what is HDMI upscaling?

Answer 1

First, HDMI (See first link) is "High-Definition Multimedia Interface" -- a jack and socket format (See picture at second link) which allows digital transmission of both high definition video and audio over a single cable.

Upscaling is the conversion of a lower resolution video image (e.g. 720x480p) to a higher resolution (e.g. 1280x720p).

All digital displays (vs an analogue CRT) such as a DLP, LCD or LCOS flat panel display or projector have a native resolution (e.g. 1280x720) but, because input can be in a whole host of aspect ratios (ratio of width to height) and resolutions the display (e.g. HDTV, projector) has to be able to convert the input resolution to the native resolution to fill the display screen. This is scaling, and is done by the scaling circuits in the display device (unless done by some form of external device, e.g. an upscaling DVD player, dedicated video scaler) which can feed the display the required native resolution signal. BTW, scaling can be either lower to higher (upscaling) or higher to lower (downscaling), and strictly speaking it must also accomodate frame rate conversion (e,g, 24 fps or 30 fps to 60 fps) ... but let's not go there.

Since displays have to be able to handle both analogue and digital signals (the latter is generally "better" since it eliminates the generation of artifacts from analogue to digital and digital to analogue conversion) both conversion and scaling to fit the input signal to the output required by the display must be done (as appropriate) via composite, S-video, component, DVI or HDMI (and SCART in Europe) connectors.

OK, so finally "HDMI upscaling" is upscaling of a digital input video signal over an HDMI connection. It is arguably the optimum (short of a dedicated -- and expensive -- outboard video scaler) way to process an input signal for a high quality picture.

Hope this help clarify ...

Answer 2

Hdmi Upscaler

Answer 3

When your TV has to convert a non-hi-def picture to hi-def such as when you plug a DVD player into a hi-def TV. It scales the picture up. Most of the time the scaling isn't that great. It's not true hi-def.