Below is a list of digital TV terms, and their definitions, used in this document.
Component (or YPbPr) connector:
Component connectors split the signal into three parts and consist of color-coded red, green, and blue cables. This connection gives a superior image over composite or S-video connections.
Composite (or RCA) connector:
Composite or RCA connectors are the most common video connectors and the lowest quality. They transmit the entire video signal through one cable. Typically, the connectors are color-coded: red for right channel audio, white for left channel audio, and yellow for video.
Digital television (DTV):
Digital television, TV signals that are broadcast in digital format. Digital signals, composed of coded instructions that are deciphered by a digital receiver, are superior to analog transmissions because they are not affected by signal strength, provide better resolution and superior audio quality, and can carry data. Current DTV standards encompass 18 different formats classified as either HDTV (high definition TV), EDT (enhanced definition TV), or SDTV (standard definition TV).
| Class
|
Format
|
|---|
| High Definition (HDTV) |
720p or 1080i |
| Enhanced Definition (EDTV) |
480p |
| Standard Definition (SDTV) |
480i |
DVI connector:
A DVI cable resembles a standard VGA cable, but DVI is slightly larger. DVI is the preferred source for HDTV signals because it requires the fewest encoding/decoding steps. DVI's digital format provides higher-quality images than analog.
High definition television (HDTV):
High definition television, a digital broadcast standard providing superior color resolution and sharpness compared to standard television. HDTV signals are the highest quality of the current digital television formats, either 1080 interlaced lines (1080i) or 720 progressive-scanned lines (720p). HDTV TVs, with their small pixels densely arrayed, can take advantage of HDTV signals to show extremely clear and detailed images in a widescreen format.
Interlaced (i) scanning:
A method of displaying images from a video signal on a television screen. With interlaced scanning, half the vertical lines (odd lines) on the screen are filled in first, then the other half (even lines) for a complete image. (See also progressive scanning.)
Plasma digital:
An plasma digital display, or liquid crystal display, is composed of a liquid crystal solution sandwiched between two sheets of transparent material. When electrified, the crystals align to block light shining through the screen and cause colored images to be shown on the display. plasma digital HDTVs are thin and lightweight and can be mounted on a wall, but have a smaller viewing angle than plasma displays.
Nit:
A unit of measurement of brightness (luminance), typically describing displays and monitors. (One nit = 1 candela per square meter, in the meter-kilogram-second system of units.)
OSD:
On screen display.
Progressive (p) scanning:
A method of displaying images from a video signal on a television screen. With progressive scanning, the vertical lines on the screen are filled in sequentially, rather than in two passes as with interlaced scanning. (See also interlaced scanning.)
S-video:
S-video, or super-video, a video signal divided into separate channels for brightness and color. S-video connections provide sharper images and better color definition than composite connections.
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