Status update:
I have now received the official data sheet for the ANX8560 HDMI TX. Quite a beast! 50 pages describin pretty much all aspects of what we already know (pins, power, etc) but when it comes to the video modes it can handle they state:
4.2 Video Input Data
The ANX8560 accepts multiple input video formats and can convert them into different output formats before
presenting them to the HDMI interface. The Video Data interface is programmed by setting the Video Control
Registers.
Cool, right? Unfortunately there are no descriptions of those "control registers", nor are there any lists, tables or examples of the "different output formats". The end of the document says:
This document contains proprietary information of Analogix Semiconductor, Inc. or under license from third parties. No part of this document may be reproduced in any form or by any means or transferred to any third party without the prior written consent of Analogix Semiconductor, Inc.
So I cant forward it to you... :-(
You just have to beleive me on this one.
There are quite a few 8-) things mentioned though;
You get full access to the
CEC interface; meaning the TV set can forward remote commands to the Amiga and the amiga can access the OSD function of the TV to display arbitrary data. Maybe not the most neccessary feature, but still cool! :-D
To do all thesee trix and to fully control the HDMI TX, I'll definetly go for a PIC. There are things mentioned in the specs that would be too difficult to handle with plain logic. A local micro would also ensure proper operation at all times, without the need for propriatary driver software. Of course I intend to hook up the PIC to the Amiga bus somehow, so that a driver can access and control all the "cool" features.
Then there is the issue of Audio. Phew!
Due to the complexity of the Paula chip, with all of its DMA stuff going on, and the issue of primairly 8-bit audio on the Amiga, I intend to do one of two things:
a) Try to find a stereo analog-to-SPDIF sampling chip, and feed its output directly to the SPDIF input on the HDMI TX.
b) Abandon audio support, and let people use the standard analouge outputs on the Amiga itself.
A is of course a much cooler approach (the amiga can then be treated as any other modern home entertainment equipment, only requiring one cable to connect) but B is simpler. Maybe I just do like C= and make room for a sampler chip on the board, but leave it "optional"... :lol:
Time to continue designing custom ICs in Eagle. (Another time-consuming task...)
/Eriond
