distribution being set by programmable parameters,
• iii. a third equalizer on said positive TMDS D1 conductor, said third equalizer including variable gain and variable frequency distribution, with said gain and said frequency distribution being set by programmable parameters,
• iv. a fourth equalizer on said negative TMDS D1 conductor, said fourth equalizer including variable gain and variable frequency distribution, with said gain and said frequency distribution being set by programmable parameters,
• v. a fifth equalizer on said positive TMDS D2 conductor, said fifth equalizer including variable gain and variable frequency distribution, with said gain and said frequency distribution being set by programmable parameters,
• vi. a sixth equalizer on said negative TMDS D2 conductor, said sixth equalizer including variable gain and variable frequency distribution, with said gain and said frequency distribution being set by programmable parameters,
• vii. a first amplifier on said positive TMDS clock conductor, said first amplifier including variable gain, with said gain being set by at least one programmable parameter,
• viii. a second amplifier on said negative TMDS conductor, said second amplifier including variable gain, with said gain being set by at feast one programmable parameter,
• ix. wherein said active cable compensator is able to receive parameter-setting commands on said digital data bus, with said parameter-setting commands setting said programmable parameters on said equalizers and said amplifiers,
• e. providing a signal source,
• d. providing a programming unit, said programming unit including,
• i. a measurement unit able to measure a signal on each of said TMDS conductors,
• ii. a predefined set of performance criteria for a signal received on each of said TMDS conductors,
• iii. a parameter-setting command generator for generating said parameter-setting commands to be sent to said active cable compensator,
• e. connecting said active HDMI cable between said signal source and said programming unit, and
• f. sending said parameter-setting commands from said programming unit to said active cable compensator over said separate digital data bus, wherein said parameter-setting commands set said programmable parameters on said equalizers and said amplifiers in order to adjust said signals on said TMDS conductors so that said signals meet said predefined performance criteria.