Can the TPS6598x support MHL over the alt mode?

As of now, there is only 1 Video Alternate Mode written for the USB PD Specification: VESA DisplayPort.

Since HDMI/MHL have not written an Alternate Mode, all products to date that have an HDMI/MHL/VGA Port are entering the DisplayPort Alt. Mode and using a DP-to-HDMI/MHL/VGA protocol converter. The TI-Designs Mini-Dock is a good example: www.ti.com/.../TIDA-01243

This is not a limitation of the TPS65982, it is a lack of a spec to be able to support. If MHL/HDMI had an Alt. Mode spec written, the FW would be able to support it for our customers.

The only other workaround option would be an end-to-end solution containing TPS65982 on both sides with a "User Alternate Mode" enabled that indicates the User-Defined Alt. Mode entered actually means MHL video is being transmitted.

What type of product are you referring to that would implement MHL? The Video source or the Video Sink?

Michael,

I definitely need to elaborate on this point to be more clear.

There are 3 approved Alternate Modes that support Video, but DisplayPort is the most widely implemented Alternate mode that explicitly supports Video and USB3.1 data simultaneously and is geared towards a Type-C to Type-C port ecosystem where the cable is universal but the Video data follows the standard DisplayPort specification. The DisplayPort for USB Type-C standard also has a fully implemented PD compliance test that is certified at USB-IF workshops.

These are the 3 approved Alternate Modes capable of video and some distinctions:

• ThunderBolt 3- Intel's specification that adopts DisplayPort+PCIe data for the Type-C cable as a replacement for the custom mDP form factor cables that are clearly marked for ThunderBolt. The maximum data rate of ThunderBolt is 40Gbps with e-marked cables. Because of this advances capability, ThunderBolt has its own compliance testing in addition to the USB-IF Power Delivery compliance testing
  • 
• DisplayPort for Type-C- VESA's specification that either allows 4K resolution DP or 2K DP+USB3.1 data  and adopts the Type-C cable as a replacement for the mDP or full-size DisplayPort connectors. Audio is also transmitted as this was a feature of the original DisplayPort spec, and UB2.0 data is included by virtue of the dedicated USB2.0 D+/- pins on the Type-C cable
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• MHL 3.0- MHL's specification for transmitting MHL video/audio data at 4K resolution, but the FAQs page focuses very heavily on USB Type-C to HDMI protocol converters for legacy video displays
  • )

Although the MHL specification does include the ability to transmit USB2/3 data and appears to have similar capabilities, but the market trends have shown that DisplayPort has been adopted by most industry leaders. In addition, the landing page for MHL over USB Type-C also has an FAQ section which says that MHL is working with the USB-IF and will have full compliance testing [at a later date] ()

Because the TPS65982 is a FW-based part and the PD Policy Engine is flexible/configurable, we still have the ability to implement the MHL specification in end equipments that require it.

This can be done quite easily when the TPS65982 FW is configured with a "User-Defined Alternate Mode" that transmits the MHL Specific-Vendor ID (SVID), the Mode #, and Payload data (VDOs) required to Enter the Alt. Mode automatically.

To send any Vendor-Defined Messages  that are unique to the MHL Alt. Mode, an embedded controller (EC, or I2C Master) that controls the TPS65982 can be used to build simple messages and send VDMs ('VDMs' ASCII command) for configuration and attention PD messages.

If the customer decides to implement ThunderBolt and/or DisplayPort, it is already taken care of automatically in the standard FW.

If the customer still wishes to implement the MHL Alt. Mode, we have a framework set up to get moving quickly and start testing a system. If this is the case, please follow-up and we can explain the "User-Defined Alternate Mode" features in more detail.