As Ultra HD momentum builds, the Consumer Electronics Association is stepping in with updated core characteristics for Ultra HD televisions that build on the 1st-generation UHD characteristics released by the trade group in October 2012. It’s also preparing a logo that manufacturers can slap on Ultra HD products.

The idea is to address various attributes of Ultra HD picture quality and help move toward interoperability, while providing clarity for consumers and retailers alike. CEA guidance states that it’s OK to use terms Ultra High-Definition, Ultra HD or UHD in conjunction with other modifiers. For example, “Ultra High-Definition TV 4K” is fine. CEA is working with its member companies to develop a UHD logo to assist consumers in identifying UHD products in the marketplace that meet CEA’s guidelines. The logo will be available for voluntary use by manufacturers for product packaging, marketing materials and promotional activities and is expected to be launched later this year.

CEA’s minimum performance UHD attributes include:
• Display resolution – Has at least eight million active pixels, with at least 3840 horizontally and at least 2160 vertically
• Aspect ratio – Has a width to height ratio of the display’s native resolution of 16:9 or wider
• Upconversion – Is capable of upscaling HD video and displaying it at Ultra High-Definition resolution
• Digital input – Has one or more HDMI inputs supporting at least 3840×2160 native content resolution at 24p, 30p and 60p frames per second
• Colorimetry – Processes 2160p video inputs encoded according to ITU-R BT.709 color space and may support wider colorimetry standards
• Bit depth – Has a minimum color bit depth of eight bits.

Because one of the first ways consumers will have access to native 4K content is via Internet streaming on “connected” Ultra HDTVs, CEA published new characteristics for Connected Ultra HD displays. The minimum performance attributes include receiving IP-delivered Ultra HD video through a Wi-Fi, Ethernet or other appropriate connection, and supporting IP-delivered Ultra HD video through services or applications on the platform of the manufacturer’s choosing.

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